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FAQs
Adoptions
Services
Funding
AdoptionsQ: How many pets do you adopt? A: Every day animals at The Toronto Humane Society find new homes. In 2005, the Society found homes for 7,126 cats, dogs and small domestic pets. We are proud of our efforts and are committed to placing 100 per cent of adoptable animals in to new, loving homes. Q: Where do your animals come from? A: Lost animals and pets surrendered by their owners make up the majority of the animals received at the Society. Animals are also admitted through the Cruelty Investigations Department. Shelter Assistance Program Q: What are your adoption hours?
A: We are located at 11 River Street. Which is the North East corner of Queen and River just East of the Don Valley. Click here for a Map. Q: What's the adoption process like? A: We require interested applicants to come in during adoption hours to choose an animal, fill out an application, and be processed. The process is to ensure a good fit for both the animal and the individual, which reduces the likelihood of the animal being returned. Once approved, the individual can take the animal home with them that day. Q: How do you decide who is adoptable? A: Our goal is to place 100 per cent of the pets received at our shelter. This can be quite a challenge because we accept all companion animals brought to us regardless of their health or temperament. Pets placed for adoption need to be of sound temperament and good health. Pets with a history of severe aggression are not suitable for our adoption program. That being said, many animals undergo substantial rehabilitation prior to placement for adoption. Our Canine Services work with difficult-to-place dogs to resolve behaviour problems that would be a deterrent to adoption. Our team of veterinarians ensure every medial option is explored in order to save an ill or injured animal. Q: How much does it cost to adopt a pet? A: We do not charge any money for our animals, but ask for your donation to sustain our good work. Q: How long do you keep animals? A: Pets stay in adoption for as long as they remain physically and emotionally healthy. For some animals this can mean living at shelter for six months or more until the right home is available. The length of stay for animals varies. No animal is ever euthanized due to lack of space or because the animal has simply “been here too long.” The Society has over 350 foster families who care for newborns, pregnant cats, and recuperating dogs until they are ready to be placed up for adoption. In addition, foster families will shelter and care for animals when the kennels are full or if an individual animal needs a break from the stress of staying in the shelter. Our foster families directly saved the lives of over 2,038 cats and dogs in 2005 alone! Q: Do you ever get purebred dogs or cats? A: We do get purebred dogs and puppies, however they get adopted very quickly. If you are interested in specific breed, check our pet listings to see if one is available. The Society also works with purebred dog rescue organizations. Contact us to get a list of pure breed rescue groups. Q: How do I adopt a pet from you? A: Information on how to adopt a pet is available on the Adoption page of this website. Q: Do you require spaying or neutering of adopted pets? A: We are committed to ending pet overpopulation and consider spaying and neutering one solution to this tragic problem. Many of our pets are already spayed or neutered before coming to the Society. Those who have not been are typically spayed/neutered while they are at the shelter. Another obvious solution is to put an end to puppy mills and to make sure unlicenced breeders are not allowed to sell pets. Q: How do I surrender an animal to you for adoption? A: At present our Shelter has no extra room. If you need to surrender your pet, as space becomes available, you will need to make an appointment with a Feline or Canine coordinator. If you need to surrender a cat on an emergency basis, please call 416-392-2273 ext. 2140 for a surrender consultation. ServicesQ: What's the difference between you and the OSPCA? A: The Ontario SPCA (OSPCA) also known as the Ontario Humane Society (OHS) is located in Newmarket, Ontario. They are the provincial body responsible for the administration of the OSPCA Act. This Act gives humane societies the authority to investigate animal cruelty. The Toronto Humane Society is affiliated with the OSPCA. This affiliation gives our agents and inspectors the authority under the act to investigate cases of animal cruelty. Both organizations are registered charities operating animal shelters. Q: Are you a 'no-kill' animal shelter? A: No. In order to be considered 'no-kill' we would have to limit the types and numbers of animals we accept. The Society is an 'open door' animal shelter that has an extremely low euthanasia (one of the lowest in North America). We offer shelter and care to animals regardless of age, health, temperament, or space available. No healthy adoptable animal is ever euthanised. Q: What's your euthanasia policy? A: We will only euthanise an animal that is severely ill – with no chance of recovery – or extremely aggressive with people and other animals. We never euthanise animals based on space constraints or because the animal has been here too long. Q: Can you recommend a veterinarian for me to see? A: Contact the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association for information about local animal clinics and veterinarians. Q: How do I report animal neglect or cruelty? A: Contact the Society if you suspect or know an animal is suffering from neglect or abuse. Please leave detailed information about the location, animal in question, and potential suspect as well as your contact number, which will be kept strictly confidential. Being able to contact you, should more information be needed, will assist in the quick resolution of your concerns. Q: I found an animal in my neighbourhood. What should I do? A: There are several options to help find the animal's family. If you can keep the animal until his/her owners are located, here are some suggestions:
