SHAME on the THS - killing a lactating mum is beyond disgusting

Meet Hetzel’s puppies… meet Hetzel – oh sorry, you can’t- the THS killed her and left her 11 puppies without a mother. (photo from Huffington Post)

Hetzel was dumped at the THS in early February. Shortly thereafter, this abandoned mum gave birth to 11 beautiful puppies.

Nursing mothers are by nature protective.  Any new mother should be given a quiet, safe environment with minimal interaction and only necessary handling of the puppies.  She is territorial, protective and apprehensive about anyone approaching her puppies. That is NORMAL behaviour.  The inevitably busy shelter environment, compounded by the greater possibility of germs and transmission of conditions which could be fatal to young pups made this a  less than ideal environment for a nursing mum.  Yet she was apparently doing ok- if stressed and unhappy and worried about her pups.

When a mother dog gives birth, a powerful hormone cocktail invades her system. Oxytocin, prolactin and estrogen are all released into her bloodstream and each provides her with a way to bond with and protect her puppies. She needs a place where she feels safe and protected.  Due to the declining levels of progesterone, the increased levels of prolactin and climbing estrogen (versus declining progesterone) means mum may be more grumpy than usual as well.  Again, that is NORMAL behaviour and to be expected.

Hetzel was then transferred to a foster home (about which I know nothing).  Dealing with nursing mums requires a highly specialized skill set.  Keep in mind, Hetzel was dumped when pregnant so already in a stressed and anxious mindset; then in a less than perfect atmosphere (a loud, chaotic shelter – while I’m sure the THS did their best you can’t provide the kind of healthy quiet environment that would be optimum for a dog giving birth) gave birth to 11 puppies which in itself would be a challenge for any dog. She is sent to a foster home.  I have no idea what the situation was in the foster home – whether Hetzel was with provided a safe, quiet and remote area where she wouldn’t be bothered … whether her puppies were handled too much, her space invaded.  If so, these could be exacerbating factors to making a dog aggressive.  In a best case scenario, the foster home was an experienced one used to dealing with mother and pups, but that would still leave mum in a hormonally charged, anxious state of mind. 

Then this past week, Hetzel was killed.

This lactating mother was killed, leaving her less than 6-week old puppies without a mother and without a mother’s care and milk.  Mother dogs naturally start the weaning process at around 4 weeks- but nursing continues together with important socialization from the mother to between 8 and 12 weeks. But that aside (as the pups can be bottle fed as a poor substitute), I am seriously trying to get my head around how the THS could kill this mother in view of the circumstances surrounding her arrival there and subsequent experiences. 

How, in the scant 7 weeks or so that they had this dog (whom, I might add, they utilized, I’m sure very successfully, as a donation driver), they were able to ascertain she was unable to be “rehabilitated”?

She was still with her VERY young puppies!

She was still in a hormonally charged, stressed and anxious state of mind.

In a scant few weeks, she dealt with some major, life-altering, frightening situations, compounded by massive hormonal fluctuations and changes in her body.

I have been told it was because she bit. 

Frankly, that sounds like a normal reaction to a stressful, frightening situation  scared dogs protecting their pups will bite.

The THS claims to have experienced, specialized staff.

They claim to have experienced foster homes.

When questioned about their euthanasia policy, the THS has responded in the past that when it is a behavioural issue, every attempt is made to resolve the problem before the consensus is that there is no rehabilitation possible.

Considering these pups are barely 6 weeks old, the mother is lactating and full of pregnancy hormones, she has experienced several massive lifestyle shocks and been thrust into situations over which she has no control hardly constitutes giving her a chance.

Just how much behavioural modification could have occurred in the past few weeks?  Simple logic dictates next to none.

At the very least, she should have been spayed and allowed the time for her body to normalize.  Spaying has often proved to be a helpful and positive tool when dealing with maternal aggression.

This was a massive and unforgivable failure.

The fact that this dog was not provided with an opportunity to be rehabilitated ONCE her pups were weaned (properly at 8 weeks minimum) is so incredibly wrong that my philosophical differences with the THS which precipitated my leaving 2 years ago have now become an active and implacable belief that this organization has betrayed the very values it purports to exemplify and at this point, is beyond redemption.

I bet they get good money for those pups though; ironically I remember members of the current Board criticizing Trow for getting the best bid on puppies back in the day.

How the mighty have fallen.

“And what sort of lives do these people, who pose as being moral, lead themselves? My dear fellow, you forget that we are in the native land of the hypocrite.”

― Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray

Note: I have attempted through email to get the THS viewpoint for the past day or two and despite contacting several board members and Board President Marcie Laking (as well as the THS communication and media department and facebook messaging) not received an answer.  I would be more than happy to hear from them.

UPDATE: Board Member David Bronskill got back to me and said that Hetzel had bitten numerous times and THS policy had been followed in terms of the decision to euthanize her as she was deemed a "significant risk".  I stand by my comments above.  I continue to question how in view of the timeline and the stress this dog was under that ANY type of meaningful behaviour modification was attempted. Thank you for your reply however.

A young dog died today

I got a call today...

A call of anguish and pain and heartbreak.

Rosanna phoned from Guelph, her voice thick with tears, reporting that despite the apparent massive gains made by Tyson after only two chemo appointments, his cancer is so invasive, so virulent that the gains he made are only temporary... his current robustness a blink in time, a sweet, short reprieve .. that in fact, his poor body is so riddled and so damaged, there is no coming back.

For the truth is that I already know as much about my fate as I need to know. The day will come when I will die. So the only matter of consequence before me is what I will do with my allotted time. I can remain on shore, paralyzed with fear, or I can raise my sails and dip and soar in the breeze.

Richard Bode

Anguished and heart-broken, she asks me "was I wrong?"  Should I have listened and accepted that this young dog's fate was to die?  She cries, her voice against my ear, the phone linking our mutual anguish and gifting us with a shared pain.

