Comments on: Shelter? Sanctuary? Not by any standard definition … and Marion Nestle on Nutro

By: redstarcafe

redstarcafe — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 01:49:52 +0000

This could be a gift, notwithstanding any OSPCA theatrics. They recently rebranded their website as Toronto Humane Society and Hospital. I check the site frequently and don’t remember seeing it until yesterday. Hmm. Maybe it’s been there all along and I missed it? With the discovery of the mummified cat, maybe they should add “and Pet Sematary”.

By: The OTHER Pat

The OTHER Pat — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:42:33 +0000

http://www.thestar.com/news/gt.....ne-society

By: The OTHER Pat

The OTHER Pat — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:41:55 +0000

http://www.thestar.com/news/gt.....es-charges

By: redstarcafe

redstarcafe — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:01:54 +0000

I hope OSPCA provides us with more details soon. There were 4 cases, all cats, out of 1,100 animals that were somehow evaluated in 5 hours (do the math): two with recommended dental consult, two with recommended additional fluids. Since then, OSPCA has stated to the media that the four cases were “serious”. But certainly no recommendations for euthanasia.

Certainly in three days, a massive cleanup would have been possible.

Looking forward to OSPCA’s further findings and recommendations, although I suspect the scope is restricted to auditing against the SPCA Act.

For other litigation, like freezing THS funds and ousting the management and board, a separate organization has jumped on the bandwagon.

All for the sake of the animals, indubitably.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 02:51:34 +0000

Thanks for spreading the word on this issue.

I live in Toronto, and I adopted both my cats from the Toronto Humane Society. Until last year I was a member and I still send the odd cheque their way. But something has been odd the last few years - too much focus on corporate issues, to my thinking.

In addition to the regular requests for funds, communications have included a direct mail piece about a rebranding initiative & new logo and repeated lobbying against Ontario’s improved Animal Welfare Act because it endangered their name (despite it being a huge improvement in other, more important areas).

But I’m appalled to find the problem is so much worse. THS used to be a wonderful organization - how it could fall so far, so fast is truly sad.

The latest news is that the OSPCA investigation only resulted in 4 minor charges - no major concerns about cruelty. And THS is crowing about vindication. But my cynical side says they’ve had 3 days or more to rectify / hide the problem cases.

By: Phyllis DeGioia

Phyllis DeGioia — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:55:27 +0000

I am simply stunned that 10 dogs were returned to the “sanctuary” owner as pets. The court decided “there will be daily visits by a Richland County deputy and weekly visits by a veterinarian to monitor the conditions and health of the owned animals pending trial.” Eventually the concern will wear out, the visits will stop, and she’ll go back to her old ways once she feels she won’t get caught. Sometimes you just have to shake your head at the world.

By: Sandi K

Sandi K — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:34:59 +0000

As usual, another great summary by Marion Nestle, she definately gets it. Wish the PFC’s and FDA would.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 01:59:54 +0000

There needs to be a clear demarcation between euthanasia and killing for convenience, overpopulation or behavior. Because we have allowed euthanasia, a beautiful thing we do to relieve suffering, with the indiscriminate killing often occurring in shelters, the two have been diluted and confused.
All writers and media personalities have to make the line between these two clear so things like this are not justifiable.

By: redstarcafe

redstarcafe — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 01:34:07 +0000

The Ontario SPCA moved in to investigate (as they had to under the SPCA Act) allegations of cruelty. When I checked the news at 6 o’clock (it was on all the local stations), they’d been there for three hours. They have suspended THS’ affiliate status which removes THS from protections under the Ontario SPCA Act but also does not allow them to continue with cruelty investigations (which IMO only hurts the animals).

We’ll see how this shakes out. There are certainly plenty of disgruntled ex-employees and ex-volunteers, and I bet Nathan Winograd would say “No-kill, Ur doin it wrong”. On the other hand, THS does some very good work and has been doing so since 1886. This isn’t a sudden thing either; the politicking has been going on for years, but it seems to revolve around the society’s president and his iron grip on things. So look past the power politics to the real issues of animal suffering due to mismanagement. Good on Kate Hammer at the Globe for getting this quick attention.

Fred, at onebarkatatime has been following this one closely, so his blog is a good one to watch.

http://onebarkatatime.blogspot.com/