Celebrating the human-animal bond
Going Beyond Our Community to Improve Animal Wellness
We pursue our mission outside of our doors too
Success Stories of Animals that Needed a Little More TLC
Every day a life is changed for the better
Tackling Stranger Danger
How to recognize signs of fear and build your dog’s confidence
What does wellness mean? For some, wellness is getting up for an early morning run. For others, it’s adding more vegetables to their diet. It could be journaling every morning, meditating every evening, or simply getting together with friends on the weekend.
I have been thinking a lot about wellness this year. What it means to me and to Toronto Humane Society’s mission. As costs continue to rise and families continue to struggle, being “well” – not just physically or even mentally, but wholly and fully well in a holistic sense – is becoming increasingly important.
From providing life-saving care onsite, to sharing life-changing research online; from specialized behaviour programs to emergency foster care for families in desperate need – the wide spectrum of “wellness” is both the means and the end in our efforts. It’s how we improve lives. And thanks to the overwhelming support we receive from our donors, this past year saw great strides in promoting and sharing wellness among animals and pet parents.
Almost 2,000 animals arrived in our care in 2022. Some required emergency treatment, others needed extra behavioural care to help them gain confidence and overcome their fears. Many needed a loving foster home until the right forever family came along. Each animal, no matter the extent or severity of their needs, was given the full, undivided attention of our staff, volunteers, and foster parents. At the time of writing this, over 1,600 animals have been adopted into loving homes.
Wellness went beyond our walls as we supported more families in the community and worked to keep animals out of the shelter system. Nearly 4,000 pet parents were helped through our Pet Parent Support Network, while over 40,000 pounds of pet food was distributed to families in need. Over 200 families have been kept together through our Urgent Care Program.
Our experts pushed wellness even further by sharing their knowledge with other care workers around the world. For example, Dr. Linda Jacobson, Senior Manager of Shelter Medicine Advancement, recently presented her heartworm research to American Heartworm Society’s triannual symposium in New Orleans. Dr. Jacklyn Ellis, Director of Behaviour, published two full chapters in Animal Behavior for Shelter Veterinarians and Staff, a preeminent resource written and edited by leading experts in shelter medicine, applied animal behavior, and shelter operations.
Wellness is a state of being, but also a way of thinking. An end, but also a means to that end. And as the world continues to change in ways that feel so beyond our control, the pursuit of wellness is itself an antidote to the confusion.
But these thoughts on wellness would be nothing more than thoughts if it were not for you. You and people like you who, despite the growing challenges around us, still believe that things can and should get better in the world. In this issue of Animal Talk, you will see your belief in a better world validated by the stories and successes we have had this year. Words cannot express the gratitude I feel for your continued belief in our cause. Thanks to you, lives have been changed and the world, in all its sound and fury, has been made a better place.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jacques Messier, DMV, MBA Chief Executive OfficerAnimalTalk is distributed free of charge to Toronto Humane Society members and donors. Contents of AnimalTalk are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the written consent of Toronto Humane Society. Nothing in this publication shall constitute an endorsement by Toronto Humane Society of any product or service.
Canadian Charitable Registration Number 11925 9513 RR0001
The role of the board is to provide governance oversight for Toronto Humane Society. Toronto Humane Society’s Board of Directors is a volunteer board and no member of the board receives compensation to perform their board role.
President: Josh Shanahan
Vice President: Yussef Hafez
Chair: Martin Buckle
Secretary: Peter Newell
Treasurer: Charissa Lai
Vice Treasurer: Damian Creber
Malcolm Bernstein
David Bronskill
Mark Dilworth
Nicholas Kanhai Brownwen Morgan Nabila Tisha Angela Young Jennifer Dernek Krista Bulmer
Toronto Humane Society is more than an animal shelter. While we offer industry leading shelter care, animal training and behavioural consultations, veterinary services, and find homes for thousands of animals every year – our mission to Improve the Lives of Animals moves us to go further.
We provide expert-led programs in training and behaviour, publish expert studies and journal publications, use our platform to advocate for the welfare of animals, and through our partnerships we travel to remote regions to offer our resources to those with minimal or no access to veterinary care.
While we also offer programs that support our community such as the Pet Parent Support Program, Urgent Foster Care, training and behaviour classes, and low-cost veterinary services, here are just a few ways we brought our mission to Improve the Lives of Animals beyond our doors.
The First Published Study on Hoarded Cat Behaviour
Toronto Humane Society’s Dr. Linda Jacobson, Senior Manager of Shelter Medicine Advancement, Dr. Jacklyn Ellis, Director of Behaviour, and Kyrsten Jade Janke, Research Coordinator, along with Dr. Jolene Giacinti from University of Guelph and Dr. Jyothi Robertson from Joint Venture Strategies, had the first article on hoarded cat behaviour published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery.
The report, titled Behavior and Adoptability of Hoarded Cats Admitted To An Animal Shelter, found that adopters were overwhelmingly positive about their adopted cats - despite the cats coming from a hoarding situation - and very few hoarded cats had any issues with litter box use.
This study helps give a second chance to hoarded cats across North America by showing that they can comfortably be re-homed.
Using Geographical Information System to Better Serve Communities
Using geographic information systems (GIS), Tegan Buckingham, Director of Integrated Marketing and Development, Kyrsten Jade Janke, Research Coordinator, Kevin Roberts, a volunteer, and Dr. Linda Jacobson, Senior Manager of Shelter Medicine Advancement, from Toronto Humane Society identified areas within the GTA that are served and under-served for our stakeholder groups: adopters, pet surrenders, public veterinary service clients, volunteers, and foster parents using a Hot Spot analysis.
The significance in this report, published in the Frontiers in Veterinary Science Journal, can’t be overstated. Now that we have more information on the populations we’re serving and gaps in these services have been identified, we will move forward with a plan of action on how we can reach more communities that are currently
With a team of industry leading experts and a passionate community network, we pursue our mission beyond our shelter doors
not receiving support and help more animals and their families beyond our normal reach.
On June 17th, three Toronto Humane Society staff members led by Dr. Karen Ward, Chief Veterinary Officer, and accompanied by 10 volunteers and four community members, travelled to the southern tip of Georgian Bay to visit Beausoleil First Nation for a popup wellness clinic.
The team provided 86 exams and 31 pet microchips. Of the dogs examined, 12% of them tested positive for heartworm and 6% tested positive for exposure to lyme disease. Because heartworms are complicated and expensive to treat, prevention is especially essential in areas where there is not accessible vet care. Pets were also given heartworm, flea, and tick prevention if needed.
Lending Our Voice to an Urgent Conversation
Toronto Humane Society was recently invited by PetSmart Charities and PetSmart Charities of Canada to be one of 15 animal organizations on a North American panel to discuss accessible animal care. Phil Nichols, Chief Operating Officer, and Dr. Jacques Messier, our Chief Executive Officer, were invited to lend their expertise in important conversations on this growing issue faced by pet parents everywhere.
There was discussion, debate, and plenty of dialogue surrounding the best methods of providing accessible veterinary care through PetSmart Charities of Canada. The panel also discussed challenges in the industry, such as sustainable clinic models and how best to serve the growing number of pet parents in need.
As one of the four Canadian organizations on the panel, this was a fantastic opportunity for Toronto Humane Society to highlight our expertise, share our knowledge, and help address what is becoming a growing problem for pets and their guardians.
The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Humane Society (OSPCA) expressed a need for support with kitten training. With our team of experts and many years of experience, we have a successful approach that helps nurture healthy neonatal kittens, so we invited representatives from each OSPCA branch for a training session.
The training was led by Toronto Humane Society experts Dr. Linda Jacobson, Senior Manager of Shelter Medicine Advancement, Rachel Fortin, Registered Veterinary Technician, and Larisa Nagelberg, Division Manager of Community Sheltering & Animal Transport.
They shared valuable information on medical basics, necessary supplies, and kitten feeding tips and tricks with stuffed toy kittens. The session also covered information on capacity for care and key communication points to share with foster parents who care for neonatal kittens.
Dr. Linda Jacobson Presents at the American Heartworm Society Triennial Symposium on heartworm in New Orleans
The American Heartworm Society (AHS) Heartworm Treatment Guidelines are exceptionally influential, to the extent that some States in the US are obligated to follow them by law. As they stand, they promote “best practices” without looking at heartworm treatment and prevention from the lens of clients lacking resources, or those lacking access to veterinary care for other reasons.
For some years now, Toronto Humane Society has used a modified version of the “conventional” treatment protocol recommended by the AHS. Dr. Linda Jacobson, Senior Manager of Shelter Medicine Advancement, presented data on 157 dogs successfully treated for heartworm with our shortened protocol. Because our protocol is 6 weeks shorter, it improves the welfare for dogs with heartworm, who must be strictly exerciserestricted during the conventional treatment and improves life-saving capacity by allowing dogs to be adopted sooner.