I remind her of the broken, agonized dog she picked up that day from the THS, his poor body riddled with open sores, his paws raw, leaking blood and fluid.... "remember Tyson NOW' I tell her and we talk, for a moment, about his joyous walks to the park in the last few weeks, how he went from having to be carried from his padded bed to the grass outside and back again, whimpering in pain to the NOW, the jumping for a ball, the frolicking delight of a young dog finally able to revel in young muscles and no pain

Commit yourself to a dream ... Nobody who tries to do something great but fails is a total failure. Why? Because he can always rest assured that he succeeded in life's most important battle - he defeated the fear of trying.

Robert H. Schuller

When all is said and done, life is uncertain.. the paths we take may seem clear but the capricious nature of time and possibilities inevitably obscure and change the clarity of thought and the certitude of destination and all of us, frail humans, struggle to accept and deal with new understandings.

A young dog died today.

But I cannot, will not, believe that the precious time he was gifted with this past month was a waste or a choice made wrong. I will not and do not believe that the short window in time in which a young dog learned the worth of a soft hand, the feel of  grass warmed and crisped by the hot sun, the taste of a dusky, muddy tennis ball was wasted simply because it was limited by hours and minutes that could be counted and weighed .  The reality is that none of us know the moments left in our lives. But to experience the immediate, the "now", to live in the moment and find in it, a measure of peace, a smidgen of joy, a release from pain and a discovery of infinite possibilities is incredibly precious and not to be denied.

Rosanna,  Tatiana and Dishanie were his special angels in this short walk he had on the stage of life.

All of you chose to step over the precipice.. to take that leap of faith - to BELIEVE that he might have a chance - don't ever, EVER feel that was the wrong decision.  You chose to gift that little dog with hope; to confer on him the grace of believing... that can NEVER be wrong.

And as a dear friend also pointed out, Tyson also "taught something to everyone who handled him, loved him, cared for him and cheered for him. Each will have learned something different but in the end all will have learned something and Tyson's fight for life was not in vain."  (Thank you Lynn for that timely and poignant reminder that in the loving, we too learn something invaluable).

That it turned out this way... sadly, that faith and belief and love could not trump the reality of a cancer left far too long by those who had his welfare in their hands long before your kind hands.. but that is not the point of Tyson's life.

He has lived.  And for that, we can can be grateful.

He has been loved. And for that, we can give thanks.

And in the end, he found his way with his angels to see him through.

Written by: Alfred Lord Tennyson

Sunset and evening star,

And one clear call for me!

And may there be no moaning of the bar,

When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,

Too full for sound and foam,

When that which drew from out the boundless deep

Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,

And after that the dark!

And may there be no sadness of farewell,

When I embark;

For though from out our bourne of Time and Place

The flood may bear me far,

I hope to see my Pilot face to face

When I have crossed the bar.

Tyson's fundraiser an awesome success!

At this point, the fundraiser has around $3200 in the kitty! As $3,000 was the original quote for the series of chemotherapy sessions recommended, Tyson is now able to complete the entire program!

Thank you to everyone who shared.

Thank you to everyone who contributed.

Thank you to everyone who cared.

Tyson is feeling feisty and starting to understand that life is good.

More updates to follow!

Tyson the Terrific walks on his own to his second treatment

Tyson THREE weeks ago

My heart literally feels like bursting.. watching this sweet puppy walking under his own steam, clearly suffering minimal discomfort after just TWO chemotherapy treatments.

When you compare the earlier pictures, the ones that clearly show that this valiant fighter had just about given up; battered, bruised, bloody and hurting, his body literally being eaten away, his feet bleeding, it seemed impossible that this puppy could find it in himself to rally.

But Tyson has found his heart again.

Tyson has found angels to support him in his fierce determination to beat this horrible disease.  Rosanna, a woman with the softest heart and yet the strongest will of anyone I know. Her daughter Titiania, a stalwart defender and another one who believes.


Look at our boy go!


Tyson walking into his second chemo in Guelph

Tyson has a lot more appointments before he is done the fight.  Please share widely and let's get his fundraising really going!

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-tyson-a-shelter-puppy-get-chemotherapy

We are ALMOST halfway there to the goal.  This money will be used ONLY for Tyson's treatment at the Animal Cancer Centre in Guelph.

Please help this boy have a fighting chance.

A Miracle in the Making...

 The photos here are disturbing... very disturbing.  This was Tyson when Rosanna first picked him up from the THS. Despite valiant efforts at the shelter and the best of vet care, his health was deteriorating by the day.  Rosanna was called and despite the promised heartbreak, agreed to take him for his final days.  It was almost a fluke that she, in desperation at the pitiful state of this poor dog,  she finally found someone who was willing to see him at the Animal Cancer Centre at the University of Guelph.

As noted earlier, there is no "cure" for Tyson - what there is is a chance (no promises) for him to live a little longer with a quality of life he has never actually experienced.  A chance to learn that life can exist without pain, that grass is wonderful to roll on, a ball is a magical thing to catch.  Tyson has been offered a chance to know that life is more than pain and suffering, more than an exhausted body and the long, dark of nights fraught with resignation and despair.

This is Tyson after just ONE round of chemotherapy...




Tell me miracles don't happen.

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-tyson-a-shelter-puppy-get-chemotherapy

Tyson the Brave needs help- THS foster needs funds for chemo

My friend Rosanna has the biggest heart of anyone I know.  A long-term, palliative foster for the THS, she opens her heart and home to dogs that are sick and dying and gives them, in their final days, a lifetime of love, laughter, hugs and care all squished into whatever time they have left.  In so doing, her own heart breaks again and again because she is a woman who can only offer every piece of her heart to her latest sweet pup, knowing that it will be ripped to pieces once again.

Rosanna's latest love is a beautiful pup called Tyson.  Tyson was surrendered to the Toronto Humane Society with an advanced case of disseminated mast cell tumour (skin cancer).  Due to the severity of his cancer, it was initially determined that Tyson would be a palliative foster - and no one has a bigger heart than Rosanna and that is where he went to spend (what we thought) were his final days.

