The trouble with words is that we “hear” them in different ways. Sometimes we hear what we want to hear. Sometimes we hear what others want us to hear. And sometimes the message is just not quite clear.

In the end, it’s the actions that follow the words that speak the loudest and with the most truth.

As the situation with the ringworm killings unfolded, I expressed a cautious support for the OSPCA — for a couple reasons. First, we need a humane shelter for our homeless animals. To simply shut it down leaves many animals with a lot less hope for a home and deprives the community of a needed service. Second, with this opportunity to take a look inside the OSPCA, we are afforded a great opportunity to make significant changes. Changes that will benefit the animals and bring a new trust and support for the work the OSPCA could be doing within the community. Maybe even a no-kill agenda.

I listened to their words as the OSPCA gave statements to the press. I rejoiced when they announced on Thursday that they had halted the killings at the Newmarket facility. I counted on them to honor their word. But then came news that three animals were killed on Friday… for “behavioral” reasons (my thoughts on that label are best saved for another post). Included in the three was Sago, a German Shepherd who has become the unofficial poster child for the anti-killing protests.

A caption under Sago’s photo in the online press mentioned that she was about to be adopted. Instead she is dead.

Why did these killings happen? What was the point of killing them at a time when the OSPCA said killings had been halted?

The deaths of these three animals the day after the OSPCA released a statement that killings had been halted has certainly given pause to my thinking that the current management was going to embark on a new path. I obviously heard what I wanted to hear when I read their statements. But their actions have set me straight.

At the very least, I am discouraged by their logic.

My focus returns to the animals that survived the killings. They are obviously not out of the woods.

As people scramble to correct the problems at OSPCA, let’s not forget these survivors. Kate MacDonald has stated that all will be quarantined and tested throughout the next month, but we must remain diligent in following up on them. We must not let these survivors fall through the cracks. And as soon as possible, we must ensure that they find loving, forever homes. Else their fate will be no brighter than it was before the ringworm outbreak. They will again hang precariously in the balance of life or death.

I encourage everyone to stay in close touch with the OSPCA regarding the progress of the animals still in their care. Request follow up reports often. Some may be ready for adoption before the 30-day period. Some may require more time. Either way, we need to find homes for them.

Will you be one of the homes?

Please share this post with your friends and ask them to share it with their friends… because we know there are homes for our homeless animals. We are thousands and they are but a couple hundred.

If you are interested in adopting or want to follow up on their progress, please contact the OSPCA. Let them know we have not forgotten the survivors.

Anne Buonaiuto, Executive Assistant to CEO
Phone: 905-898-7122 ext. 304 or abuonaiuto@ospca.on.ca

Take action…

Support a new OSPCA. Volunteer. Adopt. Share. Save a life!

Ciao, Holly

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We got what we wanted today.

We protested, we made phone calls, we sent emails, we blogged, we tweeted, we wrote comments on various websites expressing our outrage that the OSPCA would systematically kill healthy animals because they had or might have ringworm — a treatable fungal skin condition. And to this end, we have saved the majority of the animals from the OSPCA “ringworm massacre.”

They are safe. For now.

We must not forget that we lost 99 lives.

From the words we have heard, the OSPCA has halted the killings. Does this mean they will seek treatment for the 23 dogs and 91 cats that possibly still remain in harms way? Could their lives still be hanging in the balance? I don’t think we know for sure.

Now begins the next step.

Tanya Firmage director of animal care, Kate MacDonald OSPCA Ceo, and Rosaline Ryan director of marketing and communications

There remains much to do. As our incredible champion in this fight, Newmarket-Aurora MPP Frank Klees has stated: “There is an inherent conflict of interest within the animal protection system because the same charitable organization that provides shelter for creatures also acts as the inspection and enforcement body.” This must be addressed.

I think we also need to insist on a thorough investigation by an independent, outside party to what happened, what went wrong, and what new procedures should be implemented to prevent any similar future scenarios. This goes towards rebuilding our faith and our trust.

But beyond that and more immediate are the animals that have so far survived.

Let’s look at the numbers: we started with the 350 animals that the OSPCA announced they would kill over several days:
- 99 were killed immediately
- 15 were stolen

Roughly speaking here’s what’s left:
- 8 turtles (immune to ringworm)
- 96 animals already in foster
- 15 animals not affected by the outbreak; in isolation
- 23 dogs and 91 cats need to be tested further; seeking temporary shelter for up to a month.

We now need 233 homes; less if people adopt more than one animal.

We stood up to save these animals from a death they did not deserve, so now we need to home them — either in foster  homes or adopted into forever homes. We need to give them what they have always deserved — a kind and loving family.

Will you do this? Will you be that home?

Please, the animals at the OSPCA still need us. Step forward again and be their home.

Or share this message with all your friends and ask them to share it with their friends.

Just as we were able to stop their deaths, we can find these wonderful creatures their forever homes.

We need to follow through on what we started when we decided to stand up for their lives.

Volunteer. Adopt. Share. Save a life!

Ciao, Holly

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I have been told by an employee at an SPCA how nice it would be to hear something positive once in a while about the work they do to save the animals in their care. It certainly gave me pause to think.

But in today’s edition of the Toronto Star, there appeared a story that the Ontario SPCA has started killing 350 animals at it’s shelter in Newmarket because of ringworm — a treatable fungal infection.

And again I am reminded of how readily shelters will kill their animals at the drop of a hat rather than apply some elbow grease and get the necessary work done. Yes, it requires some elbow grease and time because there is no magic pill for ringworm, but the response that all animals in the shelter will simply be killed rather than make this effort is just appalling.

It’s a response based on convenience rather than what is right. It is surely easier to kill all the animals in the facility, hose it down with bleach and wait for the next bunch of homeless animals to refill the facility. And certainly quicker. The lives of our homeless pets are just that easily dismissed.

Ringworm should NOT be a death sentence.

According to CTV, Durham SPCA officials released a statement Tuesday suggesting more rigorous cleaning procedures can eradicate ringworm.

“As a shelter that has had to deal with two major ringworm outbreaks in the last 10 years, we are fully aware of how difficult a condition it is to treat. Both of our outbreaks involved about 100 animals,” the statement said.

“It requires extra precautions to be taken on the part of the staff and volunteers working with those animals, like wearing gloves, long sleeves and booties.

“But it is not a life threatening disease, it is a fungus…In both of our outbreaks we never lost an animal.”

News reports tell us the killing has already begun.

Update: THE OSPCA IS NOW ASKING FOR QUALIFIED VOLUNTEERS to assist in treating the animals. Here is the info for volunteering:

Anne Buonaiuto, Executive Assistant to CEO
Phone: 905-898-7122 ext. 304 or abuonaiuto@ospca.on.ca

Please do not use this contact info to express outrage at the initial decision to kill the animals. Let’s keep it open for volunteers to get through. The animals need them!

Please share this with your friends.

Ciao, Holly

UPDATE: You may be able to help save animals.
The Ontario SPCA is asking qualified residents and local veterinarians who can treat ringworm to contact them with services you can offer to help save the remaining animals that were scheduled to be euthanized… [Read more]

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