City
Toronto Humane Society Opens Victoria Park Branch
Good news for fellow animal lovers living north of downtown: we don't need to trek all the way down to Queen and River to adopt a feline or canine companion. The Toronto Humane Society officially opened a new satellite location at the Van Horne Plaza on Victoria Park and Van Horne (a few blocks north of Sheppard Ave.) last Tuesday. The Victoria Park branch houses mostly cats but there are dogs, rabbits, rats, birds and guinea pigs as well.
The branch has been operational for a couple of weeks now. As of press time, the THS has had 39 adoptions and counting, including 30 cats, six dogs, two rats and one rabbit. While I was there, a few people were filling out forms to adopt "forever friends" like Weasley, a 10-year old orange tabby.
The Toronto Humane Society is an independent, non-profit animal adoption centre not funded by the government and relies solely on donations and volunteers. The organization prides themselves as non-euthanasia and provides 24/7 care for the animals rescued. The Victoria Park branch actually houses some of the cats salvaged from a Hamilton clinic that was about to put them to permanent sleep. Even with the amount of care given by the THS, the animals still need loving homes. "It's sad seeing them in their cages, like a cat jail," one THS volunteer said. So it's always heartwarming to witness an animal getting a new home.
The Victoria Park adoption centre is located at 2802 Victoria Park Avenue, North York, Unit 13 and is open from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm everyday. Drop by or check out the Toronto Humane Society's website's Adopt A Pet section to see which animals are ready to be taken home. Both THS branches are also open to volunteers (18 and above) who want to help feed and groom the animals.
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the Humane Society would be a good choice. Are there any openings
in your new branch?
one soon
Thank you for being there for our animals
For an organization supposedly there to help animals, i seriously question the idiots they have manning the phone lines and what their agenda is.
Much appreciated if you can reply, either by e mail or by phone 416 898 8687
3 Points:
1. 2 (huskeyX) Pups at River Street were not adopted out to the "multiple applicants" in Aug. 2009. They were moved to Victoria Park unit and as of Sept 11, 2009, one pup was still in their care. Am I, and numerous other people unworthy of adopting this pup?
2. The status of dogs is not listed on the THS site - ie: not good with children, aggressive behaviour towards other dogs...etc. I have phoned four times to enquire about specific dogs. Only once was I given adequate information over the phone. They have my application on file, yet I was told to come down to speak to an adoption person. Three wasted trips. Dogs were too agressive, child unfriendly, health reasons....etc.
3. At first I was sceptical about the THS critics as I have adopted dogs from there in the past. Now I think the critics have a relevant point.
Signed: A concerned friend of animals (and I don't include the THS Board as animals capable of reason and worthy of compassion).
Cheers,
J
Thanks
Joanna
It's not the THS or any other shelter's responsibility to take in stray cats. Most shelters do not take them in at all and you have to call Animal Services. The problem is not the THS or any shelters, the problem is the idiots that have these animals and do not get them spayed or neuteured, and let the animals roam around outside (which any vet will tell you, is the worst that you can do for your pet). So, if you want to get mad at someone, go after the negligent owners. This is why we have millions of unwanted pets roaming the streets and put down. IT'S SHAMEFUL AND WE SHOULD HAVE A LAW THAT ALL ANIMALS BE NEUTERED AND SPAYED. Thank Heavens for all the shelters, THS, DHS, AND ALL THE VOLUNTEERS OUT THERE, I shutter to think where we would be without at least them!!!!
Crystal Morris