 However, Rosanna - like sweet Tyson - is a fighter. Unfamiliar with this type of cancer, Rosanna got to work exploring potential options and possible treatments.  To her delighted surprise, she was fortunate enough to get in touch with the Animal Cancer Centre at Guelph University - where a specialist suggested Rosanna bring him in.

With her wonderful daughter Tatiana and a referral from the THS, Rosanna brought this sweet boy to the University of Guelph where he was approved for life-saving cancer treatment.  It was established by Guelph specialists that while Tyson's cancer cannot be cured, they were hopeful a round of chemotherapy and various drugs could relieve his suffering and give him one to two years of GOOD quality life!  Right there and then, Rosanna paid for Tyson's first round - and the immediate result was astounding.

Guelph could not be more generous or  kind - the vet overseeing his care recommended 8 sessions of chemotherapy, with 4 once a week and the next 4 every other week. The estimated cost is projected at $2600-$3000 dollars in total.  This is actually a considerable reduction due to the willingness of the institution to reduce costs.

$3000 is a lot of money but this sweet pup, who has only had  year to enjoy his short life deserves his chance.  Rosanna recognized that this was a grave financial burden on the THS which is just finding its feet and starting to once again thrive.  So she and Tatiana have started a fundraising campaign for Tyson's treatment.  EVERY cent will go towards his treatment and both the fundraisers and the THS want to be completely above-board and transparent as possible.

PLEASE please please... if you can donate even a couple of dollars, please do. The link for the fundraiser is here, while Tyson's facebook page which will update and keep fans apprised of his progress is here.

As someone who has been intimately entwined for many years with the THS and for the past several years taken a step back, uncertain whether the direction this venerable institution was taking was one I could follow - I am SO encouraged at this clear message that EVERY dog deserves a chance.  Their willingness to take a chance with Tyson - to give this innocent, sweet dog a chance to live even a few years in relative comfort and health is so clearly in the spirit of its original benefactor that I believe his spirit is probably looking down in joy.

If you don't believe in miracles, then follow the journey of this beautiful dog.  5 days into his treatment and he walked to and from the park (Rosanna had carried him just a week or so ago)- and played FETCH.

Let's keep Tyson smiling!  Donate if you can - every dollar helps - and please, if you do or you can't - give the THS a call anyways- BECOME a member  or just drop them a note - tell them how pleased you are that it is fufilling the promises made and becoming the institution it was meant to be!

Phone: 416.392.2273

or EMAIL their Communications Department to let them know that the citizens of this City are so happy to see this kind of kindness and caring in a place that is now returning to its roots ... truly a place of refuge for all the animals in Toronto.

Thank you Rosanna and Tatiana! and Thank You THS!!

THS- A Year On and a another election

A year brings with it perspective and insight that the actions (or  non-actions) of an entity define.  Although trite, the adage "actions speak louder than words" rings true.   Since my February 15 blog Trash Talk Redux, I've somewhat reassessed my own perceptions of what is going on at the Toronto Humane Society.

Upcoming in May is the Annual Board Meeting - an opportunity for members to talk with their votes - to support new and existing Board members whose vision coincides with their own.  But, to do so, you have to be a member and the deadline is almost here - you MUST have your membership application and payment in by TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10 AT 5:00 P.M.

Link to the membership page

I urge anyone with their own vision of where the THS should venture to become a member and vote!!

I also note that there are several unelected Board members on the website.  Based on their blurbs, I assume they are going to run for positions in the May AGM.  It bothers me that  unelected members were brought in with no announcement or even a press release explaining who these individuals were and who suggested their inclusion.  As someone who believes implicitly in accountability and  clarity- I am not impressed that this information was not provided to  members - even a simple press release on the actual site would have provided me with a measure of comfort that the Board was following through on its promise to be above-board.

I'm also very displeased with the VERY tardy minutes from the Board meetings.  As I know that these meetings are fairly frequent, I am curious as to why the most recent minutes posted were from LAST AUGUST.  That is not acceptable.  I, for one, would like a chance to peruse minutes in order to judge for myself where the Board members stand with respect to issues which are important to me.  This is particularly important in view of the upcoming AGM.  Having spoken to a Board member, he has indicated he is looking into this - but concurs that the massive delays in publishing minutes which are to be made available to members is unacceptable.

Frankly, I'm not a happy camper in many respects with the THS.

It is no secret I walked away more than a year ago because of philosophical differences.  My vision of the THS has been, remains and always will be of a shelter that welcomes all the animals of Toronto - and in fact, provides refuge and care to many animals who would otherwise have nowhere to go.  That, in my view, is becoming increasingly rare.  There simply is no denying that the number of animals up for adoption are severely limited... that more needy animals (with some exceptions) just aren't there ....  and to my mind, there is "fudging" (to be kind) in what is termed "special needs" .

I have been told by several people that this is due primarily to budgetary restraints - the drop in membership, the squabbling and the continued perception that things are not entirely good at the THS have all contributed to a considerable drop in revenue.

Yet, I do not believe that is the whole picture.

I have (and continue to be)  very disappointed in the lack of positive press the THS garners - and feel that their communications department and individuals within the organization have really done a poor job of letting the people of Toronto know what is going on in the shelter.  My own opinion is they have really passed up some excellent opportunities to let the people of Toronto know that the THS is there and willing to help .... because while I'm not thrilled with everything going on there, there has also been some remarkable effort made on the part of the THS to do some wonderful things for animals in the past year. The fact that they missed the chance to show the world they are a great organization in many respects is both short-sighted and plain bad business.

One thing I will say for Trow (and I do not in any way or manner want to see him back) is the man was a genius at promoting the shelter.  That and his vision of a no-kill shelter were two things I respected in him; unfortunately, "no-kill" as he interpreted became (in my opinion) twisted and cruel.

