Excellent news (the investigation) in my opinion! Thought Torontoians would be interested.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ospca-to-investigate-toronto-humane-society/article1163147/

I know someone - Yuko - asked once why I don't like the THS. I forgot to PM her but since this is in the news I thought I'd post it. I do think the publicity is good b/c the THS has always had such powerful media support that it creates an image very different from the reality, IMO.

....speaking as a former THS volunteer I fully support the investigation. I stopped volunteering b/c of the habit of them not telling us about outbreaks of communicable diseases and concern over my own animals (the insanity around the union didn't help with the atmosphere), but as someone who was involved in rescue in Toronto after I stopped volunteering there, a lot of the actions of the THS never sat well; particularly how they trumpted themselves as a 'low-kill' shelter and regularly criticized Toronto Animal Services, the city-funded shelter system here; I'd heard enough to know the kill rate (and why they euthanized) was largely smoke and mirrors.

Not to mention issues around the THS adopting out animals for ridiculously low amounts - what you'd pay for LUNCH - animals that weren't altered, regularly adopting out unaltered animals - if you pay $25 for a cat, do you really understand the costs involved with caring for that animal? It can cost around $400 to spay a cat in Toronto; there is a serious disconnect there, especially as in shelter adoptions it is far easier to obtain the animal than in rescue adoptions (in my experience).

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/killing-them-with-kindness/article1160810/
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/a-leader-with-a-passion-for-animals-loyal-supporters---and-an-iron-grip/article1162134/

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/ospca-executes-search-warrants-at-toronto-humane-society/article1165458/

They executed search warrants at the THS today, and the THS has had their affiliate status with the OSPCA suspended. Among other things, this means they can no longer conduct animal cruelty investigations.

And feedback from readers:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/your-toronto-humane-society-stories/article1165746/

It is so good this is happening.

Jenn, what an eye opener! I think the readers' comments tell the tale, since most of them came from volunteers who are relieved that something is finally being done.

Were the conditions that bad when you were volunteering?

I honestly don't think the majority of the people there want anything other than to help animals.

But they overcrowd, poorly manage disease control, and lack (from what I saw) appropriate oversight to ensure that all animals in the care of the shelter are cared for.

And it is, as an organization, extremely inflexible to criticism. I know people who were let go as volunteer dog walkers due to them raising concerns over how a dog was classified (red/yellow/green to indicate how difficult the dog was and who should be walking it).

When I volunteered there, there was nobody making sure all animals got care - dogs for instance - I didn't dog walk, but the volunteers would come in, and based on their experience, walk certain dogs. So some dogs - more difficult dogs (which raises whole other issues of adopting out known aggressive dogs!) might not get covered.

I was a feeder in the kitten nursery - staff did not feed the kittens, it was done entirely by volunteers. Volunteers were organized into shifts. If shifts were short volunteers, or there were no volunteers for those shifts, then the kittens didn't get fed. Some staff would try to feed but it was like plugging a hole in a bucket with many leaks. It wasn't uncommon to come in and to find that certain cages or rooms had missed feedings, and not just necessarily one feeding.

They overcrowd and don't have the resources to take care of all the animals in their care.

But in my experience, the shelter staff does not properly manage disease control or ensure adequate hygiene measures are taken - and this can extend down to the volunteers.

I found the article interesting as well b/c the THS is very proud of having a low kill rate, but I've also heard of the opposite - I took an injured mouse (I know, I'm a suck) down there once - I thought it should get on some antibiotics for a cat scratch - and they told me that they would just put it down (the Toronto Wildlife Centre, in comparison, treats that kind of thing, but also will put down where appropriate - I trapped a raccoon once and brought it into TWC - it had compound fractures on its jaws and they made the decision to euth. it after considering its ability to rehab). The staff member told me 'we do just put down the wild animals....even if it's just a bird with a broken wing'. I had a friend who interviewed for the cat coordinator position and was taken on a tour of the shelter by a board member and told that when the shelter was full she would be expected to find behaviour problems in the cats (because the THS, unlike Toronto Animal Services, says they only euthanize due to medical or behaviour issues, and they fundraise on that basis. Toronto Animal Services is city-run and will euthanize if they are full, and THS regularly portrays them as a bad guy b/c of that). It's just presenting yourself one way for donations and press when the reality is different.

I was in the kitten nursery one day for a feeding. There was one cage where the litterbox (disposable cardboard) was full or runny feces and overflowing. Totally disgusting. As volunteers, we were there to FEED the kittens. But I picked up the litterbox and carried it over to the garbage. The door opened, a staff member walked in (the union didn't love the volunteers), snapped 'That's MY job!', took it from me, put it back in the cage, and then cleaned out every cage in the room, that one last.

Interesting.

On another board I am on, they are trying to find a person living in the city to pull a physically handicapped female Rott (her spot on the website does not show her as needing braces on her too short and bowlegged front legs). She has been in there for years (according to a volunteer) and doesn’t get out much at all because of her disability. Many have contacted the THS but they refuse to let her go to all so far. They feel it is a better life to sit in a kennel for years. My understanding is they are trying to pull and PTS as the dog has zero quality of life and is in a ton of pain daily. Rather than do the humane thing, THS wants to keep it low-kill status and lets her suffer.

There is a lot of bad press about them out there… It sounded like this needed to happen…

Well Luc spent 3 years in a no-kill shelter and while I'm glad he's alive and with me, I think it's incredibly cruel to have an animal live in that environment for that length of time.

That's really sad Jessica. I think too when they get high profile cases or special cases they stick with it.

Reminds me of Bandit - a dog that attacked a 3 year old (the child required 200 stitches). Bandit came under the care of THS. He was deemed violent and not suitable for adoption. The THS (Tim Trow was very involved) refused to euthanize him b/c it wasn't in the best interests of the dog. It ended up going through the courts, and at least 1 employee was fired for raising concerns about how the case was handled.

I did not realize THS was this bad but i'm not surprised either.
They do portray themselves as the good guys compared to city animal control but it looks like they have some skeleton's in the closet.
Interesting to hear about your experiences as a volunteer there....

 Quote: Jennifer Mullen

Reminds me of Bandit - a dog that attacked a 3 year old (the child required 200 stitches). Bandit came under the care of THS. He was deemed violent and not suitable for adoption. The THS (Tim Trow was very involved) refused to euthanize him b/c it wasn't in the best interests of the dog. It ended up going through the courts, and at least 1 employee was fired for raising concerns about how the case was handled.

He was the pit, right?

If I remember correctly, even the owners wanted him euthanized. What ended up happening with him?

Sad.

He's still alive, as far as I know. The case is still before the courts - it's 4 or 5 years old now.

They've spent thousands - I don't even like to think how much - to fight in court over an agressive dog (they say he's been rehabbed) when they can't even properly care for the number of animals they take in. Priorities, priorities....


edit: Terra, having run a cat rescue - I'm not saying Toronto Animal Services is perfect, but they were never anything but fantastic to deal with. They started out with a really low adoption rate, and have made big improvements over the years. They came out to seminars on improving adoptions etc and then applied that stuff. I am biased, but I do like Toronto Animal Services. I've dealt with them pulling animals for a rabbit rescue, working w/cat colonies and entering reports, and I adopted Teagan from them.

Charges have been laid!
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/toronto-humane-society-officials-arrested-charged-with-cruelty-to-animals/article1378385/

And Bandit, the dog Jessica mentioned, alleged attacked a police officer.