Dr. Jacobson’s second talk presented the alternative treatment protocol as an accessible modified to melarsomine. Dr. Jacobson summarized a body of recent evidence that showed that the alternative protocol can be used safely and effectively and kills the parasites within a reasonable amount of time in most dogs. She talked about the heartworm work being done through Toronto Humane Society’s outreach clinics, and pointed out that, for many dogs, the choice is not between melarsomine and the alternative protocol, but between the alternative protocol and no treatment at all.
Dr. Linda Jacobson was the only speaker that touched the audience to applaud her in the middle of her presentation when addressing the importance of not using value-laden language, and that the best treatments plans for dogs are made when you meet them and their pet parent in the place where they are. After the talk, she received positive feedback from some of the most influential and important voices in the heartworm research community.
Winter is here! Every pet is different; some love playing in piles of snow, and some would rather stay inside on your lap cuddling away the chilly winter months. While we want to support our pet’s desires to be outside, it is important to always keep their safety and wellbeing in mind. Here are some cold weather care tips to make this winter a lovely one for both you and your pet.
Keeping a towel at the door when you come in from a walk with your pet makes your job easy! Simply wipe down their paws each time they come in from a walk to ensure that all the salt and snow is removed from their furry body – don’t forget to get in between the toes! This will help your pet warm up and will help keep their paws dry and healthy.
For additional protection, consider purchasing booties to be worn outside to protect their paws or a jacket that covers their stomach and legs to keep them dry and warm.
Fleas can be especially scary in the winter because they do not hibernate but instead move inside to continue to breed and mate. Maintaining your pet’s flea, tick, and heartworm prevention all year round is a key part of your pet’s overall wellness.
Dogs need to keep their activity up during colder months, but you will want to limit their time outside. If you notice that they’re walking towards doors in the neighbourhood, turning around to head back home, or stopping in place and not wanting to move, they’re likely trying to tell you that they’re cold and that it’s time to head back home.
Your pet still needs exercise and mental stimulation to keep them entertained – especially if they’re stuck indoors for a longer period. By carving out some time to play with them on a regular basis, with the help of some new toys, such as puzzle feeders and snuffle mats, will help to keep their mind active.
Snow and ice can mask known odours that will help pets find their way home if they escape. Your pet should be wearing a well-fitted collar with updated contact information. Additionally, having your pet microchipped will provide your pet with an extra layer of security if their collar falls off.
It is well-known to not leave your pets in the car on a hot summer day, but did you know it can be just as dangerous to leave your pet in a cold car? Cars will hold the cold temperature, making your pets more susceptible to hypothermia and frostbite. Some signs to look out for include pale or grey/blue skin, shivering, and dysphoria (a state of unease).
Antifreeze is a lethal poison to dogs and cats. Be sure to clean up spills if they occur and do not leave any open bottles around for your pets to get into.
Overall, remember if it is too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet! Stay safe and have a wonderful winter season.
Over the last decade, the cost of veterinary care has doubled. Pet health insurance is a practical way to ensure you and your pet have access to the very best veterinary care, just when you need it most.
Unexpected emergency care can easily cost thousands of dollars. It is a difficult choice to make between providing for your pet and paying your day-to-day bills. Having pet insurance can make a difference.
Cats come into our care with many different backgrounds and experiences – such as community cats brought in by a compassionate caretaker, or cats being transferred into our care from an overburdened shelter, or medical surrender cats in need of urgent care.
Each of their stories are different and each cat is unique. They all receive help and support, but it starts with understanding the behaviour of the animal and what we can do to provide them with comfort during their time at a shelter.
Many animal welfare organizations use the Animal Behavior for Shelter Veterinarians and Staff book as a guideline. The book presents and evaluates the available research and programs that address both animal and human behaviours associated with the intake, management, and rehoming of dogs and cats.
In September 2022, a second edition of Animal Behavior for Shelter Veterinarians and Staff was
released and our very own Dr. Jacklyn Ellis, Director of Behaviour, published two chapters.
“When they first contacted me to contribute, I was very honoured because I reference the first edition of this book all the time,” shares Dr. Ellis. “There are so few resources that are directed towards shelter animals specifically and this book is great for that. There are so many contributors that are some of the top names in our field. It really is a fantastic book.”
