Animal Talk Spring 2011

8/7/2019 Animal Talk Spring 2011

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EnrichingAnimals Lives

Coming SoonTHS Spay/NeuterService

Teaching KidsAbout Animals

Happy Tails

One at a Time

SPR & SUM 2011 AnimalTalk


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3/32ANIMALTALK SPRING & SUMMER 2011 1

Interim CEO

Christopher Barry

Society Ofcers

Michael Downey, President

Marcie Laking, Vice President

Sydney L. Nezon, Treasurer

Linda MacKinnon, Chair

Board o Directors

Lisa Gibbens

Crystal Tomusiak

Ferne Sinkins

Jennifer Downe

Judi King

Johanna Booth

Dr. Karen Nasir

Kimberly Cohen

Peter Newell

Thomas Ungar

Wendy Strickland

Contributors

Chris Johnston

Claudette Turner

Glenda Neat

Hanna Booth

James Planck

Jan McCartneyJennifer Dick

Liz Anderson

Joan Wedderburn-Spence

Mitch Ralph

Ruthann Drummond

Sara Russell

Shaswar Ahmadarahman

Stephanie Ratcliff

Art Direction

Untitled_Art Inc.

ISSN 1192-4861

3 Announcing the

THS Spay/Neuter Service

4 CEOs Corner

6 Animal Welfare Report

8 Dog Training Classes

9 Volunteering

10, 20 Happy

& 25 Tails

11 THS Animal

Enrichment Programs

14 Save the Animals Team

16 Pet Photo Contest

17 & 24 Up For Adoption

18 Feral Cat Program

22 In Memory/In Honour

26 Humane Education

28 Fun for Kids

The Toronto Humane Society 11 River Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5A 4C2

T 416.392.2273 F 416.392.9978 E [email protected] www.TorontoHumaneSociety.com

Contents

AnimalTalk

SPRING & SUMMER 2011

A publication for the friends

of The Toronto Humane Society.

3

14

26

AnimalTalk is distributed free of charge to

approximately 55,000 Society members and donors.

Canadian Charitable Registration Number

11925 9513 RR0001


4/322 SPRING & SUMMER 2011 ANIMALTALK

Dear Friend o the Animals,

Its been a year o positive change here

at The Toronto Humane Society.

I have personally enjoyed the opportunity

to contribute to helping animals in need,

since I began as the volunteer President

o the Societys Board o Directors last

Summer. I hope you enjoy reading all about

the animals whose lives we have touched

in this issue oAnimalTalk. We are proud

o our work and simply couldnt do it

without your support.We have a lot o exciting new programs

to tell you about. I you havent heard yet,

planning is well underway or a high-volume

spay and neuter service. You can read all

about it on the next page.

Another way we are doing our part to

help with the plight o cat overpopulation

in our community is with our Feral Cat

TNR (trap/neuter/release) program.

This program will contribute to signifcantly

reducing the number o homeless cats

born onto our streets fnd out about iton pages 18/19.

We also see how much children love

animals, and enjoy helping them learn

more about caring or animals through our

education programs. We have visited many

schools and look orward to expanding

the Humane Education program read

more on pages 26/27.

As you can see, The Toronto Humane

Society is growing in leaps and bounds by

reaching out to our community, and

continuing to provide a warm welcome to

animals in need. One o the best ways you

can support the animals who rely on us

24/7, is by joining our Save the Animals Team

monthly giving program a special thank youto all o our current donors who give so gener-

ously each and every month. I you would like

to sign up as our newest monthly donor, youll

fnd the orm on page 15.

We truly appreciate everyone who gives

rom their hearts to keep the shelter

running our valued donors, members,

volunteers and dedicated sta.

Sincerely,

Michael Downey

President, Board o Directors

The Toronto Humane Society

P.S. Please be sure to visit our website

or the latest inormation on our work to

help animals, undraising events, or to

make a donation dont orget to sign

up or our weekly email newsletter called

The Scratching Post.

Message from the President

Michael Downey



Coming Soon

A Toronto Humane Society

Spay/Neuter ServiceThe Toronto Humane Society

is planning for a high volume

spay/neuter service at our

downtown River Street facility

in spring 2012. We feel it is

important to do our part to

help our community solve

the pet overpopulation crisis.

There are thousands o stray cats living

on the streets o Toronto and they are

reproducing rapidly. City-wide authorities

place the number o homeless cats

in the city in the hundreds o thousands.

Thousands o these animals are

killed each year simply because they

are homeless.

In addition to the serious plight o

homeless cats, there are many unwanted

animals born to amily pets. In the GTA,

one in two amilies have pets in their

homes, and many lower-income amilies

cannot aord to spay/neuter their pets,

leaving our community bursting at the

seams with unwanted cats and dogs.

This pet over-population puts a strain

on shelters, rescues and animal control.

The only proven solution to pet

homelessness and pet overpopulation

is to ensure all animals are spayed

and neutered.

A U.S. study ound that where a spay/

neuter service operated over a 15 year

period, the homeless pet population

decreased by 75%! For the homeless pets

o our city, this service will change their

world. It has been seen that a neutered

pet is more likely to be kept in the home

and not abandoned to the streets to

ace grave dangers alone and unprotected.The Humane Alliance, a charitable

organization, is helping The Toronto

Humane Society to prepare and plan or

our proposed Spay/Neuter Service.

The Humane Alliance is supported by

PetSmart Charities who donate unds

and fnance the training o service

personnel. The Humane Alliance will work

with us in business planning, and will

train our veterinarians and technicians in

rapid spay/neuter techniques. In turn, The

Toronto Humane Society is developing a

relationship with Toronto Animal Services

so that this service will provide even

greater benefts to the community.

The Toronto Humane Society will need to

raise $400,000 to cover alterations to theRiver Street building, purchase equipment,

and provide start-up veterinary salaries

and supplies. Once the service is open,

it will be a sustainable, sel-fnancing

not-or-proft business.

I you are interested in making a

signifcant, one-time git towards building this

very worthy community cause please contact

us at 416-392-2273. All proceeds or the

new service are being held in a special

investment und. We would ask that existing

donors continue with your current donations

to the shelter as we desperately need your

gits to continue to unction and grow.

Visit our special website at

www.ThsSpayNeuter.com or more

inormation about the services plansand progress.



CEOs Corner

This is my rst

message as

interim CEO o The

Toronto Humane

Society and I

should like to

begin by thanking

everyone in the

THS community

(our membership

and donors, our employees and volunteers,

the Board o Directors, and the public) or

their warm welcome and many expressions

o support.

I assure you I will do my utmost during

the brie time I am in this role to lead the

THS orward in its continuing mission

to provide care and humane treatment

or animals at risk. Our vision is to be

Canadas leading animal advocacy, animal

care, and adoption agency.

I would also like to pay tribute to our

wonderul employees. They are our most

valuable resource, and it would be impos-

sible to deliver against our mission without

the daily eort o these hardworking and

extremely dedicated men and women.

Thank you, olks, or what you do every day.