I think probably the best thing I could say about the "new" THS is it is mediocrity personified.... faint praise indeed to an organization that from its inception was intended to challenge the status quo and bring to the forefront the importance of animal welfare - that challenged the people of Toronto to step up and say I CARE what happens to the animals in our City.

I do not see the issues as insurmountable.  Based on my reading of the minutes, my various conversations with different individuals and my own vision, I believe there are current Board members with the passion and the resolve to create a THS that could become a shining example of what animal advocates can achieve.    There are other Board members for whom I have no respect and whose actions over the tenure of their appointments have not, in my opinion, reflected promises made when they were first elected.

I believe, implicitly, that the THS is at a crossroads.

The Trow Years are becoming a memory; the travails of what in essence was a new organization at this juncture should no longer be used as an excuse for not moving forward and creating the type of shelter promised to those of us who have remained stalart defenders of the THS; counselling people to be patient, to wait and see - to trust that the type of organization we envisioned will come to pass.

Be warned - I for one am tired of waiting.

Time to step up and be heard THS - and that means the Board members still in position and those to be elected in the upcoming AGM in May.

I know I will be looking for individuals who put their actions into reality - not those who simply mouth platitudes and pretend compliance.

I didn't sign up for a pet store, THS - I signed up for a haven for all the animals of Toronto.

Trash Talk Redux

The THS just can't get a break.

Since the horrific and lethal raid by the OSPCA three years ago,  compounded by the abortive and vindictive attempts to retake control by Tim Trow and supporters in the years following, membership and support for this once well respected institution has plummeted.

OSPCA supporters conveniently forget that under the illusion of cleaning up Tim Trow's mess, the OSPA and its minions (including some THS staff(and former staff)  at that time) slaughtered hundreds of animals.  Their unprofessional and illegal conduct resulted in two eventual outcomes - most charges  against Trow were dropped (based on the patently unprofessional manner in which the raid - and arrest - of Tim et al took place, not because they weren't valid) and the beginning of of what has - and continues to be - a massive abandonment by its membership.

Truth be told it is almost understandable - in that with the various factions attacking and defending, many people have simply walked away.  The past two annual meetings have been divisive and controversial - albeit the naysayers,while vocal and malicious were actually small in numbers and garnered very few votes.

Since then, the THS has been struggling to deal with a myriad of challenges, not the least of which is the hemorrhaging of the increasingly limited membership base.  No membership means no money - no money means less staff.  Less staff means less animals (as unlike the former management days when the shelter was horrifically over-crowded, unsanitary and resulted in a lot of animals with substandard care and suffering), it is limited by the regulations imposed on its reopening a couple of years ago to a specific ratio of animals to staff.

I have my own issues with the "new" THS - enough so that i walked away as a long-term volunteer.  However, although our philosophies diverged enough that i wasn't comfortable volunteering there any more, I still support them to a great extent and continue to believe that there are a lot of people with a vision that at some point may again mesh with my own.  Further I am comfortable transporting rescue dogs there as I know they will receive excellent care.

What I cannot tolerate, however, is the continued malicious, vindictive and destructive undermining of the Toronto Humane Society by individuals who hide behind created personas to wreak havoc.  I believe, implicitly that if these small-minded, vicious berserkers continue to divide the already compromised membership, it is a very real possibility that the Toronto Humane Society will cease to exist.

And that would be a tragedy indeed.

Yes, there are steps the THS needs to take.  Realities they need to create.  Visions they need to fulfill.  They have let some amazing staff go - Jazzmine was one of the most compassionate, skilled and talented dog person I've know - and I was shocked and dismayed when I heard she was let go.  But what I don't think is that any of the staff who have lost their job - particularly in the latest round  - did so because they weren't valued or needed - but water out of stone will not happen and without a solid membership base, money is a huge issue.  Granted, I'm not privy to the ins and outs - but common sense and years of volunteering there leave you with a certain organic knowledge about the dynamics of the place.

There is currently a Kijji advertisement seeking disgruntled former employees and members.  An ad which is reflected in a facebook page euphemistically called "Friends of the THS" - a misnomer if there ever was one.

Their bleatings are simplistic and clearly deluded.

Making assertions that small rescue groups have better numbers.  Claiming staff are being terminated for no good reason. That Board  members are lazy, uninvolved and uncaring.

While I find it astonishing that anyone would actually take these assertions seriously - apparently people do.

The THS is struggling, in large part, because they are legally bound to deal with the aftermath of the many years of mismanagement .  Lawsuits (of which there were many) do not go away because management changed.  Civil suits do not disappear because the former president of the organization was deposed.  The shelter itself required a massive infusion of cash to upgrade and fix years of neglect to the physical structure.  In order to meet the strict (perhaps overly rigid, in my view) conditions which accompanied their re-opening and were imposed by the OSPCA means more money was needed both in the process and ongoing to keep standards of care of the animals high.

Of course the standard of care I saw on my return there is so far beyond what I saw for the three and a half years I was there under former management that it bears no resemblance.  Good vet care takes money.  Decent food requires an infusion of cash.

I remember Patience with her ears so badly infected that the pus was running in gummy green streams down her matted fur.  I remember Diva dying in agony, writhing in pain because no one would give her the compassionate way out. I remember cats stacked like cordwood in filthy cages with not a person to touch or pet them for weeks due to the simple magnitude of animals that needed care.  I remember the expired pallets of mouldy food in the dank basement. The dogs in filthy cages, rampant parvo... dogs who were lucky to get out for a total of a couple of minutes a day.

The simplistic bleating of whoever is behind the ads and the page simply do not account for any of the realities which face the shelter. They gloss over and romanticize former days and former management, while conveniently forgetting the other parts of those days.

Do I think the THS needs to get its ass in gear?  That there are changes I passionately want to see? Absolutely.

But hearkening back to what was a dark part of its long history is not the way to accomplish this.

