The Toronto Humane Society is the place you go when you want to help animals or adopt a pet, everyone knows this. And many choose humane societies because they are known for protecting and conserving animal life. But that’s not always the case. The Toronto Humane Society has recently proven that, after animal cruelty, and a slew of other charges, has been laid against them. The charges only deal with wildlife animals that the THS rescued and/or released, and none of the charges pertain to their dealing with domestic animals.
There are many animals and charges included in the suspension given by Justice of the Peace Philomen Wright, last week. All the incidents relating to the charges however, took place between 2007 and 2009. All of the charges included failure to notify the Ministry of Natural Resources about at-risk species, failure to log information regarding wildlife animals, failure to properly quarantine sick wildlife, and improper release of wildlife animals.
The improper release of wildlife animals pertains to a raccoon captured by the Humane Society in 2007. Regulations expressly state that any animal that is released into the wild must be released within 1 kilometre of the area of its capture. Instead, the raccoon was released near the farm of one of the then-board members of the THS, which was quite a distance from the stipulated 1 kilometre.
Things didn’t start to look up in 2008 for wildlife animals at the THS either. During this year the THS took in a milk snake, a Massassauga rattlesnake and a soft-shell turtle. These animals were to be reported to the MNR, which they were not, and all the animals were to be quarantined to prevent the spread of disease; something else that was also overlooked.
In November 2009 the Ministry obtained a search warrant and searched the premises, leading them to a great number of charges that were laid at the time. Tim Trow, former President, along with four other senior management staff were charged with animal cruelty and other criminal charges. The entire board of the THS also faced criminal charges. The search forced the THS to close their doors for some time, but they did reopen in January 2010 for animal adoption. They have remained open since that time and the charges were officially dropped in the summer of 2010.
However, the THS did plead guilty last week to charges of failing to comply with the conditions of its wildlife custodian authorization. Because of this, the THS will not be able to apply for another authorization until 2012.
Toronto Humane Society Given Suspended Sentence on Wildlife Charges
The Toronto Humane Society is the place you go when you want to help animals or adopt a pet, everyone knows this. And many choose humane societies because they are known for protecting and conserving animal life. But that’s not always the case. The Toronto Humane Society has recently proven that, after animal cruelty, and a slew of other charges, has been laid against them. The charges only deal with wildlife animals that the THS rescued and/or released, and none of the charges pertain to their dealing with domestic animals.
There are many animals and charges included in the suspension given by Justice of the Peace Philomen Wright, last week. All the incidents relating to the charges however, took place between 2007 and 2009. All of the charges included failure to notify the Ministry of Natural Resources about at-risk species, failure to log information regarding wildlife animals, failure to properly quarantine sick wildlife, and improper release of wildlife animals.
The improper release of wildlife animals pertains to a raccoon captured by the Humane Society in 2007. Regulations expressly state that any animal that is released into the wild must be released within 1 kilometre of the area of its capture. Instead, the raccoon was released near the farm of one of the then-board members of the THS, which was quite a distance from the stipulated 1 kilometre.
Things didn’t start to look up in 2008 for wildlife animals at the THS either. During this year the THS took in a milk snake, a Massassauga rattlesnake and a soft-shell turtle. These animals were to be reported to the MNR, which they were not, and all the animals were to be quarantined to prevent the spread of disease; something else that was also overlooked.
In November 2009 the Ministry obtained a search warrant and searched the premises, leading them to a great number of charges that were laid at the time. Tim Trow, former President, along with four other senior management staff were charged with animal cruelty and other criminal charges. The entire board of the THS also faced criminal charges. The search forced the THS to close their doors for some time, but they did reopen in January 2010 for animal adoption. They have remained open since that time and the charges were officially dropped in the summer of 2010.
However, the THS did plead guilty last week to charges of failing to comply with the conditions of its wildlife custodian authorization. Because of this, the THS will not be able to apply for another authorization until 2012.