Comments on: when no-kill shelters fail – Toronto Humane Society in question

By: Jane

Jane — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:15:41 +0000

To my knowledge, the Toronto humane society has never been a “no-kill” shelter; they branded themselves as “low-kill”, but “no-kill” was and is not officially in their mandate (they admit a 7% euthanasia rate for 2008, down from 20% in 2002). So, it is not “no-kill” gone wrong, it is just stupid and power-hungry people in charge.

By: Delta

Delta — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 23:28:09 +0000

I volunteer for a no-kill shelter. Last night another dog died in my arms. Taken from the pound by these glorified hoarders who think they are doing good but they get these dogs and then stick them in a pen and forget about them. They have too many and not enough volunteers. I went to check on the dogs yesterday as it is out in the country and no one is there most of the time and there is no electricity either. I found a dog very sick and paralyzed. I thought he may have been bitten by a snake or spider and I rushed him to one of the main people and they said there was nothing they could do and then another main person of this organization said they couldn’t do anything to help me or the dog either. I protested and begged them to find a vet for me to take him to because the little guy was suffering. Our vet is gone on the weekends so I would have to take him to a larger city near by but no problem for me except they wouldn’t give me the money to take him. They told me to take him back out to the no-kill shelter and just let him die on the cold cement all alone. I brought him home and put him on a blanket in my closet and tried to give him water from a syringe and then some benadryl. He suffered for hours as I continually called the main people of this organization who said “it happens”. I asked them why they keep taking in dogs and don’t take care of them. This one lady said, I have learned to accept death and I said what about suffering ? We are suppose to be saving these animals. The dog died a painful death and my husband took him to the woods to bury him. None of them have called to see about the dog or ask if I am okay. They left a volunteer out in the cold with a dying animal. I am sick today from it all. Now I rememeber why I quit them for a few years. Many of the dogs they took from the city pound ended up dying in my arms on the weekends when the vet is gone. I told them that it might be better to quit getting so many from the pound and they freaked out saying they could not let them be put to death, it was inhumane but what are they doing by letting these little souls dye an inhumane death out of their sight. I would turn them in but alot of dogs have been saved and the only reason I will stay is to go and clean and feed them and try to save as many as I can.

By: The Case For Mandatory Spay/Neuter - Page 2 - Globalpaw.com Dog Forum

The Case For Mandatory Spay/Neuter - Page 2 - Globalpaw.com Dog Forum — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 04:59:59 +0000

[...] And: http://www.ocgrandjury.org/pdfs/dogstudy/dog-study.pdf And:scruffy dog photography blog when no-kill shelters fail – Toronto Humane Society in question And: Bruce R. Cordell: Animal Propaganda 2.0 And: Working To Help Animals,Today& Tomorrow: [...]

By: Sosnowiec Fotografia ?lubna

Sosnowiec Fotografia ?lubna — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 18:30:30 +0000

Sosnowiec Fotografia ?lubna…

Nice article. Its always a good time to see, what You are doing….

By: Idil

Idil — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:52:36 +0000

Wow! Illona, I had no idea animals were being treated this way at Toronto Humane Society. This is really heartbreaking. I volunteer for a cat rescue organization (Refuge Pour Chats de Verdun in Montreal) which places all cats to foster homes until they find a permanent home, and I wish all rescues could work that way, but I also know how hard it is to find foster homes all the time. I’m still not against no-kill shelters, but I do believe that if the situation has started to affect the animals’ physical and mental well-being, the right thing to do is to euthanize them. I, too, can’t imagine a dog or a cat living in a small cage for years. When I got Odie, he had stayed in the shelter only a week and even he displayed some obsessive compulsive behaviour because of confinement. For instance, he would circle and circle around like crazy and it was so difficult to distract him. Of course, he doesn’t do that now, but imagine if he were in that cage for years…