Further dividing a shrinking membership is only going to compound and undermine an organization which is already struggling to keep its head above water.

And Friends of the THS- why don't you develop a pair and come out and say who you are instead of hiding behind a created persona?  Bloody cowards.

And while you're at it- be honest and let's look at what the THS HAS done in the past few years.

• a low-cost (very reasonable) spay and neuter clinic for cats open to the public - as well as a wildly successful program of spaying, neutering and catch and releasing feral cats

• continued support of needy animals that would not have a chance anywhere else - Newt - the latest - a little pug who will require thousands of dollars in medical care

• saving and finding homes out of province for dogs escaping the consequences of the horrific and ineffective BSL (Captain aka Henry for instance, who found a wonderful home in PEI)

• opening doors, hearts and pockets to the care of puppy mill survivors

• continued education in the schools on educating children about animal welfare

• a very successful partnership with Classical 96.3 where a pet of the week (sometimes more) has resulted in many successful adoptions

• a continued commitment to taking in dogs from over-crowded shelters where they are at risk (in Ontario and Quebec)- and I know because I've transported MANY of them

There are many more excellent programs and initiatives both completed and in the works.  There are people with visions (and some with none)- there are some great staff members and some not so great staff members.  But when all is said and done, the THS has the chance to be great.  It has the chance to fulfill a destiny begun more than 100 years ago when a man saw a horse falter and fall in the Victorian streets of Toronto and knew that was a wrong that needed righting.

To achieve that vision it needs support - pure and simple.  It needs goodwill and belief.  It needs money and it needs a willingness to invest in a future which will embrace all that is best about animal welfare.  Positive criticism can be a realistic engine of change.  Vision can excite and compel people to create miracles.  Small-minded, cowardly and deluded small minds, on the other hand, can undermine and ultimately destroy a refuge which can, one day, be a shining example of how we can co-exist, embrace and respect the animals which are such an intrinsic part of our lives.

*Pictures were borrowed from the THS website or Toronto Star

Pretty needs a forever home of her own

Pretty is a 9 years young terrier mix at the Toronto Humane Society. She is a sweet, mischievous bundle of energy whose zest for life, walks and all things fun belies her age.  

She has not had the easiest of lives and as such, her tolerance of other dogs and reaction to new environments requires a somewhat experienced owner. NOT that she is a problem - you just need to know how to guide and teach her new social skills - and the THS staff are ready, willing and able to help with the transition.

Happy Tails Dog Spa has kindly and generously provided a custom-made muzzle for this girl, who due to the draconian, misguided and STUPID laws enacted by that pathetic excuse for a Liberal government, must remain muzzled in public.

Pretty's energy levels - like most terriers- are high and she loves to play.  With a little guidance, Pretty's sweet, affectionate nature, big smile and earnest desire to please would make a wonderful companion and workout buddy!

Please share, far and wide - let's find one of the THS's longest residents her very OWN home in time for Christmas!

So long (THS) and thanks for the fish...

Involvement with animal advocacy brings with it the inevitability of passionate discourse, strong opinions, commitment, involvement and often, a crushing obsession. It seems to be the reality that those of us who battle for those without a human voice, are compelled to immerse ourselves in defending and championing what to us, is so glaringly, critically, obviously wrong. Yet, animal advocacy also brings with it the inevitability of zealots; individuals and organizations that paint the rest of us with flavours of obsession and madness that are undeserved.

 

Animal advocacy has provided a rich, fecund environment for fraudsters, who gleefully fleece well-meaning people with bogus accounts supporting non-existent animals in need. It provides sustenance also to those with the best of intentions but misguided goals and the inability to follow through on grandiose dreams of saving needy creatures. In short, hoarders are sometimes created and flourish – all with the best of intentions and simply the inability to see things objectively and realistically.

 

Negotiating the twists and turns of animal husbandry without falling into the more radical elements of radicalism and maintaining a rational understanding of what is morally right but also realistically attainable is always challenging. I continue to believe, however, it is possible. 

 

There is great need out there. There are suffering animals of every stamp – from our marine creatures living lives of pain, degradation and despair in places like Marineland, to farm animals who are denied basic rights of dignity, freedom from pain and even a semblance of life, and of course, the cover portraits for animal advocacy - our “domestic” dogs, cats, rabbits and other animals with whom many of us share our homes.

 

A moral compass is a necessary component of animal advocacy, yet for each of us, the needle can vary widely. All I know is that we have to remain true to our own convictions; that trying to compromise the basic tenets of what we believe is “right” is not something that you can internalize on an ongoing basis. Maintaining a rational mind is also crucial; more so because to do the best for the animals we purport to battle for means being effective and persuasive orators that can sway and convince the uninformed and the sceptical.

 

In many ways, we animal advocates are dreamers; Don Quixote’s who continue to tilt at windmills and believe in the inevitable triumph of right. If we did not, then it would almost impossible to drag ourselves out of bed every morning, to face the barrage of emails, the deluge of information and gird our loins (as it were) to pick up the standard and go forth to battle yet again.

 

I don’t think there is an animal advocate out there that has not, at some point, been almost mortally wounded by a betrayal of a cause that they had embraced passionately and totally. I know that I have had my share of wounding, almost debilitating betrayals that linger for years in the recess of mind and heart. For each carries with it an intrinsic and unshakeable conviction that we should have seen the reality of the situation, been more aware, been more proactive, done something or noticed something ...

 

Several years ago, I experienced just such a terrible revelation with a group I had been passionately involved with that rescued unwanted, abandoned and rejected german shepherds. The reverberations of that particular situation still linger, have seeped into skin and bone and become an intrinsic part of who I am today. I often feel I lost a chunk of my soul when the reality (and tragedy) of that situation was revealed – but it provided me also with a fierce and unwavering conviction to guard against any such future betrayal (inasmuch as I could).