If you are unable to keep the animal, you can bring him/her to The Toronto Humane Society – click here for directions and/or a map. Q: Help! I've lost my pet. What do I do? A: First remain calm. Then search everywhere possible, inside and outside, for your pet right away - look under bushes, in tight corners, in your neighbor's house and garage, etc. Search further around the neighbourhood than you expect your pet to roam. Check with all your neighbors as someone may have seen your pet or even taken him/her in for safety. There are several options when trying to find a lost pet, here are some suggestions: Check the Lost and Found section of our website, and view pictures of the lost pets in our shelter. Put up "lost" posters where the pet went missing – you can find a downloadable poster in the Lost & Found section of this website. Place a "lost" advertisement in the newspaper. Register the pet on our Lost Pets page. Check frequently with your local animal control agency (in Toronto, the City of Toronto Animal Services) and with The Toronto Humane Society. You may want to bring a colour photo of your pet to the shelters to help with identification. Don't give up-it may take time to locate your pet. And when you do, please make sure that he/she has up-to-date tags on his/her collar. Consider getting your pet a microchip implant for more permanent identification. Q: When there is the need to euthanize an animal, what happens to its remains? A: The Toronto Humane Society respects the bond that pet guardians have for their beloved companion and knows that it continues even when the pet is no longer alive. We offer a special resting place for those wishing to utilize the services of our Pet Memorial Wall. Under no circumstances do we release any animal remains to rendering plants, land fills, or for medical research. The remains are respectfully cremated. Q: Do you sell animals for scientific experimentation? A: Under no circumstances would The Toronto Humane Society ever give an animal for research. FundingQ: Do you receive money from my taxes? A: The Toronto Humane Society is a not-for-profit organization solely funded through charitable donations and receives no government funding. Q: How is The Toronto Humane Society different from animal control agencies? A: The Society operates one of the largest animal shelter facilities in Canada. Both the Society and animal control agencies have the similar goal of controlling the population of homeless pets by stressing the importance of spaying/neutering. The difference between the Society and animal control agencies lies in the focus of each organization's protection arm. Your local animal control agency is generally charged with the duty of controlling animals. They are the ones you call when a dog is running at large or barking too much. The license your pet wears comes from your local animal control agency. Most animal control agencies are also the ones you contact if there is a dead animal in your yard, road, or neighbourhood. The Toronto Humane Society works to ensure quality lives for all animals. Our main concern is for the well being of the animal. The Society is the place to call for help finding a home for your pet, to adopt a pet, to get information on responsible pet ownership, for tips on solving training and/or behaviour difficulties, to find out about animal welfare legislation and to report animal cruelty. The Toronto Humane Society's Investigations Department works throughout the GTA, many times assisting local law enforcement agencies including animal control, looking into allegations of animal abuse or neglect with the emphasis being on making the conditions better for the animal - whether that includes providing education for the owner or removal of the animal. Q: What is the difference between you and other animal welfare organizations that solicit funds from me through the mail (such as Humane Society of the United States, PETA, American Humane, ASPCA, Friends for Animals, etc.)? A: While all these organizations work to help all kinds of animals, what sets the Society apart from the national/international organizations is that we operate a local shelter that receives and houses animals through our adoption program. The Society works directly with members of the community to find homes for homeless pets, help increase the value of companion animals, stop abuse and neglect, and solve training and behaviour difficulties. Q: If I make a gift to a national organization, do you receive a portion of my donation? A: No. The Society is a non-profit independent organization funded solely by the voluntary donations of individuals and businesses in this community. Funding for the Society’s services and programs is received in the form of cash donations, bequests, trusts, and fees. A: Let us count the ways – the Society greatly appreciates donations of cash, time, and items. The Toronto Humane Society is a registered charity and as such your donation is tax-deductible as allowed by law. Your financial support helps us maintain and even expand the programs and services we offer to the community. Many of the Society's programs would not exist without the generous donation of time by volunteers. Volunteers work in all areas of the shelter operation - working directly with the animals, foster care, education, adoption, administration, and more. There is a world of opportunities offered to individuals who want to volunteer at the Society. Finally, to reduce expenses, the public is encouraged to donate needed items on our Wish List directly to the shelter. Please visit the Get Involved section of this website for more information on the various ways you can make a difference in the lives of the animals.
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New Shelter adoption hours are: