I just read Peter Worthington's latest treatise attempting to defend Toronto Humane Society.
Then I checked the calendar. Nope, it's not April 1st.
I don't give a damm whether honchos from each of the OSPCA and THS duke it out barefisted in a parking lot.
What I do give a damm about is animal welfare. Not animal rights, because that opens the door to having our right to own a pet animal of any kind legislated away. Welfare - adequate food, shelter, medical care, socialization, training. Domesticated animals have to live in our world, it's our responsibility to ensure that they are prepared for it.
What I do give a damm about is animals receiving medical care when it's needed. An animal shouldn't die in a worker's arms because some honcho wouldn't approve sending the animal for emergency veterinary care. An animal shouldn't die in agony in a cage because of some whacko notion.
What I do give a damm about is not institutionalizing animals for years in tiny cages. We reserve incarceration for human criminals. How would you like to live in a tiny room for the rest of your life, with your toilet right next to your food and bed, with no room to move and nothing to occupy your mind and your time? Why should animals be treated like criminals and spend years in tiny unnatural spaces going quietly cage crazy?
What I do give a damm about is animals being adopted out without being first spayed or neutered. There's no need to ensure future inventory; stupid, irresponsible humans will look after that.
What I do give a damm about is an organization taking criticism as an opportunity to improve, not an opportunity to spend donor dollars on lawyers.
What I do give a damm about is transparency and truth.
What I do give a damm about is what the Toronto Humane Society is.
And what it isn't.
There is only one way to change things. Become a member of the Toronto Humane Society. It's only $30, give up your takeout coffee for a week. Then, educate yourself. Ask for a tour of the shelter, the WHOLE shelter. Examine the financials. Ask questions. Ask HARD questions. Don't be put off. Attend members' meetings in person. And VOTE.
To paraphrase Bob Dylan...The times, they are in need of changing.
NOTA BELLA: A reader advised by comment that it looks like the annual membership fee has gone up to $40. Thank you for that information.
Addendum 1: The Windsor-Essex Couty Humane Society has disputed a statement in Peter Worthington's article and requested a correction. IMHO a correction never actually corrects an error in a media article since hardly anyone reads corrections, so erroneous information is out there forever. What happened to fact checkers? What happened to journalists investigating information before publishing?
Addendum 2: Howcome the organization was Toronto Humane Society and Hospital in November 2009 press releases, but reverted back to Toronto Humane Society since then? Enquiring minds want to know.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Effort underway to deny Michael Vick the Ed Block Courage Award
Hat tip to Pet Connection and YesBiscuit!.
Pet Connection has an article about the online petition to try to get the Ed Block Courage Award denied to Michael Vick.
YesBiscuit! has a link to an Atlanta Journal-Constitution article entitled Michael Vick got adrenaline rush while killing dogs.
And his teammates want to give him an award from a foundation that according to its website "...is dedicated to improving the lives of neglected children and ending the cycle of abuse" and "That objective is coupled with the Foundation's commitment to celebrating players of inspiration in the NFL". And the Foundation gave the award (so its website leads me to believe).
WTF???? Since when did vicious animal abuse rooted in money constitute courage?
Any future candidates should refuse the Ed Block Courage Award, so that they are not in the same company as Michael Vick.
Pet Connection has an article about the online petition to try to get the Ed Block Courage Award denied to Michael Vick.
YesBiscuit! has a link to an Atlanta Journal-Constitution article entitled Michael Vick got adrenaline rush while killing dogs.
And his teammates want to give him an award from a foundation that according to its website "...is dedicated to improving the lives of neglected children and ending the cycle of abuse" and "That objective is coupled with the Foundation's commitment to celebrating players of inspiration in the NFL". And the Foundation gave the award (so its website leads me to believe).
WTF???? Since when did vicious animal abuse rooted in money constitute courage?
Any future candidates should refuse the Ed Block Courage Award, so that they are not in the same company as Michael Vick.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
OSPCA announces more arrests related to Toronto Humane Society
It just keeps coming....
The Globe and Mail has a story on the arrests of Tre Smith and Mark Beauchamp. Read it here.
In a somewhat related segue, Toronto Humane is still being a pain about adoptions. No wonder there are so many animals stuck in there, when adoptions are closed an hour before the shelter closes and staff will not take a few extra minutes to see an animal get out and go to a good home. The adopter is forced to return another day and go through the whole shtick again.
The Globe and Mail has a story on the arrests of Tre Smith and Mark Beauchamp. Read it here.
In a somewhat related segue, Toronto Humane is still being a pain about adoptions. No wonder there are so many animals stuck in there, when adoptions are closed an hour before the shelter closes and staff will not take a few extra minutes to see an animal get out and go to a good home. The adopter is forced to return another day and go through the whole shtick again.
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