The Toronto Humane Society....
- Thread starter dcbogey
- Start date
wow, i'm very discouraged by what I read. I have given to THS on numerous occasions on the premis they were there for the protection and ethical treatement of neglected animals. i can understand that some animals will die in their cages but how many have suffered needlessly? it breaks my heart. i hope that they can clean up this mess.
but as bad as this is I still have more anger towards the pet owners/ breeders who have created the need for the THS, the OSPCA and other animal rescue groups. its an abomination that some nutcase who ties his dog to a car bumper and drives at 60 km/hr skinning the dogs paws in the process, in many cases won't even see the inside of a jail.
but as bad as this is I still have more anger towards the pet owners/ breeders who have created the need for the THS, the OSPCA and other animal rescue groups. its an abomination that some nutcase who ties his dog to a car bumper and drives at 60 km/hr skinning the dogs paws in the process, in many cases won't even see the inside of a jail.
what complicates the issue is that the Toronto Humane Society was the only shelter open for a long time. The city run shelter was closed.
The THS was at that time forced to deal with EVERY abandoned, unwanted and sick animal in Toronto. That is A LOT of animals.
I should also clarify, that a lot of what was is the article was exaggerated IMO. I have never seen animals living in their own filth, ever. in fact, the place is pretty clean all considering.
i have never personally seen an animal suffering that needed to be put down either, though i can imagine it happens.
what i have seen is tirelessly dedicated, underpaid people suffering under terrible management, management that can sometimes be downright abusive. i see a facility that could use some updating and maybe even an expansion.
i wouldn't feel bad about donating money there either per se (or your free time for that matter) even if it is corrupt on a management level it is the only shelter of its kind. the animals do benefit from their services, absolutely.
from what i have heard, the city deals with much smaller numbers of rescues. and until reading this post, i was sure they also euthanised unwanted animals, sick or not, a policy that THS does not adhere to, as the article mentions. perhaps the city run shelter has changed their policy recently, but until a while ago, this was the case. if animals were there for over a certain period of time, they were put down.
and just a little F.Y.I
THS has a lot of animals other then cats and dogs. they have ferrets, parrots, budgies, lovebirds, turtles, and many, many rabbits (sometimes 60 plus, a month after easter) hamsters rats and guinea pigs. occassionally i have seen hedgehogs, chinchillas and gorgeous 4 foot long igunas, too.
there really is no reason to support pet stores when looking for your next pet.
please spread the word, especially those of you that are parents, im aware most people think they only have cats and dogs
The THS was at that time forced to deal with EVERY abandoned, unwanted and sick animal in Toronto. That is A LOT of animals.
I should also clarify, that a lot of what was is the article was exaggerated IMO. I have never seen animals living in their own filth, ever. in fact, the place is pretty clean all considering.
i have never personally seen an animal suffering that needed to be put down either, though i can imagine it happens.
what i have seen is tirelessly dedicated, underpaid people suffering under terrible management, management that can sometimes be downright abusive. i see a facility that could use some updating and maybe even an expansion.
i wouldn't feel bad about donating money there either per se (or your free time for that matter) even if it is corrupt on a management level it is the only shelter of its kind. the animals do benefit from their services, absolutely.
from what i have heard, the city deals with much smaller numbers of rescues. and until reading this post, i was sure they also euthanised unwanted animals, sick or not, a policy that THS does not adhere to, as the article mentions. perhaps the city run shelter has changed their policy recently, but until a while ago, this was the case. if animals were there for over a certain period of time, they were put down.
and just a little F.Y.I
THS has a lot of animals other then cats and dogs. they have ferrets, parrots, budgies, lovebirds, turtles, and many, many rabbits (sometimes 60 plus, a month after easter) hamsters rats and guinea pigs. occassionally i have seen hedgehogs, chinchillas and gorgeous 4 foot long igunas, too.
there really is no reason to support pet stores when looking for your next pet.
please spread the word, especially those of you that are parents, im aware most people think they only have cats and dogs
Actually, the first time I was at the city run shelter was in May 2008 for Open Doors and they had the same policy of keeping animals as long as necessary so if there has been a change it is not that recent. That being said, the THS also used to only keep animals for a limited length of time (about 25-30 years ago, before they moved to River Street I got a cat from them and they only kept them for a limited number of weeks back then).Miss Maya Blue said:
Based on the location at the exhibition (the only one I have visited) the city shelters don’t seem to have that many animals to care for. I suspect this is partly because people don’t know they exist. I never knew about them until I was in the area for Open Doors in May 2008 and accidently came across them. Part of this may be because I see from the Globe article that they were established in 2001 when I was living out of the country. However, I get the impression that many other people also don’t know they exist. Thus, I am guessing that a lot of people turn animals into the THS simply because like me, when they grow up it was the only place to turn them in. I think Animal services should do a much better job of publicising themselves. They take donations, but to be honest, I am hesitant of diverting money to them from the charities I normally give to, simply because I would be concerned that the city would just decrease their budget if they got significant donations. Thus, it would cancel out the effect of the donation.
The THS needs to blown up - not in a literal sense. I think there is a place in the GTA for a non-government run shelter for animals. Unfortunately the THS is not it. A "no kill" policy may be a noble ideal but in a practical sense is completely asinine.Miss Maya Blue said:
Didn't the THS have a few heart-tugging infomercials a while ago? I wonder how the celebs that have given their time to those infomercials feel now.
