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Frequently Asked Questions
Adoptions
- How many pets do you adopt?
- Where do your animals come from?
- What are your adoption hours?
- Where are you located?
- What is the adoption process like?
- How much does it cost to adopt a pet?
- How long do you keep animals?
- How do I adopt a pet from you?
- Do you require spaying or neutering of adopted pets?
- What if I wish to surrender my pet?
- What if I need to return an adopted pet?
- What does it mean when an animal is classified as "On Hold"?
- Can you keep me on a notification list to find out if an animal becomes adoptable?
- Can I place an animal on hold over the phone or through email?
- What are the shelter’s peak/non-peak hours?
Services
- What is the difference between you and the OSPCA?
- Can you recommend a veterinarian for me to see?
- How do I report animal neglect or cruelty?
- I found an animal in my neighbourhood. What should I do?
- Help! I've lost my pet. What do I do?
- Do you sell animals for scientific experimentation?
- Are you a “no-kill” shelter?
- What is your euthanasia policy?
- Are all the animals at THS spayed/neutered?
- How up-to-date is the Adopt A Pet portion of your website?
- Do you provide cremation or burial services for animals?
Funding
- Do you receive money from my taxes?
- Is The Toronto Humane Society the same as Toronto Animal Services?
- What is the difference between you and other animal welfare organizations that solicit funds from me through the mail?
- If I make a gift to a provincial or national organization, do you receive a portion of my donation?
- How can I help?
Adoptions
Q: How many pets do you adopt?
A: Every day animals at The Toronto Humane Society find new homes. Each year the shelter finds loving forever homes for thousands of animals.
Q: Where do your animals come from?
A: Many of our animals have been surrendered by owners that can no longer care for them.
Q: What are your adoption hours?
A: Shelter adoption hours are:
Monday to Friday - 11am to 7pm
Saturday and Sunday - 10am to 6pm
A: We are located at 11 River Street, on 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 ask interested applicants to come in during adoption hours to choose an animal, fill out an application, and be interviewed. The interview is to ensure a good fit for both the animal and the individual, to reduce the likelihood of the animal being returned. Once approved, applicants can take an animal home with them that day. Most adoptions happen the same day, and that we accept applications until 6pm as the adoption interview and paper work can take up to an hour.
Q: How much does it cost to adopt a pet?
A: Our adoption fees are as follows:
| Type | Routine | Senior Citizen(Adopter) |
Senior Animal* |
| Dogs | 180.00 | 100.00 | 80.00 |
| Cats | 120.00 | 80.00 | 60.00 |
| Small Domestics | See list |
* Please note - Senior Dogs are 10yrs +, Senior Cats are 7 yrs +
Q: How long do you keep animals?
A: Pets stay in adoption until the right home comes along. 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 foster families who care for newborns, pregnancies, and recuperating animals.
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: Too many pets live in neglected or ill-informed homes. We spay, neuter, and microchip pets, but believe that it's best for animals that there be legislation requiring that animals only be bred by licensed breeders. Return adoptions have to go through the same process as owner surrenders.
Q: What if I wish to surrender my pet?
A: If you wish to surrender a pet, please visit our admissions page for more information on the surrender process.
Q:What if I need to return an adopted pet?
A: If you are no longer able to care for a pet that you have adopted from The Toronto Humane Society, we ask that you please return the animal. We will always accept our animals. We do ask that you please call the shelter ahead of time.
Q:What does it mean when an animal is classified as "On Hold"?
A: Animals “On Hold” are temporarily approved for adoption and are waiting for their potential owners to take them home. It also indicates that applications are no longer being accepted for that particular animal. If its status changes, its “On Hold” classification will be removed.
Q:Can you keep me on a notification list to find out if an animal becomes adoptable?
A: No, unfortunately we do not keep a notification list due to the sheer number of requests, however, please refer to our “Adopt A Pet” section of our website and when a breed of your choice appears we encourage you to visit us and fill out an application form for adoption. However, please be aware that animals “On Hold” are temporarily approved for adoption and are waiting for their potential owners to take them home.
Q:Can I place an animal on hold over the phone or through email?
A: No, you cannot place an animal on hold via phone or email. The THS runs an open adoption system to help people adopt animals that are best suited to their lifestyle. You will need to come into the shelter in order to put an animal “On Hold.” And of course, whether or not you can put an animal on hold will depend on your interview with one of our adoption specialist personnel.
Q:What are the shelter’s peak/non-peak hours?
A: Generally, the quietest time to visit the shelter is between 3 and 5 p.m. during the week; on the weekend it is 10 a.m., right when we open. Though it's not guaranteed, our staff has typically found these two periods to be the least busy. Alternatively, our peak hours are from 5 p.m. to close during which time people have just finished their work day.