Dr. Ellis’ first chapter titled “Feline Behavioral Assessment” provides insight on how to conduct behavioural assessments holistically (instead of just looking at their behaviour in shelter), how to use this information to improve the cat’s welfare while in the shelter’s care, and how this information can be used to help find the cat a suitable adopter.
Her second published chapter titled “Feline Enrichment” explores different categories of enrichment and how to implement these different
types of enrichment on a macro and micro level. Dr. Ellis also discusses the value that environmental enrichment has for staff and adopters. “Environmental enrichment improves their welfare, and improving their welfare really helps the hearts of the people who are working with them,” explains Dr. Ellis.
“It’s so much easier to work with a cat that’s having a good time than a cat that is stressed. That’s really good for staff morale. Improving a cat’s psychological well-being can also make it easier to provide veterinary care. For adopters, the better experience they have, the more likely they are to adopt, and it is much easier for them to picture how a cat would fit in to their home if that cat is relaxed enough to show their true personality – and enrichment helps to bring this out.”
These published chapters reflect Dr. Ellis’ tried and tested behaviour modification methods that have helped improve animal wellness for thousands of animals – including a fearful 6-year-old cat named Lillith.
Helping Lillith to Cope with Fear
Lillith was showing signs of fear and aggression. Out of the four fear responses - fight, flight, freeze, and fidget - Lillith’s first choice was to duke it out. To help Lillith become a more confident cat, her behaviour management plan included a few different areas of enrichment.
“The very first thing we did was get her into out of cage space. For an individual that’s quite fearful, especially one that’s showing the fear response of fight, they can feel quite cornered in cages. Removing the option to flee can make some animals resort to fighting quite quickly,” explains Dr. Ellis. By giving Lillith a larger space, she had more agency and control over interactions.
“Out of cage space is one type of enrichment that I outlined in the book, and used in Lillith’s behaviour management plan, another type of enrichment is hiding opportunities,” Dr. Ellis continues. “When animals can conceal themselves from something they perceive as a threat, that can be a really good coping mechanism. They feel like they’re doing something, such as sitting up high. That can help reduce the physiological fear response by giving them a behavioural coping mechanism.”
“We also played David Teie’s Music for Cats for her. When it is very quiet, it can be really stressful when noise happens. Think about it; if you’re in bed, and it’s quiet, and then someone knocks on your door, it’s going to scare the pants off you. Now imagine you’re watching TV, and someone knocks on the door. It’s
not quite as jarring,” Dr. Ellis illustrates. “Also, David Teie’s Music for Cats is developed with cats’ biological rhythms in mind. It uses a lot of cats purring, the pace of their heartbeat, and things like that. Research has shown that it makes a difference.”
Once Dr. Ellis was able to increase safety and reduce Lillith’s immediate signs of stress that were associated with being in the cage, the next step was to slowly introduce social types of enrichment, such as quiet visits and playtime, to encourage her to interact with humans on her own terms.
“We did that by using treat trails. Timing is key – as soon as they finish eating the first one and they look up for more, that’s when you have to throw another treat just a couple inches closer to you. This encourages the cat to come out of hiding on their own,” Dr. Ellis explains. “There are a lot of really good things there. First, you’re associating your presence with the positive thing of food. And second, having them use their own freewill to participate in the treat trail helps them build their confidence as well.”
As Lillith progressed, other behaviour modifications were used to make her even more confident around humans – such as desensitization and counterconditioning to touch using food and moving her into a quiet room where she was given increasing amounts of contact with humans. We’re happy to share that Lillith’s confidence grew and she was adopted.
Dr. Ellis’ contributing chapters will have a significant impact on the welfare of animals across North America, and beyond, as it’ll reach thousands of shelter staff and volunteers, as well as professional trainers, behaviourists, and veterinarians working with shelters. Congratulations, Dr. Jacklyn Ellis, on this huge accomplishment!
Many dogs do not have an issue with meeting new people. They can walk past strangers on the street or greet visitors without stress when they enter their home. However, some dogs struggle with this concept. The presentation of this fear is often called “stranger danger”.
“Stranger danger” looks different on many dogs. First, a dog will display body language of fear. They will either increase their distance or decrease their distance towards what they perceive as scary as their primary communication, and then will escalate to vocalization as a secondary means of communication.
These communication signals tell us a range of information based on their body positioning and posture, facial expressions, ear and tail movement and position, and the general physical interaction. Factors such as context, environment, and any physical characteristics common to the breed also play a part in how we understand their communication.