Today, visitors to The Toronto Humane

Society will nd us on our journey towards a

new and revitalized shelter. New innovations

include a dedicated intake area or incoming

animals. This provides an airlock system

against inectious disease and helps ensure

employee and public saety. Our new

communal cat room gives our eline riends

a chance to stretch their legs and mix with

their neighbors in a supervised manner,

o course! Many o our dog runs have been

enlarged to provide more space or larger

and energetic types. Our re-modeled small

species rooms are the envy o the shelter

community and many shelters have asked

or advice and tips on producing their own

similar rooms.

We have embarked on a judicious

recruitment and training plan or new

and existing employees, have radically

over-hauled cleaning and hygiene practices

as well as streamlining budgeting and

inventory processes to maximize cash fow

and ensure liquidity.

In September 2010, we launched a

Strategic Plan that outlines our goals and

plans or the next two years. This plan

will provide a road map or our uture

and brings together key objectives that

will dene the bright uture o The Toronto

Humane Society.

Animal capacity at 11 River Street

remains modest and controlled. We are

determined to build capacity and aim to

help more animals. In order to do this,

the Society must ensure that it remains

an outcome based shelter. Our rst

priority is to ensure that we secure more

homes or animals. This in turn will

drive increased intake and subsequently

improve overall animal welare metrics.

As I wrote earlier, our mission remains

rm and steady: a dedication to providing

a shelter or all animals in need and

the chance to nd a new orever home.

In order to accomplish this, the Society

will need to look to new ways to increase

its base o adoptive and oster care

homes. This is a challenging task. Every

year, more and more homeless animals

nd their way to animal shelters and

animal control organizations throughout the

city and resources are being stretched

ever thin. The Society will need to preserve

and nurture our community relations in

order to do this.

We are dedicated to providing a united

ront; a partnered, cohesive approach

to securing the uture o all animals in our

city, big and small. We are committed to

better and improved customer and client

service. The Society will soon roll out an

employee-initiated client care program

that has only one key objective: to make

The Toronto Humane Society the adoption

agency o choice in the city and beyond.

We want our clients and customers to

have a welcoming, happy experience when

they adopt a pet rom us.

Our urther plans include an ambitious

project to build and open a high volume

spay and neuter clinic at 11 River Street.

This project, or which undraising

has already begun, is expected to be

Top: LARGER CAT HoUSING BoTTom: BIRD Room CommUNAL CAT Room



CEOsCorner

Our newly launched Question and Answer section o the

www.torontohumanesociety.com has brought us some interesting questions rom

our members, donors and the general public. Here is a selection o some o them:

Q: I donat monthl to th

Soit, so dosnt

that man Im a mmr?

AnonmousA: Dear Friend,

Under the Societys by-law, donors are

not automatically members. Members

can vote or the Board o Directors

under the Societys by-law i they live

or work within a 60 km radius o

11 River Street in Toronto. Members

also approve the fnancial statements

and the appointment o auditors.

The Societys members receive Animal

talk magazine and the calendar. I you

are already a member, you will have

a membership card, and we will

let you know when it is time to renew

your membership.

I you are not sure i you are a

member, please call our membership

department at 416-392-2273,

Ext. 2123 or 2117, or email

[email protected].

Q: Im wondring what hans

if somon rings a itull

to th Human Soit undr

Ontarios law for thm. Ar

th uthanizd aus th

ant adotd out again?

Rli

A: Dear Rylie,

The THS is required to comply with

all provincial animal legislation,

in particular, the Breed Specifc

Legislation o the Province o Ontario.

There are several steps that are

undertaken when a pitbull breed dog

is brought to the shelter.

These include verifcation o date obirth and breed by obtaining accurate

veterinary records rom the animals

veterinarian or owner and investigation

o the existence o a license or

municipal tag or the dog. I theserecords cannot be obtained, a Society

Veterinarian will conduct a detailed

examination o the dog to veriy age,

breed and health status. I the dog is

deemed legal in terms o the Dog

Owners Liability Act, he will be accepted

and prepared or adoption. I the dog

is deemed an illegal pitbull breed, by

virtue o bir th date and breed, then the

THS will, through available resources,

attempt to place the dog with a suitable

Pitbull Rescue Group. The THS will,

through all legal available means,

advocate against all orms o Breed

Specifc Legislation in the province

o Ontario and throughout Canada.

Q: Wh is th THS not ating

stra animals an mor,

as it usd to do so in th ast?

Su

A: Dear Sue,

In order or a Humane Society to

be able to accept stray animals,

one o two requirements are needed.

The Society must be a ull afliate

member o the OSPCA. This gives the

Society powers under the OSPCA Act,

Bill 50, to accept, hold and take

ownership o stray animals. Alternatively,

the Society must be designated as

a pound and receive ormal permission

rom a local municipal body, such

as the City o Toronto, to do so.

The THS currently has neither o these.

We are, however, working to resolve

both o these matters as soon asis possible.

completed by spring 2012.

Education o the youth about kindness to

animals is key to ensuring that the Society

remains a orce to be reckoned with, in

keeping with John Kelsos early aims. Our

new school visit program is gaining momen-

tum and we will keep up our presence, by

invitation, to visiting primary and secondary

schools throughout the city, to press home

the humane movement message. Ater all,

these are the pet owners o the uture.

Much o our planning is dependent on

resources and this is where we turn to you,

our solid and aithul donors. We will be

unable to meet our objectives without the

valuable support o all o you. Your dollars

are used to help animals in need, every

day. In order to meet the ambitious plans

or 2011 and 2012, the Society will need to

raise some $10 million in annual revenue,

year upon year. We need your help.

It only remains or me to thank you

or your ongoing support o The Toronto

Humane Society. The shelter is open every

day rom 12pm until 7pm. Please come

down and say hello to the animals and our

employee team you are welcome anytime!

cHRISTOpHeR bARRyInterim CEO

LARGER DOG RUNS

Q&A



intake and outcome julY to december 2010 (all speci es)

THSAnimal Welfare Report

julY auGust september october noVember december

intake 334 415 388 344 367 250

adoption 178 192 204 250 229 190

eutHanasia 41 31 29 33 16 1

montH

no.oFanimals

Y ear endinG

december 201 0

a Wf mThe shelter re-opened on June 28, 2010,

with some 115 animals already in its care,some of whom were in foster homes. Since

July 1, 2010, the Society has admitted 2,098

animals. When we re-opened the shelter,

we planned to place around 3,500 animals

in homes, per year, in 2011 and 2012. As

our capacity for care has improved in the

past 7 months, we expect that our annual

adoption rate will be around 4,000 animals

per year. Some 1,243 animals were placed

in new, forever homes, between July and

December 2010.

Animals housed at The TorontoHumane Society, remain in our care for a

much shorter period of time. Between July

and December 2010, the average length of

stay for a cat at the THS was 27 days. For

cats younger than 1 year, the length of stay

was 12 days. The average length of stay for

a dog at the THS, is 4.5 days!In addition, the THS uses its available

capacity for care, to determine how many

animals can be maintained in the shelter

at any one time. The Society supports a

mixed population of Slow Track animals

(those who require long-term care) and

Fast Track animals, who move through

the shelter very quickly. In order to

ensure that all these animals are cared

for correctly, the population must be

maintained at a suitable level. Currently,

the THS maintains approximately300 animals in the River Street shelter.