Services
Q: What's the difference between you and the OSPCA?
A: The OSPCA conducts the enforcement of animal welfare legislation in the province. The OSPCA also operates some animal shelters and humane societies. The THS is a separately incorporated, independently operated humane society that services the needs of downtown Toronto. The THS receives no provincial funding and is operated entirely through private donors and sponsors.
Q: Can you recommend a veterinarian for me to see?
A: Though we cannot refer any specific clinic, there are many resources on the internet.
Q: How do I report animal neglect or cruelty?
A: Contact the OSPCA. Visit http://ontariospca.ca for contact information.
Q: I found an animal in my neighbourhood. What should I do?
A: The THS is dedicated to reuniting lost animals with their owners. If you find a lost or stray animal, try keeping the animal with until you locate the owner, by placing ads or by checking our public lost and found animal postings. The THS is working closely with the Toronto Animal Services to accommodate stray animals. If you bring a stray animal to the THS, every effort will be made to locate the animals owner. The THS is unable to hold or accommodate stray animals at this time. The THS is working to establish a Trap-Neuter-Release program for feral cats. For more information on lost or stray animals, please go to : www.toronto.ca/animalservices.
Q: Help! I've lost my pet. What do I do?
A: Firstly 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:
Call Toronto Animal Services at: 416-338-PAWS (7297) or check the "lost pets" section of their website.
We do not have an active lost & found program here at the shelter, however you can check the Lost and Found section of our website, which is a public service to connect people with lost & found pets.
Register the pet on our Lost Pets page.
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.
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: Do you sell animals for scientific experimentation?
A: Under no circumstances would The Toronto Humane Society ever give up an animal for research or any other commercial use.
Q: Are you a “no-kill” shelter?
A: The Toronto Humane Society is not and has never been a “no-kill” shelter; rather, we are a “low-kill” shelter. Animals are never euthanized based on long shelter stays or a lack of space and healthy animals are never euthanized. If an animal presents an issue that can be treated through behavioural modification or medical intervention, we will give that animal every chance to succeed.
Q: What is your euthanasia policy?
A: Euthanasia is a veterinarian’s decision, and only administered as a last resort to animals who are suffering and whose quality of life has been diminished to the point that it can no longer be sustained in the shelter or an alternative environment (e.g. palliative care), or when the animal shows behavior that cannot be rehabilitated, or lastly if it poses a significant health and safety risk. Our euthanasia rate is quite low at 2.3 per cent.
Q: Are all the animals at THS spayed/neutered?
A: Yes, every animal at The Toronto Humane Society is spayed or neutered before being adopted.
Q: How up-to-date is the Adopt A Pet portion of your website?
A: Our website is updated regularly and you can check the “Adopt A Pet” section to view the current animals available for adoption. This section allows you to search under dogs, cats, rabbits, small mammals, birds, reptiles and animals with special needs. If you click on an animal you are interested in, it will bring up information about that particular animal, including his/her name, age, size, sex, colour, breed, adoption price and a short personality description.
Q: Do you provide cremation or burial services for animals?
A: We wish to extend our deepest condolences to those experiencing or anticipating the loss of a beloved pet. Please note it is illegal to bury a deceased animal in Toronto, however, there are a number of animal cemeteries outside the city limits if this is the option you choose. Our Toronto Humane Society Call Centre Operators can provide you with those numbers at 416-392-2273 (once connected, press “0”).
The alternative to burial is cremation. If your pet is under the care of a veterinarian at the time of his or her passing, the vet can guide you through the next steps. There are two types: General and Private Cremation. General cremation is a communal type of cremation, where more than one animal is cremated together. The THS can accept pets here for this option. You can also contact Toronto Animal Services at 416-338-7297 for this service. Due to the nature of this cremation process, individual pet ashes cannot be returned to the owner.
Private cremation is an individual process, meaning that your pet is cremated alone. This ensures that the remains can be returned to you. There are several businesses in Toronto that can provide this service as well as an assortment of urns and keepsakes. Again, our Call Centre Operators can provide you with contact information.
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Funding
Q: 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: Is The Toronto Humane Society the same as Toronto Animal Services?
A: No, Toronto Animal Services is the municipally run animal agency. Toronto Animal Services operates four Animal Centres and is responsible for sheltering animals that are lost or surrendered by owners or animals that are available for adoption to new homes. Like the THS, Toronto Animal Services promotes responsible pet ownership, encourages voluntary compliance with animal-related laws, promotes pet adoption and pet licensing and works to further promote and support a harmonious environment where humans and animals can co-exist free from conditions that adversely affect their health and safety.
Q: If I make a gift to a national organization, do you receive a portion of my donation?
A: The Toronto Humane Society does not receive any monetary donations from any national organizations. If you would like to make a donation, please make your gift directly to us.
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.
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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