Animal Talk Spring 2010

8/9/2019 Animal Talk Spring 2010

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S P R I N G 2 0 1 0 AnimalTalk

MovingForward

HappyTailsEasterBunniesAdoptMe

Improvingthe THS


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3/32ANIMALTALK SPRING 2010 1

Cover Story4 THS Moving Forward

Features 12 Easter Bunnies

14 Wildli e

16 Donate

28 Kids Activity Page

Shelter11 Hide and Perch Boxes

20 Adopt Me

21 Sta Pro le

24 THS 2009 Summary

Society O fcersBob Hambley, President Joan Milne, Vice President Carol Lupovich, Vice President

Board o DirectorsStephen Dooley Alan Johnson Delores QasimBob Hambley Valerie Jones Al TwetenBrenda Hind Carol Lupovich Bud WaltersSandi Hudson Patricia McIlhonePam Inglis Joan Milne

Art DirectionUntitled_Art Inc.

AnimalTalk is distributed ree o charge toapproximately 60,000 Society members and donors.

ISSN 1192-4861

The Toronto Humane Society11 River Street , Toronto, Ontario, M5A 4C22802 Victori a Park, Toronto, Ontario, M2J 4A8T 416.392.2273 F 416.392.9978in [email protected]

Canadian Charitable Registration Number11925 9513 RR0001

Contents

AnimalTalk

S P R I N G 2 0 1 0

A publication or the riendso The Toronto Humane Society.

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4/322 SPRING 2010 ANIMALTALK

Message from the PresidentBob Hambley

moVinG orWard tocont inue heLPinG animaLs

There is no doubt that The TorontoHumane Society has been at the centreo controversy as o late. As you are wellaware there are many allegations againstthe Society and some o our ormeremployees. These allegations will be dealtwith in the appropriate orum a courto law.

This has been a di cult time or TheToronto Humane Society as or more thana month we were not able to do adoptions;the Ontario SPCA will not allow the

THS to admit animals that are in needo assistance.It is not surprising to nd sick animals

at The Toronto Humane Society. We run aull veterinary hospital that treats these

animals. As with any human hospital youwill have sick patients, but they are undermedical care.

The question to ask yoursel as ananimal lover is, do you want to see ashelter that has a ew animals underits care that do not have challengesbut has put down hundreds or thousandso animals; or a shelter that is caring

or them and doing whatever it can to givethem a second chance.

A di erence o philosophies in animalcare is what is at the centre o the debate.Many animal shelters put down about hal

o the animals that come through theirdoors. They can do better. The Toronto

Humane Society takes in the sick, injured,older, abandoned or otherwise un-per ectanimals. We do not write o animals asunadoptable or think that a treatmentwould cost too much to provide. TheToronto Humane Society, as it always has,will provide treatment, rehabilitation andgive that animal a second chance to beplaced in a home where they can be loved.Many o the OSPCA a liates and branchesact as local pounds with very high killrates. They deem animals with minor

medical issues or behavioural problemsto be unadoptable and they are killed.The Toronto Humane Society as an

organization is moving orward and makingchanges. Our goal, as it always has been

or the last 123 years, is to be the humaneorganization to lead the care and wel areo animals in Canada.

We have ormulated a vision statementto be Canadas leading animal advocacy,animal care and adoption agency that willguide us going orward. This will help oursta , volunteers, management, membersand directors to be clear on goals o theorganization and to not lose sight o thesekey objectives.

We have introduced a new clearlyde ned euthanasia policy or ourveterinarians to ollow to individually

evaluate each animal. There are moredetails o this on page 7.

We realize that an open admissionspolicy with a low euthanasia shelter is notan ideal system. We have set out limitsto the number o animals that we can care

or at any time in the shelter / hospital.We will not exceed these numbers.You can read more details on page 8.

A new leadership team has been putin place at The Toronto Humane Societyto lead the day-to-day running o theshelter. We have hired a new ExecutiveDirector, Garth Jerome, to lead the

day-to-day operations o the organizationgoing orward.The Toronto Humane Society is a leader

in animal wel are and advocacy becauseo our independence, strong membershipand valued donors. We look orward tocontinuing this in the uture. Rest assuredthat your Toronto Humane Society willcontinue to be a humane voice or theanimals and help these innocent creatureswhen they are in need.

Sincerely,

BoB hamBL ey, caPresident



Message from the Executive DirectorGarth Jerome

I would like to take this opportunity tothank you or your support and or sharing

your concerns or the animals. You mayhave experienced uncertainty and eelingso trepidation surrounding The TorontoHumane Society in recent months. Somuch has been written and said, but nowis the time or us to act. We have beenlistening and have taken to heart yourconcerns over the well-being o theanimals and have addressed this with anumber o important steps.

We have been working hard to re ne andper ect our operations, rom top to bottom,

covering admissions and adoptions, tohygiene and sanitation. The sta continueto work tirelessly to ensure our acility isa clean, sa e and welcoming environment

or all o our animals today and orthe uture. This initiative o operationalexcellence will ensure that our highstandards are maintained, measured andconstantly re ned. We are pleased topresent to you an overview o two o thosepolicies in this issue o AnimalTalk.

We have restructured sta ng at TheToronto Humane Society to ensure that wehave the right people per orming the righttasks. We have hired a number o newanimal care sta who will ensure that thehighest levels o care are delivered to ouranimals at all times. We continue to strive

or excellence in this area and we are

committed to ensuring that we spend ourvaluable donor unds where they need to

be spent on animal care.Our commitment to providing top quality

care or the animals is at the ore ronto our review o Shelter operations. Wehave engaged a Pro essor o VeterinaryMedicine rom the University o Guelph,as a consultant. He has over 25 years o animal care experience and is regardedas a top expert in his eld. He has been avaluable resource or the re nement o ouranimal care processes and procedures.We will be continuing to use his experience

and expertise in the uture.A signi cant amount o time ande ort has been spent on ormingrelationships and key partnerships withanimal rescue groups, veterinarians andclinics. They have given their time to helpus through a di cult period and we aregrate ul or their ongoing commitmentto The Toronto Humane Society. We look

orward to continuing these importantrelationships and working more closelyin the uture.

Un ortunately, over the past monthswe have been restricted rom admittingany new animals that may need our help.This has been an unexpected setback orus. However, we have made good use o this time to prepare our animal shelter orwhen we are able to do so.

Our oster program has been expandedsigni cantly, with wonder ul care-givers

opening their doors to our many patientsthat need special care in a homeenvironment. We thank each o you, alongwith all o our new volunteers or yourongoing support and hard work.

Much o our day-to-day work ocuses oncaring or our animals; however, we arealso committed to serving the community.In due course, we aim to provide a numbero comprehensive programs which willserve the needs o animal wel are in theGTA. These initiatives will be announced

in time through the relevant channelsincluding a newly re-designed website www.torontohumanesociety.com.

The Toronto Humane Society is ocusedon being the leading advocacy, adoptionand animal care centre. We are here todo whatever it takes to help animals it is what we do and it is who we are.Thank you to everyone involved in makingThe Toronto Humane Society the amazingorganization it is.

My best wishes to all o you.

Garth JeromeExecutive Director

Wish Your Friends andFamily a Happy Easter

With a Tail Wagging Gif!



Bio of Garth JeromeNew Leadership or The Toronto Humane Society

Garth Jerome is the newly appointedExecutive Director o The Toronto HumaneSociety. The Society is very pleased tohave an expert in the eld o animal careheading our organization. His expertisecoupled with a love and respect oranimals made him the right choice or thischallenging and rewarding position.

Garth was born and raised inJohannesburg, South A rica. He completeda Bachelor degree in Microbiology at theSA Institute o Technology, in South A rica.

A ter completing his degree in 1992,he completed a 1 year internship with theDepartment o Agriculture and therea terwas o ered a permanent position as aVeterinary Technologist in the Directorateo Animal Health.

He continued to work or thedepartment, upon his secondment to theSouth A rican De ence Force (SADF). Hewas appointed to the rank o Lieutenantand still holds the rank to this day. Heserved as a Senior Medical and VeterinaryTechnologist in the SADF throughout his

national service. His military service gavehim insight into medicine, large animal

veterinary care and companion animalwork, predominantly with dogs. He le t thepublic service in 1996, ollowing teaching

or 2 years.Garth worked or 7 years as a

managing consultant with a large ood com-pany. This position provided more experi-ence with industrial microbiologyand quality control techniques. He le t the

ood industry in 2003 and spent 4 yearsat a private laboratory as Product andLaboratory Manager.

Garth obtained his permanentresidency in Canada be ore he arrived inToronto in January 2008. He joinedThe Toronto Humane Society as the sta Microbiologist. Some o his key successeshave been: The establishment o a dedicated,

ully unctional in-house laboratory. Heoperated this laboratory on his own andwas responsible or all aspects o itsquality control. The in-house laboratoryproduced a saving o $120,000 or theSociety within 12 months.

The development o a set o ShelterStandards produced in accordancewith those o comparable institutionsaround North America.

Regular monthly reporting tomanagement, regarding diseasecontrol and prevention.

Assisted in the establishment andrunning o the nebulizer program totreat animals with upper respiratoryin ections and other conditions in anon-invasive way. This treatment aidedcountless animals to recover romillness and become available

or adoption.

Garths primary commitment is oremostto the animals and ensuring their care. His

goal is also to ensure that The Toronto Hu-mane Society is able to meet and exceedthe expectations o its Board o Directors,members, donors, supporters and otherstakeholders. He con orms to a publishedcode o conduct and will lead all sta members to do the same.

He was appointed Shelter Manager bythe current Board o Directors onNovember 27, 2009 and appointed toExecutive Director on February 12, 2010.The Executive Director is responsible or

the day-to-day operations o the Society.The Board o Directors will oversee generalpolicy and goals to move the organization

orward. The delegation o running theshelter will be led by the Executive Director,who will oversee sta at all levels.

Since December 29, 2009, Garth hasbeen the lead contact in the managemento the shelter and has been working withthe OSPCA on site. He meets regularlywith representatives o the OSPCA toensure there is a clear and direct line o communication between the two organiza-tions. We look orward to a resolution and

or The Toronto Humane Society to returnto accepting and caring or the animals.

Garths main objectives are to ensurethat all o the animals currently housedat the THS receive excellent care and toaggressively nd new orever homes orthem. In conjunction with this, the THSis using this valuable time to re ne andper ect our operating procedures and proto-cols on everything rom disease control toadmissions and adoptions policies. Garthlooks orward to this rewarding challengeand will be updating our supporters on aregular basis as to new improvements thatare being implemented so we can continueto save animals lives.



Board o directorsOversee the guiding the mission

and goals o the organization.

the torontohumane society staDay-to-day operations o The Toronto Humane Society

THS Organizational Chart

seniorcommunicator

IanMcConachie

i tsPeciaList

sheLter

suPerVisors

undra is inGco-ordinator

accountsPayaBLe

eXecutiVeassistant

sheLterWorKers

undra is inGassistant

PayroLLcLerK

sta

Veterinarian

staVeterinarian

Veterinarytechnicians

Lead

Veterinarytechnician

admiss ions /

adoPtionsdePartment

WeBmaster

oPerationsmanaGer

BernardBignall

undra is inGadministrator

StephanieRatcli

inanciaLcontroLLer

Catherine AnneMacDonald

manaGereXecutiVe dePt.

ClaudetteTurner

seniorVeterinarian

Dr. RobRock

eXecutiVedirector

GarthJerome

Boardo

directors



mission statement:t p p ll l

p v l ff g.The Toronto Humane Society is dedicated to providing a sa e, clean and compassionate environment or the animals in our care while nding them

permanent and loving homes. Working with the community we help prevent animals rom being neglected, abused, and abandonedand through public education, promoting responsible pet ownership, collaboration with other animal wel are agencies across Canada, and raising public

awareness o animal issues. By empowering our volunteers, sta and veterinarians to reach and exceed high standards in animalcare, we ensure our uture as a premier animal shelter and hospital.

THS Vision

VisionTo be Canadas leading advocacy, animal care

and adoption agency.

resPonsiBiLi tyWe will ensure the sa ety and

well-being o all our sta and volunteersby providing the necessary tools or

their success including on-going trainingand assessments.

We will be open to suggestionsregarding improvements rom sta ,

volunteers and the public.

PartnershiPsTo orm par tnerships and

strategic alliances with those who share ourvision, guiding principles and

respect or animals; we can do moretogether than on our own.

accountaBiLityWe are accountable to our

members, supporters and the community.

We measure, track and reportregularly on what we have achieved.

Future measureablegoals will be clearly stated.

LeadershiPWe will provide leadership in:

The adoption o animals to loving homes.

Veterinary medical care or all animals atThe Toronto Humane Society.

Advocate the protection and promotiono animal wel are through

courage, compassion and wisdom.

t ransParencyWe will regularly disclose

our nancial and operational actionsto our members, government

agencies and the public.

Provide thorough and ongoing trainingor the Board and management

on their legal and ethical obligations.

LearninGWe will continue to grow and learn,

using an evidence based approach to guideimprovements and constantly evaluate

measureable results.

We will share our knowledge andexperience with others to improve

animal wel are.



The new Toronto Humane Society euthanasia policy has beendeveloped by veterinarians, sta and outside experts and isclearly explained and de ned, as part o the standard operatingprocedure or the shelter. The decision to euthanize an animal isthat o the veterinarians tending to that speci c animals care. Weare proud o our goal to do whatever it takes to provide the bestmedical care or animals and give them a chance to be treated

or their condition. We will continue this policy to give animals thechance at li e they deserve. But, as always, the THS will euthanizeanimals when recovery is not an option.

Euthanasia o animals has been acknowledged by mostanimal-protection organizations as an acceptable means o alleviating or preventing pain and su ering. However, euthanasiao any animal involves a di cult decision, requiring that eachanimals health be evaluated on an individual basis. The ollowingquestions will be care ully addressed in seeking to determine themedical action required: Is the animal in pain or distress, and is there hope o

alleviating this pain to allow or a reasonable quality o li e?

What are the prospects o providing the animalwith a quality o li e that ul lls his/herbasic physical and psychological needs?

Does keeping the animal in his/her presentcondition present signi cant health or sa ety risksto other animals or people? Can these risksbe minimized or avoided while still a ording theanimal a reasonable quality o li e?

Given the limitations aced by the organization orindividual charged with the care o the animal,does keeping the animal alive reduce the ability tocare humanely or the other animals in need?

It is critical or people (THS sta , volunteers, the public) who arenot trained veterinarians to understand the decision to euthanizeis not always easy, is never taken lightly and is done when it isthe humane action to take. The veterinarians ace a di cult task,and their medical decisions must be respected, even i they aredi erent rom ones personal point o view.

A Veterinary Medical Decision

The TorontoHumane SocietysPolicy on Euthanasia



The Toronto Humane Society has developed new guidelines onthe intake o animals admitted to our care. These updatedguidelines are a result o a detailed examination o our acilityscapacity and sta ng levels to ensure the best care or theanimals under our roo .

We can not currently accept stray animals and can onlyaccommodate custodial/owner surrenders. Toronto AnimalServices will be taking care o stray animals in the city.

For shelters with low euthanasia rates such as the THS it isnot always possible to have an open admissions policy. When wehave reached capacity at the Shelter, we will not be able to acceptnew animals into our care. We have developed so t and hardtargets o the number o animals we can care or. Our capacityon a daily operating basis will be that o the so t target. We willalways have extra accommodation to be able to assist animals indesperate need o our care, whether that arises rom a medicalissue like a li e threatening injury or other emergency situations.

The shelter can provide or a maximum animal population o 810 animals that can be housed within our River Street acility.This population is designated as ollows:

sPecies so t tarGet hard tarGet

1. Felines (Cats) 520 5502. Canines (Dogs) 85 1003. Small Mammals 80 1204. Avians (Birds ) 20 255. Herptiles 10 15

Total population permitted: 715 810*subject to ongoing review

The goal o the Society will be to remain below the so t target sothat we will not have to turn away animals when they are most inneed. This will be acilitated through increased awareness in thecommunity o our organization and the adoption o animals.

The Toronto Humane Society animal population will be monitored

daily by the Senior Admissions Administrator and Shelter

Operations Manager. They will ensure that the shelter populationremains within the target parameters at all times. Establishing andkeeping within our target parameters will ensure that: Su cient sta will be on hand to e ectively clean,

eed and treat the animal population in the Shelter. Adequate residual kennel space is available

to accommodate a disaster or emergencysituation where animals require care.

In ectious disease is controlled and suitablestandards o hygiene are maintained at all times.

tyPes o admission / surrenderAnimals may be admitted or surrenderedto the Society under the ollowing conditions: Medical Surrender Custodial Surrender Owner Surrender Shelter / Pound Trans ers

All surrenders are irrevocable and the animal will become theproperty o The Toronto Humane Society.

admiss ions ProcessAll persons who wish to surrender animals will be required tomake an appointment with The Toronto Humane Society.

Appointments or the surrender o animals shall be made atleast 24 hours in advance.

Animals may only be surrendered / admitted to the Societyon weekdays, during normal public hours, between 12pmand 6pm daily.

Once an appointment is con rmed, an appointment list shallbe posted or the speci c day.

Persons who report to the shelter shall be given an interviewby an Admissions agent.

The agent will complete the relevant documents which pertainto the surrender process.

All animals admitted to the Society shall be examined by a

veterinarian within 24 hours o arrival.

Admissions Policy

New Guidelines ForThe TorontoHumane SocietysAnimal Admissions



Please visit our websiteor all the latest news and in ormation. A newly designed THS website is coming soon!



A Message from the Senior CommunicatorIan McConachie

There has been much said and allegedagainst The Toronto Humane Society over

the past ew months.We would like nothing more than to

provide our side o the story to you,our members, donors and supporters.However, the Ontario SPCA hasinitiated multiple court proceedingsagainst the THS and its Board. Respect

or the Court and the processes we areabout to undergo restrict our ability tospeak publically about our position. Wevehemently disagree with many o theallegations that have been made by

the Ontario SPCA and look orward topresenting our case.We will not ollow the lead o the Ontario

SPCA and conduct our de ence through themedia in tabloid-style announcements andpress releases. We strongly oppose theirtactics. The manner in which the searchwas conducted with tours or the mediaand a consistent fow o out-o -contextin ormation being released is ample proo o why it is undigni ed to debate legalissues in the media.

The attacks o the Ontario SPCA on along-standing competitor with whom ithas ideological di erences damaged thereputation o The Toronto Humane Society.We will not exacerbate the problem with a

responding media campaign.I have personally dealt with many

inquiries rom concerned individuals whohave heard one side o the story and wereshocked. Many o the allegations shockedus as well. Hold tight riends. Our day incourt is coming soon. You will hear ourside o the story and be able to judge

or yoursel whether the allegations havebeen over-stated and exaggerated or

actual. Please visit our website or signup or our e-newsletter or updates ondevelopments that have occurred be orethe courts. We are eager to present to

our members, supporters and donors allthe in ormation as soon as it is possibleto do so.

I you have any questions pleasedo not hesitate to contact me [email protected] or 416-392-2273 x 2149.

Thank you or your support.

Sincerely,

ian mcconachieSenior Communicator



Making CatsStay a Little Homier

Everyone knows that li e in a shelter canbe scary or cats. The sights and soundscan stress out even the calmest cat.Not only is this bad or the animal, butit can make the cat less appealing topotential adopters.

To help out these cats the THS isintroducing a new product called theHide, Perch and Go into the cages o adoptable cats. The Hide, Perch, andGo was invented or use in shelters in aproject spearheaded by the BC SPCA. Theidea behind them is that they provide catsa place they can mark with their scent,allow them to be out o public view, andto perch (which is a natural behaviour).The box then converts into the carrier thatthe cat is brought home in, allowing or amuch smoother transition into their new

environment by providing a amiliarhaven or the cat that is saturated with

the cats own scent, which helps reducestress or the cat in the new setting.

The pilot project which currently includestwenty cats came about through thesuggestion o a THS dog walker who hadseen them in use in BC and thought theycould bene t the cats at the THS. Shecontacted the THS inventory controlspecialist, Shannon Caul eld, who thenlooked into ordering them. The boxes area little more expensive than the regularcarrier boxes that we order, but we eel itsmoney well spent i it will make the catshere a little more com ortable during theirstay and help them get adopted and thrivein their new homes.

Since their introduction the catswho have had the boxes have reallytaken to them and enjoy being able to

have multiple areas in which to spendthe day.



as Easter approaches, some people may considergetting their own Easter Bunny, or their kids or the

amily. And while rabbits can make amazing pets, theyare o ten misunderstood and thought to be easy or goodstarter pets. In act, there is a lot to consider be ore adding arabbit to your amily. I you dont know what youre getting into,you could be headed or a stress ul situation or both you andthe bunny.

Rabbits can make wonder ul pets they are riendly, socialand enjoy the company o people very much.

Rabbits are a long-term commitment. The average bunnylives 8-12 years, and they require quite a bit o care andcommitment. True, you dont have to take your rabbit orwalks three times a day, but you will nd yoursel requentlycleaning multiple litter boxes, vacuuming hay and ur romevery sur ace o your home, and nding your attention isdemanded as much having a new puppy.

Cost is also an important consideration. Inexpensive topurchase in a pet store, many people are under theassumption that rabbits are a low-cost pet to keep. In reality,the cost o caring or a rabbit is not insigni cant.

Bunnies require a specialized and diverse diet. Unlike dogsand cats, rabbits cannot subsist on a single type o ood.To be healthy, your bunny will need a small amount o a veryhigh quality rabbit pellet, an unlimited supply o resh grasshay at all times, and a wide variety o resh greens daily.

Next, you have bedding. Specialized bedding such as aspenshavings (pine and cedar shavings are toxic and must neverbe used), recycled newspaper, or hemp bedding are sa e orrabbits, but they are also more expensive than traditional litter.Unlike cats, a rabbits litter box cannot be lled with clay kittylitter. A rabbit is also going to need more than one litter box,and can be expected to go through more supplies than a cat.

Last, you must always consider medical costs be orebringing a new bunny home. In the veterinary world, rabbitsare considered exotic pets. Thus, you will need to go to anexotics specialist, instead o a regular vet who mostly treatscats and dogs. As a specialist, these vets tend to chargehigher rates than cat and dog vets. Although most people will

nd an annual checkup to be manageable, i your rabbitdevelops a serious medical concern, you could be astoundedat how quickly the bills can add up.

Another thing you should think o is the space and timerequired or your rabbit to lead a happy li e. Many peoplebelieve a rabbit has no real space requirements and can liveits entire li e in a cage, getting out or the occasional snuggle.The absolute smallest cage that should be considered or adwar rabbit is 36x24x24, although it would be best to setup a large, indoor g pen, or build a custom, multi-level condo

or your bunny. On top o this, your rabbit must be alloweda minimum o 4-6 hours o exercise time outside o hisenclosure every single day. I you cannot dedicate this time

eBI N F O R M AT I O N T O H E L P Y O U D E C I D E W H E T H E R Y O U D L I K E T OH AV E A R A B B I T H O P I T S WAY I N T O Y O U R H O M E , A N D H E A RT



to a bunny, it would be unkind to bring one into your home.Most rabbit owners nd that their rabbits are happiest i allowed to be 100% ree-range (rabbits can be completelylitterbox-trained, just like a cat).

Allowing your rabbit adequate exercise time requires thatyou rabbit-proo your home. Bunnies are notorious chewersand some rabbits will make quick work o telephone cables,electrical wires, leather shoes, purses, coats or couches,wicker urniture, wooden urniture, carpets, books, and more.The simple rule is this: whatever you dont want your bunnyto chew, put out o its reach! You must accept that there maybe some casualties that you didnt anticipate, and that thisis a natural instinct or your rabbit. However, proper rabbit-proo ng is essential not only to ensure your possessionsremain intact, but also to guarantee the sa ety o your rabbitwho could easily electrocute himsel while chewing on a verytempting wire.

Another thing its important to realize about rabbits is that,in general, they dont like to be handled. As prey species inthe wild, their instincts dictate that they want all our eet to beon the ground, in case they need to make a ast escape roma predator. This doesnt mean that your rabbit wont enjoysnuggles! In act, most rabbits love to be petted and cuddledwhile youre beside them on the ground, and many will hopup on the couch or a snuggle while youre watching TV.But actually picking a rabbit up is a di erent thing altogether,

and you must understand that its unnatural anduncom ortable or them.

Most people considering a rabbit as a pet do so becausethey have young children and think a rabbit is an easy starterpet. Rabbits are extremely delicate and require very practicedand care ul handling. Being accidentally dropped rom even avery low height can be very dangerous or a bunny. A rabbitsspine is very delicate and his legs very strong and power ul. I a rabbit is held in a way that allows him to kick or struggle, hemay unintentionally break his own back simply by kicking out.Children 7 years and younger do not possess the coordinationto hold a rabbit properly, and no child under 12 should everhold a bunny without constant supervision. As well, rabbitsrequire a calm, atmosphere in order to eel sa e and secure.Young children tend to be less predictable and could easilymake a bunny eel very stressed

Many parents decide to get a pet like a rabbit or theirchildren to teach them responsibility. Rabbits are verysensitive, emotional beings and it is unkind to use themas a lesson in responsibility.

I you have considered all there is to having a bunny in yourhome and are prepared, please remember that thousands o rabbits end up in shelters, like The Toronto Humane Society,and they need your help to nd a orever home. I you go to ashelter to nd a new bunny, you wont just be getting a abulousnew member o your amily youll also be saving a li e!



Spring is around the corner and soon wewill be seeing wildli e again.

Un ortunately, it is very common orwell meaning members o the public tobring baby wild animals to wildli e centerswhen these tiny creatures should not beremoved rom their natural habitat.These wild babies include birds, squirrels,raccoons, cottontails and many more.

Many people assume that baby wildli ewill have the same or better chance o survival being at a wildli e centre thanwith their mothers in the wild. In act, thesuccess rate o rehabilitating wild babyanimals without their mothers is verylow. Also, it is sometimes assumed thata mother will not accept its young onceit has been handled by a human. Wildanimals will likely accept their young

even i they have been accidently removedor touched.

I you do come into contact with babywildli e, it is important to minimize yourphysical contact with them. Wildli e shouldonly be removed rom its location i thereis an obvious injury to the animal, i it is

ound in a completely inappropriatelocation or i it is ound beside an injuredor deceased member o its amily.

You can visit www.torontohumanesoci-ety.com or in ormation on how to properlyaddress wildli e you may come acrossthis season.

Currently, The Toronto Humane SocietyWildli e Rehabilitation Center cannotaccept and care or wild animals. I youhave ound a wild animal in distress, the

ollowing resources are available to help:Toronto Wildli e Centre: 416-631-0662Ontario SPCA Wildli e

Rehabilitation Centre: 705-534-4350Animal Control Services: 416-338-7297

Spring AdviceNewborn Wild Animals



Happy Tail Kuba

Kubah

i, My name is Kuba. I am anAustralian Cattle Dog and amabout 4 years old. I came to the

THS in August o 2009 and was adoptedin February 2010. I am very happy withmy new amily member Tom, in my newhome. I get to go on our walks a day,including my avourite one in the morningwhere I get to run o -leash or about anhour in a nearby park. I get to meet otherdogs and people and play with them. I amvery riendly and outgoing and really enjoymeeting new people.

I have made lots o riends, both peopleand other dogs, in my apartment buildingand look orward to the nightly get togetherwe all have in the local enced-in dogpark. Even my neighbour, Gail, has reallytaken to me and takes me on nicelong walks around the neighbourhoodmost weekends.

I was placed into oster care with mynow permanent owner in January 2010because the THS vet detected a heartcondition. I have a level 5 heart murmur,the most serious is level 6. This couldhave been potentially atal or me. TheTHS called in a cardiologist or a consultand she looked at my heart condition. Hediscovered that in addition to the murmur Ihad another anomaly with the structure o my heart. Fortunately, this second anomalyseemed to cancel out the murmur thatcould have been a serious problem. Thiscondition does not a ect me in my dailyli e and I have lots o energy and love toplay. Tom, my new riend, had a dog be oreme that lived with a heart condition as wellso he is amiliar with my needs and whatcould happen.

My owner is very happy with me, andI am very happy that he adopted me.We really complement each other well.



s v ta l tBe an animals best riend by sending a gi t every month!



Members o our SAVE THE ANIMALS TEAM provide the loyaland generous monthly support the animals count on. With yourhelp we are able to continue to eed, shelter and provideveterinary care or thousands o animals each year. The TorontoHumane Society is a not- or-pro t charitable organization andwe receive no government unding, however we are here 24/7 orany lost, injured and abandoned animals that need us becauseo your support.

Please consider joining today with agi t o $18 a month (only 60 cents a day)!

s g p !www.SupportAnimalsNow.com416.392.2273 x2162

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For as little as 60 cents a day, you can sponsor an animalat The Toronto Humane Society. Your donation will help

eed, shelter, provide healthcare, and eventually adopt ananimal into a loving home.

$18.00 per month (60 cents/day)

$30.00 per month ($1.00/day)

$___________________ per month

Chequing Account: (Please enclose a cheque marked VOID.)Deductions to start 1st or 15th

or

Credit Card: VISA MasterCard American ExpressDeductions to start 15th or 27th

Card Number Expiry Date

monthLy donation

I understand that this amount will be deducted rom my bank account or charged to my credit cardautomatically on the 1st or 15th o each month or next business day.

I may revoke my authorization at any time, subject to providing notice to The Toronto Humane

Society allowing 30 days or processing. To obtain a sample cancellation orm, or or morein ormation on my right t o cancel a Pre Authorized Debit (PAD) Agreement, I may contact my nancialinstitution or visit www.cdnpay.ca.

I have certain recourse rights i any debit does not comply with this agreement. For example,I have the right to receive reimbursement or any debit that is not authorized or is not consistentwith this PAD. Agreement. To obtain more in ormation on my recourse rights, I may contact my

nancial institution or visit www.cdnpay.ca.I agree to waive my right to receive pre-noti cation o any debits under this agreement.

I acknowledge that I can request to make changes to the amount noted above simply bycontacting The Toronto Humane Society.

Signature Date

y ! The Animals Can Count On Me For Support!

Here is my single o : $_________________________

My cheque or money order is enclosed.

Please make cheque payable to

The Toronto Humane Society.

I pre er to charge my gi t:

VISA MasterCard American Express

Card Number

Signature Expiry Date

Phone Number Email

Please return this orm with your donation to:The Toronto Humane Society11 River Street, Toronto, Ontario M5A 4C2T 416.392.2273 F 416.392.9978.Charitable Reg. #11925-9513-RR0001

Receipts will be issued or gi ts o $20 o r more automatically others on request.

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In order to keep you in ormed about impor tant campaigns and to ask or suppor t, we will rom timeto time telephone and send mail to you. I you would pre er not to receive phone calls or mail pleasecall and let us know, our number is 416.392.2273.

Occasionally, we make our donor list available to reputable charitable organizations whose

mission may be o interest to you. It is also a very cost e cient way to attract new donors to suppor tThe Toronto Humane Society.

Please nd my donation enclosed, but do not make my name available.



Happy Tail Lex

LexW

hen writing this letter aboutmy recent adoption o Lex inFebruary o this year I thought

it would be remiss o me not to mentionmy rst ever adoption rom The TorontoHumane Society in 1987 and the 17

abulous years I spent with my Princess.I knew when I lost her and her companionI could never live without a cat in my li eever again. I adopted Lex or Lexter as wecall him because o his in ectious purr andpersonality. Lex was brought to the THSat 2 weeks old and was very ill. He endedup losing his eye but let me tell you thatit does not slow him down! Because heis still a kitten and not yet a year old hebounds into a room, all eleven pounds o him and races around the house talking to

himsel about everything. He had lived ina cage all his li e and having him home orthe rst ew days was so much un. He hadnever seen stairs, or urniture or his ownshadow. I have three other companion catsat home which were unsure o him at rstbecause hes so risky and Lex couldntunderstand why they didnt like him. Butpeace has settled in or the most partexcept when Lex takes to one o his maddashes around the house and makes sureeveryone participates. Having only one eyehas not altered any o the joy and un hesees in li e and just adds to the amazingexperience that it is to have a loving petlike Lex in my li e.

catherine anne



Every year in Ontario, tens o thousands o dogs and cats are euthanized (put down)

because homes cannot be ound or them.Pet owners must take responsibility ortheir companion animals by having themspayed or neutered.

Spaying and neutering are sa e surgicaloperations that prevent animals romreproducing. Spaying is the removal o a emale animals ovaries and uterus;neutering is the removal o a malestesticles. These procedures generallydo not even require an overnight stay ina veterinary clinic, and can eliminate orsigni cantly reduce the risk o an animaldeveloping numerous health problems,some o which may shorten their lives.These include reproductive cancers andin ections, as well as behaviour problemssuch as territorial marking, destructivenessand aggression. Animals that have beenspayed or neutered are much less likelyto roam in search o mates. When emaledogs and cats are not spayed, they go intoheat and this can attract males. Whilesearching or mates, animals can get hitby cars, injured in ghts, or lost and evenstolen. Others end up in animal pounds.Keeping animals inside doesnt guaranteesa ety, as they may escape by accident.

The sa ety o both male and emaleanimals is dramatically increased i theyare spayed or neutered.

common QuestionsWill neutering my catmake him at and lazy?Neutering might reduce an animals activitylevel, but this need not result in weight

gain. A healthy diet and su cient exercisecan help your pet maintain a healthy weight.

Spaying and neuteringinter ere with nature?Domesticated dogs and cats arecompletely dependent on humans. Its ourresponsibility as their guardians to makesure the number o companion animalsborn doesnt exceed the number o available homes.

What about other animals?For health and behavioural reasons, spay-ing and neutering are also recommended

or rabbits. Female errets should alsobe spayed. I they go into heat and dontmate, they can become anemic and die.Veterinarians recommend spaying andneutering guinea pigs but consider surgeryunsa e or small rodents such as hamstersbecause o their size. Separating males

rom emales is the best way to preventsmall rodents rom reproducing.

Should my emale dog beallowed to have one litter?Theres no reason or a emale dog tohave even one litter. It wont make her abetter companion, and it will increase thelikelihood that she will develop mammarycancer. Spaying a dog be ore she goes intoheat even once greatly reduces the risk o her developing mammary cancer.

For more in ormation about theimportance o spaying or neutering yourpet, please contact your veterinarian.

source :ontario VeterinarymedicaL associationWWW.oVma.orG

The Importance ofSpaying/Neutering Your Pet



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Adopt Me

Biscuits

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Sta Profle Shannon

shannon came to work at The Toronto HumaneSociety in early 2008. She began as aShelter Supervisor and enjoyed her job as it

was challenging, di erent everyday and not routine.Shannon started a new role as the InventorySupervisor in January 2010.

When she started she immediately realized thata system o inventory control was needed toensure that we had an accurate picture o whatsupplies were in the shelter and what was needed.

She designed a computer database totrack inventory in real time which is alsoable to issue reports on historical trendso usage.

Her daily tasks include ordering allood, medicine, cleaning supplies and

equipment or the shelter, vet clinic, andoster parents. She ensures that all

supplies are up to date and that we meetcode on health and sa ety equipment.Part o her tasks include budgeting and

orecasting or uture orders. As well,Shannon continually looks or lower priceson similar or same items rom di erentsuppliers to ensure that the Society isgetting best value or our dollars.

Shannon was also in charge o our FoodDonation Drive in early 2010 which providedover 50 rescue groups and shelters with

ood or the cats and dogs in their care.Shannon has a BA and an MA rom York

University. Shannon came to work at TheToronto Humane Society because o herlove or animals. She had been a volunteerwith the Etobicoke Humane Society and

was pleased to nd a position where shecould work ull time to help animals.



Charles & Katy Balderston

John Grand & David Kempson

The Murphy Family

Adele

Champ

Justin Kanitz

Linda

Dr. Judith Bonkalo

Simon

Andrea Hopson

Nova Sanford

Michele and Mona Slepekis

Sebastian Luca

Joules

Dad & Lynda

Louise Crawford

Leila & Kayen

Parth & Kyla

Ian Fisher

Mr. Matthew C Forti

Kate MacLean

Miss Olivia J Eckersley

Nathaniel

Michael Anderson

Irene and Fergus Ferguson

Lindsay Marie Gerby

Carol Slipetz

Dianne Piaskoski

Robin Moore & Paul Moore

Scar

Michael Downey

Christina Clifford

Speckles

Kaitlin Dare

Tomayer

Resmi Raveendran

Patricia Teramoto

Nancy McCarmen

Carol Tomayer

In Honour o Tribute gi ts are a thought ul and meaning ul way o expressing your good wishes or commemorating an occasion.

With a minimum donation o $80.00, The Toronto Humane Society will print the name o the riend or amily member you

choose to honour. This is a great way to acknowledge a loved one and help the many animals in our care.

CALL 416.392 .2273 EXT. 2162 / 2166

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THS 2009 Financial Summary

Income Expense

Income and Expense by Month > January throuGh decemBer 2009

Jan 09 eB 09 mar 09 aPr 09 may 09 Jun 09 JuL 09 auG 09 seP 09 oct 09 noV 09 dec 09

2009 stats:

Total Animals Admitted 8472Total Animals Adopted 4928

Wildli e intake 1679Wildli e releases 559

Small mammals intake 565Small mammals adopted 403

Dogs intake 1382Dogs adopted 901

Cats intake 4701

Cats adopted 3492

Cats & dogs euthanized 394 (6.4%)

09 $ 2 m

$ 1 . 5 m

$ 1 m

$ 0 . 5 m

0



THS 2009 Financial Summary

Income Summary Fundraising 62.02 % Bequests 30.55 Adoption Income 4.73 Investments 2.36 Rental Income 0.28 Li e Insurance Premium 0.06

Total $10,185,311.15

Expense Summary

WaGes & saLaries

Animal Care 83 % Adminsitration 17 %

Wages & Salaries 39.40 % Animal Care Expenses 17.11 Building Maintenance Expenses 11.63 O ce & General Expenses 9.66

Fundraising 9.50 Marketing / Advertising 8.58 Amortization/Depreciation Expenses 3.89 Investment Expenses 0.22

Total $9,969,251.60



Happy Tail Shas

Shasi

n early February, we had the joy o bringing a charming (not so)-little degu,named Shas, back to his orever home

with us. Shas had been at THS sinceAugust and had tragically lost his long-timecompanion about a week be ore we wereintroduced. As all degu lovers know, thesesociable pets cannot bear to be alone

or long (and Shas was apparently andunderstandably growing more depressedby the day) so one can just imagine hisexcitement when he arrived home only tobe greeted by two new degu riends! Thechange in his mood was immediate andtruly undescribable. The reaction o our

existing degu amily, too, was pricelessas they were more than eager to welcomeShas to his new place he t right in;it was love at rst sight all around. I havesince discovered that aside rom hisnew pals, Shas loves Timothy Hay andhead rubs. Hes nearly lost his balanceseveral times while straining to allowus unimpeded access to his urry chin!Its not di cult to see why everyone

who meets Shas, adores him. We eelincredibly lucky to have Shas as apermanent member o our amily.

emiLie m



AnimalTalk Kids Activity

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5. These animals hop!

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Documents

Animal Talk Spring 2010