National Animal Control Association

statistics show that the THS could move

to a population of 360 animals in the

coming months.

450

400

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0



AnimAl OutcOme (by OutcOme type)

AnimAl intAke (by intAke type)

Outcomes 2010

(May to December)

Percentage of Outcome

(2010)

2009

(May to December)

Adoption 1,243 65% 2,242

Animal Transfers Out Partners

(other humane societies, rescue groups and foster care)

217 11% 11

Animal Transfers Out Strays

(stray animals transferred to animal control)

129 6% 0

Lost Animals Returned to Owners 34 1% 194

Died in Care, Owner

Requested Euthanasia or Cremation Services

131 6% (594) Only deaths

in care reported

Euthanasia Medical

(animals euthanized for medical veterinary reasons)

146 7% 549 Reasons

not stated

Euthanasia Behaviour 5 0.1% Not stated

Release to Foster Care 4 See also:

Transfers Out

0.2% 244

Other 10 0.5% 32

Trap-Neuter-Release

(feral cats sterilized and released by the Society)

48 2% 0

Total Outcome 1,909 3,859

Intake 2010

(May to December)

Percentage of Intake

(2010)

2009

(May to December)

Owner / Guardian / Custodian Surrenders 1,101 52% 2,242

Animal Transfers In

(other humane societies and animal control)

454 22% 61

Return Adoptions

(animals returned to the shelter)

36 2% 260

Clinic Services

(includes cremation services

and owner requested euthanasia)

194 9% 7

Animals Born in Shelter 0 0% 126

Strays and Abandoned Animals 313 15% 799

Total Intake 2,098 3,859

Some 129 stray animals were sent to Toronto Animal Service for stray holding.

114 animals were returned to the Society under the pet partnership initiative with the City. These animals are entered under Transfers In.

The Release to Foster Care statistics are incomplete as the shelter is in the process of

compiling accurate data from its prior Chameleon database. This information will update in due course.

Trap-Neuter-Release Initiatives are being spearheaded by the T-N-R Committee.

These clinics take place monthly at the Society and are predominantly driven by volunteers.

Owner / Guardian surrenders represent the bulk (52%) of intake for The Toronto Humane Society.

Clinic Services include Owner Requested Euthanasia statistics. These are animals that are brought to the Society by an owner and where

humane euthanasia is requested and deemed appropriate by a veterinarian. This is a free service offered by the Society to the public.

THSAnimal Welfare Report


10/32

You can have a confi dent dog that is well-behaved.

As a dog owner you should be able to protect your

dog, keep your dog safe, guide them through life

and make sure you dont set them up for failure.

Breaking a dogs spirit by forcing them to roll on

their back, having them submit and showing them

whose boss, is not the way to raise a dog.

Its our job to condition our dogs, desensitize

them to the source of stress (noise, other

dogs, strangers, etc) and prepare them for any

possible stressful situation in the future. If your

dog doesnt feel comfortable with having other

dogs around, dont take him to a dog park or if

you know your dog will be scared of loud noises,

dont take them to watch the fi reworks.

We want to help to build a stronger

relationship by learning to become a leader

without being domineering, and as a result have

a reliable dog that you are proud to have. The

Toronto Humane Society is pleased to announce

the start of our dog training classes. These

classes include basic obedience, advanced

obedience, dealing with different types of

aggression, separation anxiety, raising a puppy,

problem-solving and agility classes. Our goal is

to help new and experienced dog owners, as well

as those whod like to do more with their dogs

(such as competing in CKC trials, achieving

canine good citizen certifi cate).

Training your dog is one way to make your

bond stronger and further your relationship with

your dog.

For more information on THSs dog training

classes, please contact: Shaswar at email

[email protected]

or 416-392-2273 ext 2145.

DogTrainingCREATING A STRONGER BOND BETWEEN YOU & YOUR DOG

8 SPRING & SUMMER 2011 ANIMALTALK



Our volunteers are a highly valued

resource here at The Toronto

Humane Society as they make a

such positive dierence to the lives o the

animals in our care.

Volunteers are a vital link to our commu-

nity and help to build positive relationships.

They add much needed companionship and

socialization to our animals while they stay

with us and wait or their orever homes.

Volunteers have a genuine commitment

to the welare o animals, and our animals

need that riendship.

Volunteers contribute in many dierent

ways to The Toronto Humane Society and

the animals we help.

During the majority o the year, our kitten

volunteers are the primary caregivers

to the many tiny little kittens that arrive at

the shelter. This work includes eeding and

socializing kittens to get them ready or a

new home.

Many o our cats can become earul,

rustrated and depressed being in a

shelter environment, so our volunteers

play an important role with our adult

cats too. Volunteers spend time with

the cats to keep them socialized, give

companionship and, o course, love.

Dog volunteers interact with the pups

at least our times a day. Mainly this

includes taking dogs out or walks so that

they can stretch, run and play. Volunteers

also provide riendship, love and o course

scratches behind the ears, which helps to

brighten their stay in the shelter.

We have volunteers who work with all o

our special species animals. This includes

rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats and

many others. These volunteers help

with eeding and socializing the many pets

we care or.

Other volunteers help with animal adop-

tions, client care and administration duties.

These volunteers help to supplement our

regular sta, which is a huge asset, and helps

make things at THS run more smoothly.

Last, but not least, ostering is another

fexible, un, and rewarding volunteer job.

Foster parents provide temporary homes

or animals who need the extra love and

attention o a home environment to be

able to recover rom illness, injury, surgery

or have other special needs.

Thank you to all o our current

volunteers we appreciate the time you

give to help the animals!

Share Your Love of Animals

by Volunteering!

HOw TO BecOme

a VOlunTeer:

1. attd ifotio sssio

We post the dates/times on our website

at www.torontohumanesociety.com/

volunteer. The sessions are usually

about 45 minutes long and give a

general overview of the volunteer

program here at the THS. At the end

of the session volunteer applications

are distributed.

2. copt th vot ppitioand call to set an appointment for

an interview. Interviews are

conducted within a few days of

the information session.

3. attd th vot itvi

which usually takes about 15 minutes.

After a successful interview, training

will be arranged.

4. aft of th ssy tiig

sssios optd, our

volunteers will be well-informed and

ready to work with the animals.

To o bot boig

vot, visit s oi t

.tootohsoity.o/

vot



Happy Tails

Orion was surrendered by

his owners to Toronto

Animal Services, and then

transferred to THS. Orion just

wanted to be close to people

and we were happy to see him

adopted in December of 2010

to a new forever home:

Just a little pre-holiday updateon Orion he and we are very

happy! Orions quickly made

himsel at home, still allowing

us to live here but only under

his watchul eye. Favourite

spots include the blanket

on the soa, the blanket on

the bed and o course the

window seat thats built on

top o the radiator in the

living room that ones a

given. Hes a really good cat,

absolutely no problems atall and so loving.