Typically, a fear response presents as fight, flight, freeze, or fidget. Fight is your dog showing distance decreasing behaviours with the goal of getting closer to the stranger by pulling towards, lunging, barking, growling, snapping and/or biting. With a flight fear response, we see our dogs showing distance increasing behaviours where they are trying to create space and move away with their communication. When your dog freezes, they are too overwhelmed to show any response resulting in them staying stationary and making themselves as small and as unintimidating as possible.
Some other signs to look for are panting, licking lips,
yawning out of context, ears positioned back, tail tucked, tense and stiff body, their body shaking or shivering, hard stare and focus or avoid eye contacting, and/or not accepting treats that they would normally eat.
Once we understand our dog’s response, we can then create the appropriate way to help them learn how to be more comfortable around strangers. Because every dog has their own triggers and reacts differently to fear, the behaviour modification plan will vary from dog to dog. Here are some general tips that you can use to help tackle “stranger danger”.
Identify who, what, when, and where your dog’s fear is triggered. This will help you, or a Certified Trainer, create a plan that is tailored to you and your dog.
Reduce your dog’s exposure until their negative conditioned response to strangers can be adjusted. Some examples include changing the time and places that you walk your dog to avoid high foot traffic and implementing things like crossing the street, turning directions, or hiding behind a car when a person walks by. If they display fearful behaviour when you have visitors in the home, you could provide your dog with a comfortable, private space away from guests.
The next step is to change their conditioned response to meeting strangers with desensitization and counterconditioning. This involves gradually, and at a low intensity, introducing them to strangers while giving them something they find enjoyable, such as high-value treats. We want to work these introductions
Help build confidence in your dog when they meet new people
at a distance or location that keeps them “under threshold” - which means remaining calm and without fear. For example, while on a walk you would want to keep a distance from strangers and then mark and reward your dog for seeing the stranger and not having a negative reaction by pairing that with their high-value treat. This will teach your dog that seeing a stranger equals tasty treats falling from the sky! This begins to change their negative association of strangers to a positive one.
Your dog is experiencing some level of fear and discomfort around new people and their reaction is involuntary. It’s important that we do not punish them for this, but instead, advocate for them and help build their confidence and trust every time they encounter a new person.
If your dog is struggling with meeting new people, I recommend working alongside a Certified Trainer to create a custom behaviour modification plan. We offer a wide range of training services that’ll also help strengthen your human-animal bond.
Melissa is a Certified Shelter Dog Behaviour Consultant through the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants (IAABC). She also holds certification as a Certified Animal Trainer through Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers, an Animal Trainer Professional and a Fear Free Shelter graduate through Fear Free Pets.
Melissa oversees the Shelter Programs Division and works alongside the teams of Shelter Care, Shelter Veterinary Care, Shelter Training and Admissions and Rehoming to Improve the Lives of Animals.
Thousands of animals come into Toronto Humane Society’s care every year. They are helped, healed, and handed everything they need to live a happy and healthy life with those who love them. There are, however, some animals that need a little extra behavioural support.
At Toronto Humane Society, we lovingly refer to these animals as “TLC animals” as a reminder that they need solicitous care in order to improve their condition behaviourally. Here are just three animals that received the extra tender, loving care they needed before moving into their forever homes this year.
When Gumaro arrived in our care in 2019 from Mexico, he was just a young pup ready to conquer the world. But soon after his arrival we discovered that he had fractured his hind limb and required surgery. This was frustrating for a young, energetic pup like Gumaro.
During recovery he did not know how to control his pentup energy. He wanted to run, he wanted to greet as many people as possible – but he couldn’t. The old Gumaro would have barked and lunged, but with the help from our training team and his foster parents, Gumaro found other outlets to let out all his energy.
He spent over two years in our care learning new things. Every day his foster parents worked on brain games for mental enrichment. He brushed up on his house manners, improved his walks, and learned a few cool yoga poses.
In June, Gumaro found his perfect match with a special family that was willing to continue working with him to build his confidence with positive reinforcement techniques.
Mr. Meowgi was surrendered into our care because he started to display behavioural changes when his family
had a baby. He began urinating on the couch and was aggressive when people were loud - including biting his female pet parent during her home birth and nipping their feet when they could not calm the baby.
Once in our care, Mr. Meowgi was placed into a foster home. He would display aggressive behaviour when his family left, or when they came back after leaving him for a period of time. After consulting a veterinarian behaviourist, Mr. Meowgi was diagnosed with separation anxiety - which is a rare diagnoses for cats.
Along with other behavioural techniques and medication, Mr. Meowgi’s foster parents became star clicker trainers to teach him tricks. Clicker training helps with general enrichment, but in this case, it also helped Mr. Meowgi develop communication skills. When he wasn’t getting what he wanted, he would act out, so they taught him how to “sit” or do a trick to get something.
After a year of support, training, and tons of treats, Mr. Meowgi was adopted in May.
Ventress and Thrawn
Ventress and Thrawn came into our care as a pair, but they needed some guidance on how to play nicely together. After receiving their neuter surgeries, thes e bunnies went on many re-bonding dates.
Thrawn was initially nervous around Ventress and would stomp at him, or flinch if he came too close too fast. Ventress would respect signals and walk away, but later would approach Thrawn for grooming which would cause a little scuffle.
After seven months of love and support from their Foster Parent and Training Assistant, their playdates grew from a few minutes to an hour and their behaviours toward each other improved. They were adopted as a pair in August.
Every day a life is changed for the better at Toronto Humane Society
Imagine having to choose between securing a place to live or caring for your cat? Imagine feeling you must decline necessary medical treatment because you have no one to look after your dog? Imagine staying in an unsafe environment because you worry that your pet may be injured or neglected? Now, imagine you didn’t have to choose.
Written by: Larisa Nagelberg, PMPWe believe our pets are our family. The power of the human-animal bond is gaining wider appreciation, and there is accumulating evidence to support how our pets improve our health and wellbeing.
This bond is vulnerable when we consider the challenges that we face in our daily lives. Housing, cost of living, our physical and mental health, and interpersonal relationships can all present challenges to our wellbeing. For example, a 2022 study conducted by the Financial Wellbeing Index from LifeWorks revealed that 27% of working Canadians spend everything they make each time they get paid, or more, leaving little room for emergencies, or rainy days. We also know Toronto has the highest rate of unaffordable housing across Canada. Additionally, COVID-19 led way to a nefarious ‘Shadow Pandemic’ of domestic violence and left many survivors with the difficult choice of finding safety or caring for their pets.
Many of us are just one crisis or setback away from not being able to care for our four-legged family members. For those who are already experiencing economic disparities or social divides, a lack of resources or support in crisis may leave them with the difficult decision to relinquish their pet.
The Urgent Care Program provides animal foster care for pet parents temporarily unable to care for them. This includes individuals who are facing housing instability, seeking medical treatment, or fleeing violence. By providing fostering to families experiencing an acute crisis, we are gifted with the opportunity to see the reciprocal wellbeing of caring for our community, individuals, and their pets. We are charged with not only putting animals first, but their caregivers as well.
By employing a non-judgmental approach and working from a strength-based framework, we create meaningful and trusting collaborative relationships with our pet parents. We strive to understand the challenges our specific community faces, and in doing so, we can bring to life the interconnectivity between humans, animals, and our environment in new ways. We also recognize that the best place for every pet is
in a loving home. The Urgent Care program brazenly meets these challenges, through safeguarding the human-animal bond in times of crisis and ensuring that animals are kept in a loving foster home while owners gain stability and safety once again.
Harper’s* family recently moved to Canada and were living in a car. They were in a difficult situation and needed someone to temporarily care for their pets while they took some time to settle into a new country. A friend told them about our Urgent Care program, and they immediately reached out for help.
Their incredibly sweet cats were placed into a foster home, but their stay wasn’t very long. After one month Harper’s family found pet friendly housing and they were reunited with their cats.
“The Urgent Care program was helpful in multiple ways. They went above and beyond to try and help as quickly as possible. Our two cats were also able to stay together in foster care and I know that it made the process much easier for them,” shares Harper.
“The pictures that they sent of our cats made us feel safe. We also had constant communication that made it easier and gave us some peace of mind. It was a really tough time for us, and we don’t know what we would have done without this program.”
*Due to the sensitivity of the Urgent Care Foster program, these names have been changed.
Division Manager, Community Sheltering & Animal Transport
Larisa has worked at Toronto Humane Society for the past 7 years in a number of different capacities. She started in Animal Care, and since has worked in Adoptions, Foster, and Transport.
With a passion for the Human-Animal Bond, Larisa began developing the Urgent Care program in 2019 offering temporary animal housing to individuals experiencing crisis and was honored with the “Outstanding Community Support” award from one of our cherished Urgent Care partner agencies.