 

Which brings me to my current decision – to leave my long-term volunteering position with the Toronto Humane Society. My reasons are my own. I do want to emphasize that it is not in any way related to my belief the THS is an awful place, because it is not. The animals within its walls are healthy, happy, well exercised, entertained and taken care of. But after my last experience, I have learned to live with my instinct, to listen to that “gut” feeling and unless I can 100% support a place, unless I can concur and feel content with its policies, then I need to walk away.

 

The bottom line is that my philosophy and that of the THS show no sign of converging at any immediate or future junction any time soon. In fact, in the year I have been back (after a rather debilitating accident), I find indeed that our concept of what the Shelter means diverge even more markedly.

 

As such, I made the decision to leave and voluntarily resigned on good terms. They are going in the direction their Board and staff feel best suits their mandate and I am now a volunteer without a place. I am, of course, still heavily involved with pursuing animal rights, transporting dogs and a myriad of other causes that remain my passion and feed my soul, but for the interim, I will miss my THS and cherish the lessons I learned in the often tumultuous years I volunteered.

 

The one (sad) thing I know. There will always be animals to rescue.

Dear OSPCA: Thank you for the warning!

So, after the horrors revealed by the Star at that torture chamber for marine animals (and other species), Marineland, the OSPCA has decided (no doubt after a zillion phone calls)- maybe, just maybe, we need to actually INSPECT this place - this despite many groups over many years complaining to them about the conditions there!

So, do they go in quietly, unannounced - you know, to actually SEE the reality?
Nope, they give them NOTICE they're coming in there.

Marineland is privately owned by John Holer and licensed by the self-regulating Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

I also highly question some of the organizations involved that assert they've never had a complaint before.

Mallory says the Niagara Falls Humane Society has not received complaints about the care of sea mammals at Marineland.

I can't imagine I'm the ONLY one who complained to them; albeit my call came 25+ years ago; but conditions for these poor animals have clearly worsened, if anything, and I don't for one second believe I'm the only one who would walk in there and see immediately that the conditions are horrific for any animal.
As for CAZA, who ostensibly cleared Marineland and accredited them:

CAZA is the national voice of the zoo and aquarium community in Canada. Representing the 25 leading zoological parks and aquariums in Canada, its purpose is to promote the welfare of zoo and aquarium wildlife, to advance related science and conservation, and to foster public engagement in the preservation of our natural heritage.

CAZA was formed in 1975 as a national, not-for-profit service organization. Since that time it has played an invaluable role in bringing Canada’s zoos and aquariums to the forefront of international standards of animal care. It helps Canadians understand and appreciate the diversity of nature and its importance to their survival. It supports research to preserve threatened species and their habitat, works to preserve the genetic diversity of species and to minimize the live capture of animals. CAZA reaches out to educate youth, in cooperation with local school boards, it partners with governments and non-governmental organizations around the world in seeking to preserve wildlife. And it works to standardize professional conduct through a rigorous Code of Ethics and a comprehensive accreditation system.

Trying to figure out here who FUNDS them.  They apparently have the stamp of approval from the Canadian government according to their website. But then the Canadian government has a pretty poor batting average when it comes to the protection of animal rights, so I'm not entirely surprised.  But then, as "There is no government regulation in Canada or Ontario of marine mammal parks or, for that matter, of any animal park." it is moot - as that in reality means any kind of "pass" is based on questionable criteria.

If, in fact, CAZA did a proper inspection then the bar for their standards is clearly set FAR too low.

In the end, it all comes down to money.  The welfare of the animals, their health, their mental and spiritual well being are so far behind the requirement for them to act unnaturally for oblivious patrons it is enough to bring you to tears.

Call your MPPs - call the Ontario Community Safety Minister Madeleine Meilleur, who oversees the OSPCA and tell her (as Frank Klees aptly puts) to "save" her tears and mobilize action.

“The minister should turn her tears into action,” said Newmarket—Aurora Conservative MPP Frank Klees, who has pushed for action on animal abuse issues. “This is just one more example of the government abdicating responsibility in the area of animal welfare.”

Though not a fan usually of the PC's, MPP Frank Klees has walked the walk when it comes to animal welfare issues and not just talked the talk as does NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo who says it was “absolutely horrifying and scary” to see Star video and read the reports. She called the situation for animals in captivity “the wild west” and called on the province to regulate and oversee the treatment of marine mammals in Canada.

Finally, I was pleased to see my own local MPP, Lorenzo Berardinetti calling for a more “proactive” approach to conditions for animals in captivity, instead of the OSPCA’s complaint-based system.

He said that it’s worrisome in relation to whales and dolphins because “they’re extremely intelligent. They have self-awareness. If you put a mirror in front of them, (studies have shown) they recognize themselves.”

Now I want to see all these individuals - each representing one of our major parties - get together to fight for the rights of the animals of this province.

Ontario needs to WAKE up and start putting some serious legislation in governing how the animals of this province - domestic, farm and exotic - marine and non-marine - factory and NON- factory - are treated. 

And when CLEAR, unequivocal cases of animal abuse are revealed - as at Marineland this week - STOP dragging your damn feet and ACT. Those animals need help NOW. I don't want to see a committee struck, a task force assigned, - act NOW, act DECISIVELY AND QUICKLY. Get those animals some HELP

Marineland - Arena of Horrors

More than 25 years ago, some relatives arrived from Montreal and wanted to see Marineland.  What I saw that day traumitized me so much that I left within 2 hours and spent the next week phoning various government departments, the OSPCA and the Niagara Falls Humane Society- to find out THEN that there is absolutely NO ONE monitoring this place of torture and spiritual and mental prison for innocent marine animals.

The Toronto Star goes behind the scenes today and exposes the truth behind those light-hearted commercials (which i TURN OFF every time I hear them). 

Videos shot in 2011 and 2012 shows them writhing in pain or plunging their heads into a single bucket of clean water. Sandy often sits like a statue, dry as a bone. There’s no lens in Baker’s left eye. When a trainer put him back in the water in April, he barked and it flew out.