JOhn & FranciscO

Four month old Pretty

Penelope was brought to

the shelter after the kitten was

injured and needed emergency

surgery. Her front leg needed

to be amputated to save her

life. Pretty Penelope recovered

from her surgery and was

adopted in November of 2010.

Just wanted to send you an

update on Pretty Penelope (now

Sadie) who became part o our

amily on November 27th.

Amazingly, it took no time

at all or Sadie to eel comort-

able in our home. She was

playing and sleeping with her

new eline riends, Rio and

Izzy, within an hour o arriving.

Having only three legs has been

no hindrance or this sweet girl.

She easily jumps on the bed

to nap beside us and onto my

desk to help with work. Balls

and springs are her avourite

toys and she fnds innovative

ways to enjoy even the

scratching post.

Considering all shes been

through, Sadie is an amazing

and resilient cat.

Jennie Payne

PrettyPenelope

Orion



The Toronto Humane Societys new

cat enrichment program has been

designed to keep our felines as

happy, healthy, and as comfortable as

possible. Our program follows the BC

SPCAs Cat Wellness Program which is a

component of their CatSense system.

The enrichment program is primarily driven

by volunteers and strives to ensure the

fi ve animal freedoms are met, thus

promoting good emotional welfare for all

the cats during their stay at the shelter:

Currently, we have close to 100 trained

volunteers who dedicate their time to

making sure each cat has daily one-on-one

interaction with people. When a cat

is suffering from poor welfare such as fear,

anxiety, frustration or depression, these

trained volunteers provide treatments to

relieve their negative emotional state. For

frustrated or depressed cats, we have an

enrichment room stocked with toys so they

can have a break from being in their cages

while enjoying human companionship.

For fearful or anxious cats, volunteers

provide cloths with Feliway on the bars of

their cage. Feliway is a synthetic copy of

the feline facial pheromone, used by cats

to mark their territory as safe and secure,

creating a state of familiarity and security

in the cats environment. Volunteers also

work on gaining the cats trust with fre-

quent, short visits throughout their shift.

For cats that suffer from chronic

frustration in their cages or who have been

here for a long time, we have a communal

adoption room where they can be loose

to play and socialize with other cats while

waiting to be adopted.

To help care for the cats staying at our

shelter, please donate today at

www.TorontoHumaneSociety.com or

call 416-392-2273 ext 2162.

THE FIVE ANIMAL FREEDOMS

1. Freedom from Hunger and Thirst

by ready access to fresh water

and a diet to maintain full health

and vigor.

2. Freedom from Discomfort

by providing an appropriate

environment including

shelter and a comfortable

resting area.

3. Freedom from Pain, Injury or

Disease by prevention

or rapid diagnosis and treatment.

4. Freedom to Express Normal

Behavior by providing

su cient space, proper facilities

and company of the animals

own kind.

5. Freedom from Fear and Distress

by ensuring conditions

and treatment which avoid

mental su ering.

ENRICHMENT

PROGRAM*******************

Making Each Cats Stay at the Shelter More Comfortable

New!

When Oddie arrived at the shelter, he was extremely fearful in his cage. He would not eat and hissed and swatted

at anybody who approached him. Using the treatment for fear (short, frequent visits with a positive outcome),

he was receptive to receiving attention within a week. He did so well in the programme and was moved into the

communal adoption room, where he continues to thrive with his new feline friends, while he waits to be adopted.

Oddie

Oddie



When a dog is left at a shelter

by their owner, they may feel

their life has been turned

upside down. A shelter can be very

stressful for dogs, as it is fi lled with

unfamiliar sounds and smells, and they

spend most of their time in social

isolation. This experience can affect a

dogs well-being and may result in

behavioral defi cits such as withdrawal,

inactivity, barking and in some cases

increased salivation and urination. At The

Toronto Humane Society, our new Canine

Enrichment Program ensures all dogs feel

safe, loved and not forgotten.

To relieve stress and feelings of anxiety

we have added mood enhancements to

each dog room. We use calming scents

like DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromones),

aroma essential oils (lavender, vanilla or

chamomile) which all help to lessen some

of the stress the animals are feeling. We

also play music (classical, light jazz and

lullabies) which has a relaxing affect and

results in the dogs barking less.

We provide the dogs with a variety of

toys to keep themselves entertained.

Food-dispensing toys are a great way for

overweight dogs to expend more calories

and for active dogs who need more mental

stimulation. With these toys the dog must

manipulate it to get the food to come out.

Initially, some dogs may need the help of

volunteers to teach them how to get the

food to come out. Very palatable treats

are used until the dog learns to enjoy the

game and then we star t to use the dogs

daily amount of dry food.

Dogs are social creatures that are very

dependant on human contact. We strive to

give each dog at least two hours of human

companionship ever y day, through walks,

training sessions, and TLC. Our volunteers

play a big role in this by taking dogs to

one of our dog parks or on walks around

the neighborhood. Volunteers also hang

out with dogs in our real life rooms or help

with getting treats ready (stuffi ng Kong

toys, etc).

Our new Real Life rooms are of great

benefi t to the dogs that have been in

the shelter for a short time and are really

important for dogs that have been here

longer. These rooms are set up to look like

any living room with a sofa or arm chair,

table, stereo and books. Volunteers can

brush the dogs, and read out loud to

them as it gives them a chance to sit

quietly while listening to a soft voice and

just relax.

By giving every dog time to play and

interact with people, we are able to keep

them happy and well adjusted. By reducing

the stress on an animal, we increase their

chance for adoption and decrease their

time in the shelter.

If you would like to donate to help

make a dogs day, please call us at

416-392-2273 ext. 2162 or visit

www.TorontoHumaneSociety.com

Keeping a Dogs Tail Wagging

ENRICHMENT

PROGRAM*******************



The Special Species Department

has been hard at work transforming

the lives of the hundreds of small

animals helped by the Society each year.

These include small mammals, birds and

herptiles. This transformation goes beyond

the basic needs of the animals, and

looks to their unique natural histories and

psychologies so that we can understand

how best to enrich their lives. We also help

animals who fi nd it diffi cult to transition

from their past experiences, through the

shelter, and into their forever homes.

The enrichment program is comprised of

several key aspects:

Appropriate, controlled diets

Housing that not only meets the

minimum standards of care, but sets

an example for how the animals

might be cared for in their new homes

Appropriate and varied toys to encourage

foraging behavior and stimulation

Daily interaction and socialization to

prepare animals for positive relationships

with their new human families

Real-life enrichment rooms that provide

a sanctuary for animals having

diffi culty adjusting to life at the shelter.

Leading by example is the most effective

way of educating the public and adopters

about the best possible husbandry of

Special Species animals.

We now have larger, species-appropriate

habitats. Possibly the most signifi cant of

these is the multi-faceted aquarium/cage

setup now in use for the hamsters and ger-

bils. This environment allows for the same

amount of climbing, running on wheels, toys

and enrichment activities as a traditional

hamster/gerbil cage, but also allows exten-

sive burrowing space. In the natural world,

hamsters and gerbils spend a signifi cant

portion of their day digging their burrows

and running back and forth to store food in

them. Domesticated hamsters and gerbils

are generally not provided with enough (or

any) burrowing space, and can develop psy-

chologically damaging compulsive behaviors

(i.e. digging aimlessly at the corner of the

cage). The Society is enabling hamsters/

gerbils to express their natural behaviors,

one of the basic rights of every animal.