And don't get me started on that raccoon living rent free in my garage or homeless people feeding pigeons so they can crap on us.The LoLRus said:
Is the THS fucked up?
Quite possibly.
Is this any different than most other organizations?
Probably not.
At the end of the day, does the THS help animals who are in need?
Absolutely.
Could they use improving?
For sure, but then again, so could I, so could most of you, so could 95% of every other organization, or company out there.
They may not be perfect, but they're what we've got. I only hope that they try to improve things.
There are no absolutes in life and those of you who say, "blow them up" or "shut them down" or whatever are not really being realistic. All you can do is move a place in baby steps in the right direction. There will always be resistance to change in any organization.
Simply abadonning the THS, or cutting them off is NOT a solution. Unless you have a better idea on how to cope with tens of thousands of unwanted or abused animals, simply "blowing them up" is not a solution.
If you really want to help an animal out - adopt one and give it a good home.
Quite possibly.
Is this any different than most other organizations?
Probably not.
At the end of the day, does the THS help animals who are in need?
Absolutely.
Could they use improving?
For sure, but then again, so could I, so could most of you, so could 95% of every other organization, or company out there.
They may not be perfect, but they're what we've got. I only hope that they try to improve things.
There are no absolutes in life and those of you who say, "blow them up" or "shut them down" or whatever are not really being realistic. All you can do is move a place in baby steps in the right direction. There will always be resistance to change in any organization.
Simply abadonning the THS, or cutting them off is NOT a solution. Unless you have a better idea on how to cope with tens of thousands of unwanted or abused animals, simply "blowing them up" is not a solution.
If you really want to help an animal out - adopt one and give it a good home.
Sad article...
A little off topic but after reading the article I couldn't help thinking that its kind of ironic that people can get all riled up about euthanizing animals in need (which is something I support). However many humans are left to slowly die in pain from a huge number of illnesses and it's illegal to assist them in dying. At least a person can give consent.
A little off topic but after reading the article I couldn't help thinking that its kind of ironic that people can get all riled up about euthanizing animals in need (which is something I support). However many humans are left to slowly die in pain from a huge number of illnesses and it's illegal to assist them in dying. At least a person can give consent.
Part 2 of the 3 part story came out today: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...supporters---and-an-iron-grip/article1162134/
Reading in part 1 that employees had to sign secrecy agreements really surprised me. It is hard to see the justification for such agreements. However, I see in part 2 that they also keep the membership lists secret. This would make it very hard for anyone to organize a campaign to replace the current leadership. In addition, for the board to get to approve the membership of the people who determine who will be on the board seems problematic.
Reading in part 1 that employees had to sign secrecy agreements really surprised me. It is hard to see the justification for such agreements. However, I see in part 2 that they also keep the membership lists secret. This would make it very hard for anyone to organize a campaign to replace the current leadership. In addition, for the board to get to approve the membership of the people who determine who will be on the board seems problematic.
Stories like this really PISS ME OFF! Here's an organization that is SUPPOSED to be helping and are PART of the problem!
Hypocrisy at it finest!
Hypocrisy at it finest!
someone
you hit the nail on the head
that is just what i have gathered from talking with employees. the people running the place are decided by a small group of people, the torch passed in a very deliberate manner.
all this heated discussion...im hoping the right person is reading this. id love to see that place reformed...
you hit the nail on the head
that is just what i have gathered from talking with employees. the people running the place are decided by a small group of people, the torch passed in a very deliberate manner.
all this heated discussion...im hoping the right person is reading this. id love to see that place reformed...
Perhaps the right person was at least reading the Globe series.Miss Maya Blue said:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...tigate-toronto-humane-society/article1163147/
OSPCA to investigate Toronto Humane Society
Globe and Mail series prompts emergency board meeting of the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; will consider suspension of Toronto shelter's affiliate status
Kate Hammer
Toronto — Globe and Mail Update, Monday, Jun. 01, 2009 11:56AM EDT
The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals announced today that it will be investigating allegations of inappropriate conduct at the Toronto Humane Society.
A spokesperson for the OSPCA said The Globe and Mail's three-part series has prompted the organization to call an emergency meeting of its board of directors.
The twelve directors will determine whether to suspend the THS's affiliate status with the OSPCA, which would suspend the society's ability to conduct cruelty investigation. Directors will also consider pursuing an animal cruelty investigation of the THS.
“The allegations raised in the Globe and Mail's investigative report relate directly to the welfare of animals and as such require the Ontario SPCA to investigate through its mandate under the Ontario SPCA Act,” Hugh Coghill, Chief Inspector for the Ontario SPCA, said in a statement.
Back in the old days, a mother in distress would leave their baby in a basket on your doorstep with a note that says "please feed her".papasmerf said:
Years ago, I worked in a pub close to the Toronto Humane Society, and often some of the staff would come in for a cold one after work.
And inevitably when we chatted, they would complain about abusive and bad management.
So, if that's true and if the current situation is also true, then this is has been going on for a long time.
And inevitably when we chatted, they would complain about abusive and bad management.
So, if that's true and if the current situation is also true, then this is has been going on for a long time.
Fonzie - Why do you think Worthington's opinion makes the accusations of the "disgruntled ex-employees" totally baseless? Just because the mortality rate is low it doesn't mean the THS has some important issues that need to be resolved. These problems are not only with how the animals are treated but also with the corporate culture of the organization. Improving the former is alot easier than the latter.