I don’t know if I ever told you this, but when I first found my cat Billie in the streets, I went to a no-kill shelter, but the moment I saw the place, I changed my mind because it was full packed with cats in small cages and I was sure Billie would die in a cage if I left her there. Soon after that, that shelter (in Windsor, Ont) was closed down because the animals were living in very poor conditions. Luckily, the authorities managed to draw public attention to the situation and all cats were placed in foster homes and some found forever homes. I think that even if the people who start no-kill shelters have all the good intentions, those shelters can go out of hand very quickly for the lack of space, volunteers, funding etc. and that’s very sad. Then you have to face this dilemma: Should we go on putting animals in even smaller cages, knowing they are not getting proper care, or do we kill them even though they are still healthy? It’s just so hard.

Just because a shelter is no-kill doesn’t make it all OK. I think that humane societies should do more than advertise themselves as “no-kill” to attract donations from people. Shelters must show the hard reality; they must educate. Windsor Humane Society tried a very different approach a few years ago. They are not a no-kill shelter, and they actually released a video that showed how they had to euthanize animals. It was so hard to watch and many people protested, but it also opened up many people’s eyes. “Here’s what happens as long as you don’t spay/neuter and we don’t get enough funding. We don’t kill animals because we like it; we do it because we have to” it said. They did get more donations after that.

I can’t really say anything specifically about Toronto Humane Society as I only know what I read thanks to you, but it does make me feel very sad. I hope more people see the reality thanks to that article, not just about Toronto Humane Society, but about what shelter animals are going through in general. And I do hope they do something about the situation at Toronto Humane Society.

By: Ashley Johnson

Ashley Johnson — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:48:46 +0000

This is why I am such a believer in animal rescue networks where the animals are cared for in foster homes. I think its so much better for the animal. My husband and I have fostered 8 dogs and 2 cats in the last year…and I have to say, they are completely different creatures after being in a home for a few days than they were when they came in.

By: Allison F.

Allison F. — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:04:43 +0000

Hi Illona, as always your thoughtful and provoking commentary makes people really THINK. It’s a heart-wrenching story to read, and I feel for the staff who were forced to walk away from what should be a very rewarding and celebrated career, and forced to walk away form animals they undoubtably cared about.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 22:47:12 +0000

I did read this article but my opinions of the Humane Society were formed long ago with their treatment towards me and a sick animal. I was on UI a the time searching for a job. It was my understanding that they helped with vet costs for low income families. My cat developed FUS. They flat out refused to treat him unless I signed him over to them. A pet my children and I had 7 years. I was appalled and disgusted with what I was being told on the phone. This was the second time I had approached THS for help and the second time they had made me raise my eyebrow in question to their practices. I hope they are exposed completely and some kind of overhaul done so that these animals get the treatment and care they deserve.

By: Jill Beninato

Jill Beninato — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 20:00:27 +0000

Thanks for posting this article…I volunteer at a local SPCA that is not “no kill” and we get a bad rap for Euthanizing animals. We do not ET because of space or time limits, only if an animal is ill, not doing in the kennel environment or exhibiting aggressive behavior. The amount of strain and pressure that is put on our facility is amazing because all of the other “no kill” shelters in the area only accept the most adoptable pets and send all of the sick, problem cases to us to deal with. They get to have the warm fuzzy feeling of being no kill, but in reality, they are just passing the buck on to someone else. They are always too full, have waiting lists that go on for months, etc…I get frustrated by this alot and while I feel “no kill” is a great idea, it is not always the best thing where the dog is concerned…There are worse things than Euthanasia.

By: L. Martin

L. Martin — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:19:46 +0000

They sleep at night? I guess better than the dogs and cats at the shelter. I did not know no-kill meant no brains either. There is something seriously seriously wrong with these people if this is what goes on there. I can see where a slow agonizing death is so much better than a quick painless one. This is ‘good intentions’ gone haywire. Always asking for money no doubt……so sorry to see this…let’s hope these articles are able to improve the lot of the animals at the….ahem….shelter