The Special Species Enrichment Rooms

also provide life-changing opportunities for

the rabbits in the shelter. These rooms are

set up similar to a home and help animals

who have a diffi cult time adjusting to shelter

life to relax and settle in. These rooms are

extremely benefi cial to rabbits with behavior-

al issues who have been mishandled in the

past and do not trust humans. Take a look

at the bonded pair, Nestle and Gertie. When

they arrived, both rabbits were terrifi ed of

peoples hands. They were likely trauma-

tized by past experiences possibly when

they were chased or grabbed. The pair was

constantly nervous, and Nestle had become

aggressive, while Gertie was simply terrifi ed.

When moved into an enrichment room, the

pair became very curious and more willing

to interact. With careful daily socialization by

staff, they learned to trust again. After only

a few weeks, this pair has completely trans-

formed. Now these rabbits, who initially had

little hope of fi nding an appropriate home,

are ready for adoption!

Your donations ensure that THS can

create programs to enrich the lives

of our Special Species guests. If you

would like to help one of our little

critters, please donate online today at

www.torontohumanesociety.com/giveor call 416-392-2273 ext. 2162.

Special Enrichment for Special Species

ENRICHMENT

PROGRAM*******************

Nestle&Gertie



Members o our SAVE THE ANIMALS TEAM provide the loyal and generous monthly support the animals

count on. With your help we are able to continue to eed, shelter and provide veterinary care or

thousands o animals each year. The Toronto Humane Society is a not-or-proft charitable organization and

we receive no government unding, however, we are here to help the animals because o your support.

Save The

Animals TeamBe an animals best friend by sending a gift every month!



Ji te Save te Aimas Team, tda!Please consider joining today with a gift of $18 a month (only 60 cents a day)!

Sign up today! www.TorontoHumaneSociety.com/give 416.392.2273 ext 2162

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 an

animal 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

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I understand that this amount will be deducted rom my bank account or charged to my credit card

automatically on the 1st, 15th or 27th 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 moreinormation on my right to cancel a Pre Authorized Debit (PAD) Agreement, I may contact my fnancial

institution 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 consistent

with this PAD. Agreement. To obtain more inormation on my recourse rights, I may contact myfnancial institution or visit www.cdnpay.ca.

I agree to waive my right to receive pre-notifcation o any debits under this agreement.

I acknowledge that I can request to make changes to the amount noted above simply by

contacting The Toronto Humane Society.

Signature Date

yes!Te Aimas Ca Cut o Me Fr Supprt!

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My cheque or money order is enclosed.

Please make cheque payable to

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Please complete this form, and return it with

your donation using the reply envelope in the magazine:

The Toronto Humane Society

11 River Street, Toronto, Ontario M5A 4C2

T 416.392.2273 F 416.392.9978.

Charitable Reg. #11925-9513-RR0001

Receipts will be issued or gits o $20 or more automatically others on request.

11AT

S I n G l E G I F T

Tak u beaf f a te aimas

u ave eped tda.

In order to keep you inormed about impor tant campaigns and to ask or suppor t, we will rom time

to time telephone and send mail to you. I you would preer not to receive phone calls or mail please

call 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 efcient way to attract new donors to suppor tThe Toronto Humane Society.

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

First Name Last Name Phone Number Email Please email my tax receipt.

Address/Apt. No. City Province Postal Code



W r kn r 12 tnc

ts t b tr n r

2012 Nw Bnnns cnr.

Submit your photo, including the name o your

pet and a short bio to:

[email protected] or

The Toronto Humane Society Photo Contest11 River Street, Toronto, Ontario M5A 4C2

TIps for TAKINg A greAT pIcTure

The Model

Make sure your pet is

content and comortable.

Take the picture with your pets saety

in mind dont try anything that

is dangerous just or creativitys sake.

The animal should be looking at

the camera, preerably at eye level.

The SeTTiNg

Keep the background simple and

uncluttered so as not to distract rom

the ocus o the picture your pet.

I your pet is dark-coloured, take the

photo in ront o a lighter background.

I your pet is light-coloured, take the

photo in ront o a darker background.

Photos representing the changing seasons

are desired, especially winter scenes.

Natural light is most attering. The more

light available, the more detail your

camera will catch. We cannot accept

photos o cats outdoors.

RuleS of The CaleNdaR CoNTeST

1. All photos must be 9 x 12 or 8 x 10 in

colour, horizontal layout and contain

animals only.

2. Digital pictures are preerred over flm.

Adjust digital image sizes to the highest

resolution and save pictures as a .jpg

3. Polaroid or copyrighted proessional

photographs cannot be accepted.

4. Photos become property o The Toronto

Humane Society and will not be returned.

We also reserve the right to use

them or other undraising purposes.

5. Contest closes April 12, 2011.Lights, Camera,

Atin!

SeNd youR phoToS To:

[email protected]



Up ForAdoptionD y hv y h & h f f s?

HclsaDoption number: 11099402Small but mighty describes this little ella. Hercules has had a lot

to overcome in his 10 1/2 years o lie. Beore coming to us he

had ear canal surgery, he lost his home and amiliar way o lie.

Then, because o pain in his other ear, he had to undergo another

surgery here at THS. Despite all this, his spirit shines on. Hes

eager to be with people and has no shortage o energy or walks.

mggaDoption number: a12026665

Youre probably wondering what a cute girl like me is doing in a

shelter. And I bet youre thinking with her looks and personality

she should be on T.V. helping sell gourmet dog food. To tell you the

truth, I dont care so much about all that ame and ortune. What

I really want is to go home with someone kind and patient who

will help me become the best dog I can be with lots o positive

reinorcement and aection. I you pick me to live with you Ill take

you or lots o walks, Ill let you enjoy the admiring glances and

shes so cute comments, and Ill even be o.k. sharing you with

another dog i you like. So, how about it? Ill be waiting or you.

Lc & CllaDoption number: a12054863 & a12054888Hello, my name is Lucia; I am a 4 year old chinchilla, and my

daughter Carmella is 4 months old. We are riendly girls,

but arent very used to being handled. We are upset that we are

at the shelter and would love to go to our new, orever home

soon. Carmella and I must be adopted together, as chinchillas

are very social animals and we would become very depressed

and possibly ill i we were split up.

VsaDoption number: 11175643

My name is Venus and I am longing or you to take me home

orever this time. My poor heart has been broken more than

once by owners who didnt understand me, and gave up on me.

My ans at THS have been helping me overcome my anxieties

and build my confdence. And amazingly I still know how to trust,

and once I trust you, I adore you!

I walk like a dream, know all my commands, and etch ball like

a pro. But I also like to chill, so youll fnd me to be quiet, polite,

and low-maintenance. All I need is a relationship I can count on

with frm, consistent guidance.

Please ask Shas, our canine specialist, to introduce us.

I you adopt me, you will get ree training and support rom our

K9 department or as long as you need.



The THS TNR taskforce, Operation CatSNIP, has been working hard

for the past few months to improve the welfare of feral/homeless

cats in Toronto. We are working in conjunction with the city wide

Toronto Feral Cat TNR Coalition to spay and neuter the homeless

cats in our city.

There are an estimated 20,000 to 100,000 feral/abandoned

cats in Toronto. This is an animal welfare crisis! When you

consider that euthanasia due to homelessness is the largest

cause of death in cats and that an estimated 80% of kittens are

born from feral mothers, there is a desperate need for a city wide,

community approach to managing the feral cat overpopulation.

Research has shown that the only economical, effective and

humane approach to solving this problem is Trap/Neuter/Return

(TNR). TNR involves trapping, vaccinating, neutering, and

eartipping cats (to identify them as sterilized). Cats are then

re-released to their colonies where they are fed and monitored

daily by caretakers. Whenever possible, young kittens and

socialized adults are rescued from the streets and adopted.

With the establishment of a city-wide TNR coalition, great

strides have been made in the Toronto TNR movement. Toronto

Animal Services has opened a new spay neuter clinic, offering

free feral spay services. The Toronto Feral Cat Project is

registering and mapping the progress of managed colonies and

training caretakers in TNR. Many independent cat rescue groups

(including Toronto Cat Rescue, Annex Cat Rescue, Urban Cat

Relief, and Action Volunteers for Animals) are working tirelessly

to TNR feral colonies. These organizations, along with the THS

and other animal welfare organizations (Animal Alliance, RAIN)

have joined forces to work collaboratively to improve the welfare

of homeless cats and to limit the reproduction of hundreds of

thousands of unwanted cats and kittens.

volunteers build a winter shelter

*

*

*

*OPERATION TORONTOCatSNIPT H S V O L U N T E E R S I M P R O V I N G T H E

WELFARE OF TORONTOS FERAL CATS

THE TORONTO HUMANE SOCIETY



MORE ABOUT OPER ATION TORONTO CSNIP

Who are We?

In August 2010, we began a volunteer

taskforce to assist colony caretakers in

their efforts to TNR feral colonies and

improve the welfare of feral and homeless

cats in our city. This task force is made up

of a dedicated group of volunteers including

board, staff, members and the public.

What are We doing?

Wehaveestablishedmonthlyfreeferal

spayclinics.Wehaveheldsixvery

successful clinics (spaying over 140

cats) and are aiming for bi-weekly clincs

in 2011.

Weareorganizingpublic awareness

events and educating folks on how

they can get involved to help the feral

catsintheircommunity.Wecelebrated

national feral cat awareness day

with an all day event at the shelter

including training seminars, educational

resources, adoption of colony cats,

andgreatfoodandprizes!Wehave

also held public screenings of the

compelling documentary CAT CITY

(followedbyaQ&AwithTNRexperts)

and we are currently selling copies

ofCAT CITYat the shelter.

Duringthewinterseasonweareholding

regular shelter building workshops

Wehaveheld6fun,handson,

community shelter building workshops

and have built over 130 over wintering

shelters for colonies in need.

What are our future goals:

Increasingthefrequency

of our feral spay clinics

Expandingourpublicawareness

campaigns to include community

seminars and school visits

Establishingaformalkitten

socializing/fosterprogram

Establishingatrappingsupport

program (including trap

loan and trapping assistance)

Continuingtoexpandourrolein

theTorontoFeralCatTNRCoalition

Want to learn

more about tnr?

Visit the following websites:

www.neighborhoodcats.com

www.torontoferal.com

www.allycatallies.com

www.torontohumanesociety.com/

feral_cat_awareness

hoW can you help?

Donate:

Buyatraporatrapdivider

Buysuppliesforbuildingwintershelters

DonatetoanyoftheTNRcoalitionorga-

nizationstohelpspay/neuterferalcats

For more information on how your

donation will help and how you can

become involved you can visit

our website or email [email protected].

Volunteer to:

Trap,transportandrecovery

catsbeingsterilized

Socialize/fostercolonykittens

Increasepublicawareness

and fundraise for TNR

Joineffortstofeed/monitor

a feral colony

Please keep in mind that Operation Toronto CatSNIP is currently run by a small group of busy volunteers. We are doing as much as

we can with limited resources, but we are not always able to keep up with the public assistance demands. The severity of the feral

cat problem in Toronto is so serious that all coalition members are stretched thin and struggle to help all the compassionate folks

who care about the homeless cats in their community. In order for us to expand our CatSNIP programs we need funding. Please

donate to support this program.

t

20,000 100,000/ t.t w !

TNRt / n / r

DEFINITION:



Happy Tails

We came to the Humane

Society to look or a

canine addition to our amily.

We never imagined we would

fnd a puppy. Week ater week

we came to THS literally, until

the sta knew us by name and

greeted us with youre back

again?. We saw several great

dogs; however, by the time wereturned the dog was adopted.

Then we saw Clive on the

website. Clive was an eight

week old puppy who was

recovering rom Parvo

Clive was renamed Olivier

(ater the actor Sir Laurence

Olivier) and has been a joy

to our amily ever since. He is

the greatest dog! No bias

here he is outgoing and

riendly with both people and

other dogs. He loves the snow,

playing with other dogs and

to have his back rubbed.

We would like to give THS a bigthank you or saving Oliviers

lie and allowing us to take care

o him or the rest o his lie.

We love him!

HeatHer, CHris & JesiaH

When Gillian came to the Shelter,

we noticed she had an issue

with her eye. After a more thorough

examination, our vets learned that she

was blind in her left eye and it needed

to be removed.

Understandably Gillian was a little

nervous with all the changes in

her life but has adapted very well in

her forever home.

It was my wie Joyces decision to

adopt Gillian.

Immediately I went online to the

Toronto Humane Society to see what was

available. I spotted Gillian and when

I showed her picture to Joyce she said,

Yes thats the one. When I pointed out

that Gillian had only one eye Joyce was

not concerned, she still wanted Gillian.

Within a couple o hours we were

at the Toronto Humane Society asking

to see Gillian, and, ater a brie meeting

and a ew questions we were approved

to adopt her.

She turned out to be the sweetest,

most gentle dog we could have

imagined. Gillian and Joyce bonded

immediately and Gillian spent many

hours sleeping in Joyces lap,

quite content with an occasional

treat and belly-rub.

Joyce, who was ill with ALS, died on

the morning o January 3, 2011.

Gillian is aware that Joyce is not longer

here, and she mourns along with us.

We are very pleased to have Gillian

in our amily.

Jim tHompson

Gillian

Olivier



Adele

Andrea Hopson

Art & Audrey Waine

Christopher MacDonald

Connor

Donald Mulholland

Emily Elliott & Samantha Lebarron

Faith

Florence Sarah Curvo Richards

Florin Brinzan

Frances Murray

Grace Petrikowski

Helen Kucharska

Helmut Dressler

Je Sanguin & Michele Stinson

Jennifer Downe

Julia Yeo

Karen Pim

Larry Schmidt

Leisa & Dario Macedo

Linda Dattner

Lisa Mueller

Marc Desjardins

Mark & Susan Barney

Marketa Russell Holtebrinck

May Wagadarikar

Michael Wise

Mr. & Mrs. Don Smith

Mrs. & Mr. Palmer

Ms. Catherine Mackin

Peter & Trudi Otto

Rochelle Cantor

Shelagh Rounthwaite

Simon Cheng & Jen Morawetz

Spy

Stella Vanderpost

Steven Dempsey

Suzane Lyn

Tobie

Tracy

Virginia Dalley

W T Rarebitt & Rabbie Rabbit

Wallace & Toni Cheng

Walter & Ricardo

In Honour ofTribute gifts are a thoughtful and meaningful way of expressing your good wishes or commemorating an occasion.

With a minimum donation of $80.00, The Toronto Humane Society will print the name of the friend or family 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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Al Thatcher

Allen Wassermuhl

Amber Landau

Andrea Fennell

Annette Kerr

Anni Krien

Ari & Loki

Athena

Audrey Petrie

Bailey

Becky

Beth & Eugene Wagner

Betty Clarkson

Bill Webber

Bonnie

Buttons

Bud & TommyBuddy

Buster

Carly Owen-Turner

Carrie

Carter

Casper

Cassius, Jasper & Rugby

Charles Chuck Hildrieth

Charly, Lady & Petie

Chevallo

Clause Ho schulte

Courtney

Cuddles

Dakota

Darcy

Denise Berwick

Diane Page

Dorothy Yasuda

Earl Demmerling

Fergus Munster

Fred Prier

Gabby

General

Gloria Silbernagel &

her cat Tabby

Grey Puss Gri n

Gri n

Harry Stockton

Holly

Hugh Kivlichan

Jake

Jake Walton

Jakey

James Clydesdale

Jasper

Joan D. Logan

Joan Romita

John Ward

Kala

Kathleen Hawkes

Kimberly Dawn SpelmerKipp

Kitty

Kristal

Lacey

Layla Nankoosingh

Leis Willy Larsson

Len Chapman

Liam

Lil Bodnar

Lili Brown

Lori Ferrey

Louie Kuel

Lucky

Maggie & Zoe

Manjula V Pasta

Marjorie L. Grant

Maureen Wright & Clancy

Maxx Rehkopf

Melissa Krisman

Melissa Sara Krisman

Mia

Molly

Mona

Mr. Andrew PracharMr. Boun Luong

Mrs. Bernice McGinn

Mrs. Eva Chan

Mrs. Lee Spiteri

Ms. Barbara Powell

Nick Hamilton

Oscar

Peggy Waddington

Peter

Peter Sutton Robert Dixon

Petey

Phaedrus

Pitou

Popcorn Goldin

Randall Vibert

Rob, Sami-Jo & Zero

Robert Love

Ross Cruickshank

Rover

Ru us

Rusty Fergus

Sarah

Sherri-James, Prudence &

Squeeker

Spike

Sock

Sonora Bay

Stephen Penley

Susan Tourond

Suzie

Sweet Jesse

Tabatha

Tai Crute

Tank

Teddy

Thomas

Tiger & Ginger

Tinka Dimitrova

TJ

Vera Wiles

Verna Marcia SmallVicki

Willow

Wistera

Zack

Zebrah

Zeus & Claudius

In Memory of

CALL 416.392 .2273 EXT. 2162 / 2166

With a minimum gift of $80.00, The Toronto Humane Society

will print the name of the one to whom you wish to pay tribute. This is a great way

to acknowledge a loved ones memory and help the animals.

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Kathleen H

Kimberly Da meripp

Ki

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Layla

Leis

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Marjor . Grant

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Up ForAdoptionD y hv r yr hr & h fr f s?

RaDoption numbeR: a11690900Robbie is a big, handsome, super-riendly cat. He has a bois-

terous purr that escalates to grunts and snores as he enjoys

attention. Robbie is diabetic, but a THS veterinarian will train his

adopter on the basic care a diabetic cat will require. Also, his

adopter will be given diabetic ood, an alphatrak glucometer, &

insulin courtesy o THS! Diabetic cats have proven to be the most

difcult to fnd homes, though we are not sure why. The condition

is easy to manage once it is understood. I you want to help a

truly needy and truly deserving cat please consider Robbie. He

will give you many years o unconditional love in return.

baDoption numbeR: 12091911

When I arrived to the shelter, it was discovered that my back was

broken in two places! As i by miracle, I can still hop, although

I am a little jerky and unsteady in my movements. I am the

sweetest bunny you will ever meet, but Im looking or a very

special home that understands I will need special care or the

rest o my lie. I will always be more delicate than other rabbits

may be, and I have a bit more trouble using a litter box. Other

than that, I get a little better every day and just want to be able

to retire to my orever home and soak up all the TLC I can get!

baDoption numbeR: a11699964Batman was brought to THS with a urinary blockage and then

dealt with a mean virus that tested his will to live He chose to

fght, and is now completely recovered!

Batman is an inquisitive ellow, who is always alert and aware.

He also has an aectionate side that really shines when he

settles into your lap, purring with joy.

His bladder is still irritable, so he is takes medication and

will need to remain on a special diet. This might all sound

overwhelming, but dont worry, one o our vets will happily explain

it all. This guy has been through so much, and hes hoping to

fnd his orever Bat Cave soon!

Sz QaDoption numbeR: a10793696

Suzie preers the company o humans over other animals.

She will look at you with her starlight eyes and give you kisses.

Suzie has osteoporosis and is sensitive when being picked up or

petted in the hind end, but she loves to be held. She will sleep

beside you and wake you up with kisses. She has no bad habits,

she is a Queen. Suzie would do best in a quiet home with no

small children. She had a history o Crystals and Kidney stones

and it is maintained with HILLS C/D wet and dry diet.



Happy Tails

Alice was brought to the

THS in December of 2010

because her owners found

her to be more than a handful

and too active. She was soon

adopted to her forever home.

We have renamed Alice Holly

This puppy is SMART, smart,

smart, and cuddlier than anypup Ive met beore. She has

great character, and I can see

the gravity in her personality

when she looks at me in her

quiet moments. Theres such

a wonderul, wise girl in there,

just waiting to grow up into a

lovely, gracious companion

We walked her or about

50 minutes upon leaving the

shelter with her that night, and

by the next day, her behaviour

was already improved, and

she had more sel control

I cant say enough about what

a great dog she is. Im just very

grateul that THS chose us to

home her with. I am so excitedto see what a antastic dog

she grows into shes just so

ull o promise.

She is, in a nutshell, a antastic

dog thank you again or

choosing us to home her with!

Erin

James, his mom Daisy, his

brother Henry and sister

Elizabeth were found in a rural

area. When they arrived in our

care they desperately needed

medical attention as they all

had contracted an unusual array

of diseases and parasites.

After they recovered, Henry

and Elizabeth were adopted

quickly, but James was not

until the Cohen family came to

the shelter. They took one look

at James and knew he was the

dog for them.

Hes adapting to home lie really

quickly. Right now, hes snoozing

on the deck beside me. Yester-

day, I ound him ensconced on

the couch looking very regal! He

loves to play in the backyard. We

play with a ball. Hes really, really

ast. Hes very responsive when

he sees Katie his tail goes

wild. He really is quite joyous.

We took James to our vet to-

day or a check-up. Hes in great

health. As you can see, he loves

lying in the sun. He gets more

condent every day. Hes incredi-

bly ast when he runs and he just

doesnt leap up on stu, its like

he foats eortlessly. Hes such a

people person and very charm-

ing. Yesterday he participated in

the Terry Fox walk in High Park.

He had a un time with the other

dogs and very much enjoyed the

attention o all the people.

THE COHEn FAMiLY

James

Alice



Humane

Education Program

ver the past year many changes have

come to The Toronto Humane Society.

We are fully embracing our mission

statement: to promote the humane

care and protection of all animals and to prevent cruelty

and suffering. We are working hard to achieve this through

the guiding principles of Leadership, Learning, Partnerships,

Responsibility, Accountability and Transparency. Our new

Humane Education Program addresses these principles and

supports them within the community.

The experiences one has as a child infl uence their

behavior throughout the rest of their life. It is well documented

in research that children who are cruel towards animals are

at a higher risk of engaging in human-focused aggression

once they reach adulthood. This is one of the things Humane

Education programs hope to address and prevent. Margaret

Mead, a well known anthropologist, has spoken extensively

of the importance of teaching children acceptable and

unacceptable treatment of animals as it relates to their future

development stating; One of the most dangerous things

that can happen to a child is to kill or torture an animal and

get away with it.

Socialization is the system through which societal norms,

values and behaviors are established. Throughout history

these have been passed, generation to generation, with

relative ease as human communities were small and

tight-knit. As we are becoming larger, more disconnected

and anonymous as a society, the societal structures which

typically transmit these norms are eroding. Children are

becoming less likely to obtain an adequate understanding

of acceptable behaviors without organized social programs.

Humane education programs hope to fi ll this need in society.

It is the goal of any Humane Education Program to foster

within its student a greater understanding of empathy,

compassion and respect. These are the qualities that, if

learned at an early age, can assist in prevention of violence

later in life. Through a well developed Humane Education

program, it is hoped that those who participate gain an

understanding and appreciation for the welfare of all other

living things, not only animals.

Here at The Toronto Humane Society, following our new

guiding principles of leadership, learning and partnerships,

we are becoming an active supporter of humane education

throughout Toronto. At this time we do not have a formal



Humane Education program in place but in recent months

we have visited a number of different schools and a seniors

home, at their request. Our visits have focused on allowingthose involved to meet the animals and learn about them.

We also are hoping to educate people about our work as a

charitable organization.

It has also been our pleasure to welcome children into

the shelter to provide them the opportunity to see what

we do here. In August of last year, a group of children from

Thorncliffe Elementary Schools summer program came

to visit us. They were given a tour of the shelter and along

the way they asked many questions. During their visit the

children were provided with a greater understanding of

the commitment and responsibility involved in owning

a pet. It was very encouraging to see such inquisitive minds

in young children. Both the children and staff here at the

shelter were happy to share in our love of animals.

Our fi rst visit to a school came on October 7th when

we visited the staff and students of Beverley Public

School. The Beverley school provides a highly specialized

education to students who have developmental and/or

physical disabilities. We took a number of animals with us to

the school including Rosie, the rabbit, kittens Eddie and Leftie

and Sylvie, the pug. Under the guidance of their teachers

and parents the children were able to interact with and touch

the animals in a safe and secure environment. Seeing

the wonder and pleasure on the faces of the students was

a wonderful experience.

One of the most rewarding trips was when we were invited

to visit Brookhaven Public school. We were asked to be

part of an assembly where students were being awarded for

showing compassion to school mates as well as showing and

learning about responsibility in their lives. On this trip we took

with us a dog and some ferrets. At the assembly we were

asked if we would give a speech in which we focused on the

promotion of responsible pet ownership. We were delighted

to be able to give the students information on a number of

different species of animals and what is involved with having

them as a pet.

In the coming months, we have trips planned to visit more

educational organizations, including Vic Park Collegiate

Institute. It is our hope that through past visits and the visitsto come that we can foster a greater understanding and

tolerance not just for animals but for one another as well. In

our rebirth as an organization what we have done is returned

to our roots. The Toronto Humane Society was founded as

an organization championing the humane treatment of both

animals and children. 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.

If you would like to fi nd our more about our

Humane Education program, please contact us at

[email protected].

As we receive no government funding, your donations

will help us to continue and expand important

community programs, such as Humane Education.



AnimalTalkKids ActivityTHS Crossword Puzzle

AnimalTalk Fun Facts The eyesight o dogs is better than that o human beings.

On average, a hen lays 19 dozen eggs in a year.

Cats and humans have been associated or nearly 10,000 years.

Horses and cows sleep while standing up.

Rats breed so quickly that in just 18 months,

2 rats could have created over 1 million relatives.

Dog have superior hearing to humans,capable o hearing sounds at our times the distance.

No right turn! The bats do not need any boards,or its always the let turn or them when exiting a cave.

Sharks are the only known species to never sufer rom cancer.

Music lovers! Make a cow listen to musicand there will be more milk in the bucket!

Even when a snake has its eyes closed,it can still see through its eyelids.

ACROSS

4. Pet with a bark?

5. Small pet that likes to burrow

7. This pet carries its house

10. _ _ _ _ _ _ pig

11. A sh lives in this

12. This pet can fy

DOWN

1. House or a dog

2. Pet with nine lives?

3. You can ride this pet

6. Indoor home or a bird

8. This pet lives in a terrarium

9. This pet lives in water

1

2

4

5

6

10

11

12

7

9

8

3


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Animal Word Search

The Great Easter Egg Hunt

FIND THESE WORDS

P U P P Y

K I T T E N

F O A L

C A L F

J O E Y

C U B

K I D

P I G L E T

C H I C K

T AD PO L E


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Please join our

Save The Animals Teamtoday.

Hello, my name is Bea. Even though Im just a young pup,

Ive had a pretty rough time. I was taken in by someone

who saw me on the street being mistreated by my owner.

This nice person rescued me from this situation,

but was also unable to take care of me, so she brought

me to the THS. On top of all of that, in the past I was

hit by a car and su ered an injury to my hind leg, but it

doesnt seem to be bothering me too much now after

the vets fi xed me up. Oh, and one more thing I came in

with some skin problems and an ear infection, but

theyve improved with medication and the proper diet.

Whew. Such a big story for such a young dog!

Please consider joining as a monthly donor witha gift of $18 a month (only 60 cents a day)!

www.TorontoHumaneSociety.com/give 416-392-2273Simply complete the donation form on page 15.

We helped Bea and found her a forever home where she is healthy and happy.

Because to the support of our kind donors, we are able to help pets like Bea Thank you.

Documents

Animal Talk Spring 2011