[Lara's mom]

Yesterday, the OSPCA (Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) raided the Toronto Humane society. They found numerous animals in immediate distress and charges were laid. The results are as follows:

President Tim Trow: 2 counts of animal cruelty. 2 counts of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.

Head Veterinarian Steve Sheridan: 1 count of animal cruelty. 1 count of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.

General Manager (Name unknown): 1 count of animal cruelty. 2 counts of conspiracy to commit an indictable offense.

Supervisor Andy Bechtel: 2 counts of conspiracy to commit an indictable offense. 1 count of cruelty to animals. 3 counts of obstructing a police officer.

The entire board of Directors (Names unknown): 5 counts of cruelty to animals.

Bandit, a pitbull responsible for a terrible attack on a child was ordered to be euthanized by the courts. Tim Trow refused to comply with the law and kept that dog a virtual prisoner in his office for several years. Bandit attacked a police officer and the officer had no choice except to use pepper spray to repel the attack. He is currently in the care of a veterinarian. His eventual fate is unknown at this time.

So far, veterinarians from the OSPCA have euthanized 4 extremely sick cats who were in terrible distress. All of the animals are being examined by veterinarians and there may be more animals euthanized if they are judged to be too sick to survive.

While there is no doubt that this is a terrible situation, there is a lesson to be learned. People who care can make a difference. Many people reported the bad conditions they saw while visiting the THS. Other people got videos of filthy cages, feces covered food, sick animals left in cages, etc. People came out and protested. Present and past employees of the THS spoke out. It took a while but, the animals are now safe and in the hands of those who will care for them as they should be cared for.

[cherylmartin]

Read of this at another forum. And you are right, people who do care can make a difference. Wnd we see something that is not right, we must take a stand for the animals.

[Lara's mom]

Unfortunately, the news has gotten worse. Additional animals have had to be euthanized. A mummified cat was found in a live trap that was set in the ceiling and never checked. There are a large number of feral cats in the basement and in the walls that volunteers are attempting to trap.

What makes me even more furious is that donations meant to help the animals will go toward the legal bills of these jerks!!!

[DoggieVogue]

How terrible that these animals had to suffer like this, at the hands of the people who should have been saving them.

[Lara's mom]

The Toronto Humane Society is once again open and those animals that have been deemed healthy and appropriate for adoption are already finding forever homes. They are still being run by the OSPCA - the idiots in charge prior to the raid are still facing criminal charges.

There are approximately 800 animals that have not yet been cleared for adoption for various reasons. However, all the animals are now living in clean and sanitary surroundings, receiving ongoing medical care, fresh food and water, exercise, etc.

As for the 800 remaining animals, some are very old and have serious medical conditions that may well make them impossible to adopt out. There are also a huge number of feral cats that are probably too old to ever be tamed enough to become a house pet. There are discussions ongoing as to what would be the most humane thing to do with this group in view of the fact that soon the THS will be once again flooded with unwanted puppies and kittens as a result of irresponsible owners who did not spay/neuter their pets. The former management of the THS is also to blame for this because they knowingly adopted out intact animals in strict violation of their own policy.

The OSPCA is working to reestablish ties with wildlife organizations who refused to deal with the THS under the former management so that wild animals who find their way to the shelter can be taken to wildlife rehabilitation centres and raised properly for eventual release.