Abigail Faith
Aloysius Fernandes
Amber Riches
Ann Adam
Apollo Torgis-Saer
Audrey Hinchliffe
Aunt Violet
Austin
Bailey Baker
Barb Ellman
Barbara Howley
Barbara McGuckin
Barbara Sutherland
Bashan Bedford Baxter
Bella Abzug
Bev Raino & Murphy
Beverley Stallman Billie
Birba Carosella
Bjorn Gorman Dixon
Blitzy & Phanton
Bob Deavitt
Bob Watson
Bootsie Stoddard
Bradley Huxted
Brian Fitzpatrick
Bronx Melrose
Buffy Carmela Ciarleglio
Carol
Cedric
Charlie Demandt
Charlie Mahon
Chesney Levac
Cheyenne RemediosWagner
Chris Daniel Vallier
Chung-Suk Lee
Clarise
Clementine
Cooper aka Scoops
Daisy Tran
Dianne Shelton
Dolly Werts
Don Mullin
Dottie
Ed Meyerowitz
Edna Klos
Eleanor McLaren
Ellie Fidler
Erin Davenport
Esme Spilar
Esther Russell- Horne
Ethel Winkler
Eugene, 2002-2017
Finnegan Freiman
Gary Kaschuk
Gary Scott Ainsworth & Larry Ainsworth
George Ginger and Molly
Giovanni Mascitelli
Gladys Munro
Gryffin Mohamid
Haggis Thomson
Handsome Pete Harriet Shalansky
Hasmig Possian
Heather & Dublin Brown
Heather Osborne
Holden Fernandes
Hunni Bunches
Irene May Hannah Aitken
Irene Sesler
Jan Van Hoof
Janet Browne
Janet Ross
Janice Smith
Jean Eugen Jessie
Jessie Thiessen
Jethro Farkas
Joel Kondrat
Joseph Brian Watson
June Alexandra Chappell June Chappell
June Crawford Kalyani & Narayanan Menon
Karen Page Kathleen Ken Hutcheson
Kimmel Laurie Lyall
Lenny Kutzko Thompson
Lily MacLennan
Lola
Lola Dadamo
Lorie Lyall
Lorna Halfon
Lucile Brown
Lucy O’Neill-Daley
Ludwig Uthof
Luigi Silvestri
Luna Grazia
Macadamia
Maguire Cordner
Margaret Anne (Peggy)
Dykes-Page
Margaret Kirkaldy
Marjorie Segal
Mark Carroll
Marley Marley
Mary Beatrice Hughes
Mary Bernice Moon
We gratefully acknowledge the donors who have given gifts of $80 or more in honour or in memory of a special person or pet. Tribute gifts are a thoughtful and meaningful way of acknowledging a loved one’s memory, expressing your good wishes or commemorating an occasion. These gifts were made from May 1, 2022 to November 18, 2022.
Mary Dennis-Himel
Max Wong (“Golden Ninja”) Mertle Featherwood-Ennis
Michael Galloro
Michael William Royce Ellis Miles Pentland - Ste Marie Milo Menchions/Rushbrook Mojo ‘Joey’ Margo Molly Dolejsi Morley Kelly Moses
Mrs. Ann Townley Murphy Jones-Nikiforuk Murray Nellie Padaic Patterson
Pat Fisher
Pat Johnston Peggy Mcgregor Penny
Philip Gallard
Quinn Rosenthal
Raymond Bradshaw Reese (miss him so much)
Robert Deavitt
Robert Elford
Robert Thompson-So Rocky Rolo Rolo
Romeo Alonzi Rosemarie Jackson Roxy Lofchy Rufus
Rupert Okazaki Sadie Fithern Salvatore (Sam) Bellissimo Sean Jenson Seth Kurz
Shadeau, Tim, Jerry, Belle Shadow Puri Sherman Friendly Shirley McLardy Shirley Winter Smudge Joynt Sophie and Kurt Sickel Surfer Berndsen
Terrance Douglas Coulter Terry Coulter & his dogs
Trixie
UDASKIN
Vairis Lauks
Vincent Eden Wayne Spetter
Wil Lawrie
Williamina McDougall Winston Morrison
Ziggy, mooch, cleo, little one
Alex Eaton
Anais
Antonella Vergati
Ashton Lubman
Benjamin Bernstein
Damian Creber & Meagan Steeper
Douglas Frederick McIntosh
Ece Subasi
Emily and Dan Cappell
Erin Kornfeld
Fern Nisker
Florence Wong
Frank Lo Monaco
Geri Steinberg
Grace
Gracie B
Grayson’s 6th Birthday
Hannah’s 8th Birthday Heidi Rogers Helen Lefebvre Honey Unger Isaac’s Bar Miztvah Jenny Hoang Jessica Murphy Jill Levenson
Kathryn Leaman
Katie D’Angelo Linda Smith
Lionel Pasen
Lynn Wilson
Marilyn Yeates
Mark Aiello
Max Deschamps
Michael Atlas
Ornella Balma
Otis Rodrigo Jackson
Paula Livigni
Rachel Harris and Taylor Collins
Richard Levy
Ronny Waldston
Rosalind Lerman
Rudy Doorenspleet
Seraphina Bennett
Seth Shereck
Stacey Wylie
Tara Hattangadi
Tina Yao
Tony Sandhu
Uno the cat
Vanessa & Dexter Cooke
Vibha Raghavan
Vicky and Daniel Vlasta Kapetanios Wendy Stephens, Megan Chretien
Toronto in the 1990s was a different place. It was a time before the Internet, iPhones, and Instagram. People were purchasing CDs from HMV, the Toronto Raptors were formed, and most LCBOs and other stores were closed on Sundays.