Dolphins in pens so filthy they can't be seen in water of such bad quality "Their skin fell off in chunks, their colour darkened and they refused to eat."

And there is NO ONE TO STOP THEM.  The government refuses to intervene. The OSPCA is NOwhere to be seen.

There are no government regulations for sea mammal captivity in Canada. The Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a self-regulating industry association, first licensed Marineland in 2007 and national director Bill Peters says there have been no complaints. Its licence was renewed for five years at the end of September 2011, after a summer inspection by a CAZA team of experts.

In 1998, Zoocheck clearly outlined the horrific conditions these animals were being forced to live in, day after agonizing day. And still nothing was done.

In that scathing report, Dr. Naomi Rose (HSUS) clearly states:

Their eyes appeared to be closed the entire time (it was difficult to see their left eyes at any time or either eye on the far side of the tank). The leading edges of their extremities (the dorsal fins, the pectoral fins, and the tail flukes) all had the same type of skin condition—flaky and blotchy. The trailing edges of the dorsal fins and tail flukes were ragged and tattered. The rest of their skin seemed in normal condition. Their dorsal fins leaned slightly. Their girths were robust (that is, they seemed overweight). The skin condition of their extremities and their closed eyes are consistent with water that is over-treated chemically, but this could not be confirmed.

Another expert, Doug Cartlidge relates other substandard, worrisome and inhumane conditions:

 

Sterile and barren conditions within all cetacean pools in this facility are a major area of concern. Failure to provide an environment which mirrors an animal's normal living conditions demonstrates either a lack of understanding or a total lack of concern for that animal's needs. Regulations within the UK clearly require zoos to ensure all animals are maintained in as near natural conditions as possible for each species held. Paragraph 11 of the SSS states: "Animal enclosures to be equipped, in accordance with the needs of the species in question…in the case of aquatic animals, materials such as weed, shingle etc., to aid and encourage normal behaviour patterns among them." Even if there are no regulations in force within Canada there is no excuse for failing to keep ANY animals in as near natural conditions as is possible; barren concrete cages went out with Victorian zoos.

Since its inception, Marineland has brutally and without conscience exploited sensitive, intelligent living creatures in the name of profit.  These animals live lives of despair and pain, physically, spiritualy and emotionally battered every moment of every day; relegated to horrific, unnatural living conditions, forced to perform unnatural acts, in pain, they are used to "entertain" the oblivious crowds.

Further, it is not only the marine animals suffering, but the deer, bears and other animals as well.

PLEASE boycott Marineland! 

I will follow up once I find out the best source to contact in terms of getting this place SHUT down and the animals moved to places where some quality of life will be achieved. 

and BRAVO THS ... who STEPPED UP...

Once upon a time, a man named John Kelso asked "Why don't we have a society for cruelty to animals" when he wrote about the horror of watching helplessly at the suffering of a horse.  Readers responded and with the $74 sent by the caring people of Toronto in 1886, the Toronto Humane Society was founded.  Now, 125 years later, the THS continues to live up to its mandate - To promote the humane care and protection of all animals and to prevent cruelty and suffering.

In its 125 year history, the THS has gone through lean times and bountiful ones. It has at various points in its long history been high kill, low kill and no kill. It has weathered controversy and battled those who would bring it down to the status of an animal warehouse.  It has had good leaders and bad leaders and leaders with good intentions who did bad things.  But through it all, it has fought to do the right thing.

On or about July 4, five dogs will reach the end of a very long journey and arrive in Toronto to be met by Toronto Humane Society staff and brought to 11 River Street for assessment, vetting and eventual adoption.

Five dogs from Thailand have found santuary in an organization that is exemplifying what it has always promised the city of Toronto - "ALL animals are welcome".  Even little Kaa-Moo whose sweet nature makes having just three legs and a broken back which makes her incontinent irrelevant.  On behalf of the THS, CEO Jacques Messier was also prepared to accept Lyca who is blind and little Evie who had a horrendous tunour which also blinded her recently removed.  Those two however found refuge in Seattle and Calgary, respectively.

THANK you Jacques Messier for leading the THS back into its rightful place. Thank you Toronto Humane Society for working so hard to return to the people of Toronto an animal refuge that truly exemplifies the meaning of humane.  Thank you THS staff for your determination and honesty and passion to move beyond the last few years of controversy and make 11 River Street once again a true REFUGE for every animal in need. Thank you also to Dominque, dog walker extrodinaire and to Lindsay of SCAD who has worked so long and so selflessly to make the lives of animals in Thailand a little better.

I bring you the Thailand Five:

KAA-MOO

December 2009
Female
Mixed (Thai Ridgeback features)
15-18 kgs (33-39.6Ibs) once fully grown

Kaa Moo was being looked after by a kind Thai lady down the road from SCAD. Kaa Moo sustained an injury to her leg which became severely infected. Her leg became so swollen that it resembled a pig's foot; hence the Thai name. The lady did not have the money to get Kaa Moo the medical care she needed, so asked our vet nurse for help. SCAD treated her leg and to try and get the infection under control. Unfortunately Kaa Moo's infection had been left for too long and despite trying many treatments, it was decided that amputation was the best course of action. Kaa Moo has made a full recovery from the amputation - however, a further x-ray showed a broken back near the base of her spine making Kaa Moo incontinent. She is currently undergoing acupuncture and we hope this made help repair some of the nerve endings.

PAT
Late 2010, early 2011

Male
Mixed
Around 15-18kg
Yound adult male Pat is like a boomerang, he always comes back! He was found one day outside the SCAD dog center, but he looked in very good shape and so was not immediately taken into the adoption program. For several weeks, Pat did his best to break into the dog center (with the assistance of certain volunteers!) and wagged his way into everyone's affections, until he became part of the furniture and it was impossible to make him leave! He has such a great personality that we are hopeful he'll find a real home soon!