Animal welfare was also significantly different in the 1990s. The purpose of simply finding homes for homeless animals, protecting the public from animal diseases, and providing low-cost spay and neuter vet services has now shifted to a holistic model of serving the community and looking for ways to support animals in the loving homes they already have.
What caused this change? “Scientific inquiry and evidencebased practices have played a role in the history and development of animal sheltering organizations,” Dr. Karen Ward, DVM, Chief Veterinary Officer at Toronto Humane Society, explains.
With over 30 years of working in animal welfare, Dr. Ward has personally experienced the shift in animal welfare and how Toronto Humane Society has also adjusted.
“These understandings have led us to look for opportunities to serve our community in new ways and look to supporting animals in the loving homes that they already have, when that is in the best interest of the animal and the family, through means such as our Pet Parent Support Network, training classes and behaviour support, public veterinary services, outreach clinics, food banks, and Urgent Care program,” Dr. Ward continues.
While we’ve grown to better support the animal community, we’ve also implemented internal adjustments based on shelter data and statistics that have significantly changed the lives of the pets in our care.
“When I started working at Toronto Humane Society, nearly every cat would become ill with an upper respiratory infection (URI) approximately one week after admission. This was normal for almost every shelter. We had sick cats in the hallways, and we were very crowded. There was a huge focus on cleaning and sanitation. Each day the cats were moved to a new clean housing unit,” Dr. Ward shares.
“It is now very rare for a healthy cat to come to us and develop URI while in our care. This is due to many factors, but the two most key factors are minimizing the number of housing moves, and the fact that our cat housing is now portalized. Portalized spaces means that each cat now gets the space that would have been two separate housing units 30 years ago. Now, we place a cat into a single housing unit, and do not move them. Cats are provided with hiding boxes and their housing is spot cleaned as needed. As long as their box, towel, etc. is not spoiled, the cat keeps their items and stays in the same place.”
By being surrounded by their own smells, in an enclosure where everything stays in the same place, with a separate area for toileting, sleeping and eating, this reduces their stress and helps to keep the cats in our care healthy and happy.
We were once crowded with cats that had shelter-acquired illness, and now we have the capacity to reach out to other organizations and bring in cats from communities outside of Toronto who are struggling with their cat populations. Dr. Ward comments, “30 years ago, this would have been unheard of, and almost impossible to imagine.”
Thanks to scientific inquiry, evidence-based practices, and experts leading our life-changing work, Toronto Humane Society has become a space where best practices and boundary-pushing knowledge meet with unyielding optimism and a love for animals to create something special. This is only part of what makes Toronto Humane Society like no other.
After personally experiencing the shift in animal welfare, Dr. Karen Ward shares what makes Toronto Humane Society like no other.
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When Ace was transferred into in our care, he tested positive for roundworm, was underweight, and had patchy, scaling skin and alopecia at the base of both ears. He also demonstrated some environmental nervousness in the big city and was shy towards other dogs and people. Ace received the treatment and support he needed and found his forever family in the GTA. Now he enjoys walks on the Beltline Trail, tons of playtime, pets, and napping on his pet parent’s laptop.
“Ace is named after Ace the Bat Hound, Batman’s dog,” Genevieve, Ace’s pet parent, explains. “Even though he does not have superpowers, he is super in so many ways. In a short time, he has become such a vital member of our family.”