WRINKLE
Unknown - young adult
Male
Mixed
Around 15-18kg

Spotty dog Wrinkle got his name from his very cute wrinkly head! Wrinkle came to SCAD during the recent flood crisis, when he was rescued from a flood area and brought to the TWP Shelter under SCAD's care. At first it was suspected Wrinkle had a dislocated left hip as his bone seemed to be sticking out at a very strange angle, however, x-rays revealed Wrinkle femural head (the 'ball' which fits into the 'socket' of his hip) was sheared off. Although complicated and painful surgery was an option, the vet instead recommended that as Wrinkle was in no pain from this defect, the hip should be left to form it's own joint. Aside from a lumpy hip, Wrinkle is fully mobile, pain free and loves to run!

SHADE
Mid July 2011
Female
Mixed
10-15 kg (22-33 lb) when fully grown

Black puppy Shade was found dumped with her two sisters outside the new SCAD dog center one evening. She was tired, hungry and showing the early signs of skin condition mange, but was otherwise in good health and so was taken into the SCAD adoption program.

SID
Unknown - young adult approximately 1-2 years
Male
Mixed
15-18kg
Handsome Sid came to SCAD after being rescued from a flood area by members of the TWP Coalition, consisting of SCAD, ENP and the Kinship Circle. He came to us obviously very afraid of humans and was virtually impossible to handle (which earned him the nickname ‘Grumpypants’) but after working with him gently for several weeks, Sid has been transformed into a loving and affectionate dog. Sid is now looking for his forever home!

Step Up

MANY dogs- most even, suffer horribly from parasites and mange

Thailand is not the place for a dog.

Unwanted, rejected, maligned and actively abused, dogs live a precarious, hungry and neglected life on the streets. While some citizens exercise compassion and care, the majority revile the dogs and actively abuse them.  In the hot, cloying atmosphere of the eastern city of Bangkok, water is a precious commodity and not easily accessed.  In a recent visit, long-time THS dog walker Dominque heard about an elderly, mange-ridden but friendly old boy who was horrifically beaten to death by police when a local resident complained that he had drunk out of a reservoir under his plant.

Rama - now safe in Canada

Dominique (and brother Luc) have a condo there.  Much of their time is spent feeding the hungry, sad dogs of Bangkok, bringing them in for vetting, spaying and neutering and treatment for the endemic scourge of mange - a condition which leaves them raw and bald, oozing fluids and blood which attract flies and vermin. 

Dominique feeding the pack

Dominique on his return from there recently brought back one of two street puppies that survived a horrific attack by a swarm of rats when born (and which killed and devoured the rest of the litter).  The Toronto Humane Society graciously accepted Rama who is currently out on foster but will be available for adoption soon.

For 10 years, a wonderful organization called SCAD made heroic efforts to help the animals of Bangkok. Cats, kittens, dogs and puppies were rescued, vetted, fed, watered and good homes found for them. Due to a variety of circumstances, SCAD now has to sadly close its doors. The people behind this wonderful and compassionate organization are desperately trying to find homes for the animals within their shelter.  They have already placed and/or transferred dogs and cats in a wide variety of good and compassionate homes and shelters.

But now scant weeks before they have to close permanently, they are still desperately seeking homes for the balance of the dogs. 

next blog... meet the pack

A little Wiki-Knowledge about the THS

[from WikipediA]

The Toronto Humane Society is a Toronto charity that operates animal shelters and animal rescue operations. It was founded by crusading journalist John J. Kelso after he added the comment “Why don't we have a society for the prevention of cruelty?” to a November 1886 letter in the Toronto World about a horse in distressed condition. Subsequently, a total of $74 in donations was sent to the newspaper which was used by Kelso to found the Toronto Humane Society in 1887 as an organization dedicated to promote both children's aid and the humane treatment of animals. The Children's Aid Society ultimately became a distinct organization in 1891.[1]




The THS was originally located at the intersection of Bay Street and what is now Wellesley Street in downtown Toronto. It is currently located on River Street.[1]


[FROM THS website]


The inaugural meeting was held on February 24, 1887. In his book, Early History of the Humane and Children's Aid Movement in Ontario, published in 1911, John Kelso related that the meeting was “quite successful” and the name “Humane Society” was chosen “because its mission was to be broadly educational – better laws, better methods and development of the humane spirit in all affairs of life.” The following week, an organizational meeting was held and Kelso was elected secretary.




“At that time” he recalled, “there were only six public drinking fountains for horses in Toronto, and three of them were owned and controlled by saloon keepers.” Securing hundreds of drinking fountains for the thousands of working horses in the city was one of the Society's first priorities.


From its beginnings on Bay Street to Wellesley Street (formerly St. Albans St.) and now River Street, the Society has had a 125-year journey and continues to demonstrate its commitment to the humane treatment of animals, with an adoption centre on Victoria Park near Van Horne.

* * *

Last night's Annual General Meeting was slick, professional and thankfully largely absent from the nasty undercurrents of last year's meeting, when emotions ran high, and anger and anxiety culminated in some ugly behaviour, exacerbated by meanspirited letters from both sides sent during the weeks leading up to the elections.  The change of venue helped, bolstered by the slide show, regular meeting materials and a strong leadership which clearly delinated acceptable behaviour and the consequences of indulging in unacceptable behaviour.

Candidates, for the most part, kept to their 3-minute guidelines and with a notable exception, more or less successfully concentrated their speeches on why they would be a good choice for the Board of Directors.

Scrutineers were increased to five from last year's two and judging by the wait we are all experiencing to see the results of the election, votes are being carefully and thoroughly tabulated before results are posted. 

A fairly respectable percentage of THS members made the effort to have their voices heard - 700+ proxies were legally provided to the Scrutineer by 5 p.m. last Friday, and apprxoinately 179 people turned up in person at the Primrose Hotel to exercise their right to choose the direction the THS will take.

More on this once the results are in.