February 2, 2013

In September 2000, I visited the THS hoping to adopt a cat. I told myself to take my time, to walk around the whole adoption area, to give each of the cats a chance. Early on I noticed a little black cat curled up in his lower cage, tucked away in a corner. He didn’t lift his head, but he watched me closely as I read the card on his cage, which said he was “Jeff”, had been surrendered by an elderly lady who couldn’t take him with her to the nursing home, was somewhere between 1 and 2 years old, and loved to be brushed. His emerald eyes followed me as I walked on. Something about him stuck with me, but I told myself to keep going, as at that point I’d only read about a few of the cats. An hour later, after reading all the sad stories and working my way through the whole area, I found myself back at the beginning and, as I rounded the corner, there was that little black cat again. As soon as he saw me, he sat straight up, cocked his head to the side, looked me dead in the eye and meowed. So I knew that, in reality, he was adopting me.

I anxiously went through the adoption process, nervous that someone else might have claimed him before I could get to the front of the line and the end of the paperwork. But it was meant to be as, before too much longer, I was at home with my new cat. I renamed him Tui after the bird in New Zealand - where I'd recently lived for many years - that, like my guy, is all black except for a small tuft of white on the neck. From day one it was clear that there was something very special about him, a boundless gentleness and generosity of affection that I’ve never experienced with any of my other cats and dogs. Within 3 months, concerned about him being lonely while I was at work, I adopted Lulu, a fluffy tabby kitten who had been abandoned in a cardboard box in front of the THS. I closely followed the THS’ instructions on how to introduce a new cat to a home, but after only 3 days of keeping them in separate areas, I returned home to find Tui outside the bedroom, as excited and full of beans as his 8 week old new sister on the other side of the door. I opened the door and for the next 12 years they were inseparable. I’ve never seen anything like the beatific patience and good-humour that Tui demonstrated when, throughout her kitten stage, Lulu would fling herself at him and land on his head, while Tui just lay there purring. Or, when she would get herself more worked up about something than Tui thought was dignified, he would pick her up by the scruff of her neck, like her Mother, carry her to a cozy spot and groom her from head to toe until she calmed down.

Tui breathed his last on January 29, 2013, no longer able to fight the cancer, kidney disease and asthma that had taken so much of his energy in the last months. While I had assumed and hoped we would have much longer together, my little guy, Lulu and I had over 12 wonderful years, made possible by Tui’s seemingly fathomless love and affection. I’m so grateful for every second we spent together, and for all the wonderful memories I have of my guy, which would not have been possible without the work of the THS’ dedicated staff and volunteers. I bless the day I walked around the cat adoption area so that this sweet little boy could find me. Lulu was able to say her own good-bye to her best buddy, but I can tell that she is still a little confused by his absence. A few days after his death, as I was logging into my computer, she walked right up to the screen which has a photo of Tui as my desktop background, sniffed the image of his nose, leaned to the side and rubbed herself against him, just as they had done every day of their lives for the last 12 years.

While comforting each other, Lulu and I now ponder the countless invaluable and eternal lessons about unequivocal love, gentleness and affection that a wondrous little black cat took it upon himself to teach us.

With gratitude and love, Mel and Lulu

January 7, 2013

I'm not sure what compelled my mother to adopt this dog as we already had one but she did. This was Benji's adoption page (top photo), although he was not named Benji from when we first adopted him– I remember because I named him after one of the guitarists of my favourite band at the time. He was very shy dog who was rescued from a puppy mill and I was 11 when we had taken him home with us. He was very curious and for the first few days, we had thought he wouldn't fit because my grandmother had told us that he was bullying our other dog, Lucky, but he turned out to be a kind, gentle and sweet poodle soul who I grew to love quickly.

Benji was a very active dog, running back and forth and jumping around everywhere, even running into walls if he didn't stop himself soon enough. He was also silly and mischievous, either chewing on the corners of boxes or stealing food when he thought no one was looking; he once ate a whole box of pizza that was left closed on the dinner table while we were out for only five minutes. Apart from that, he was also very smart; my mom thought he had been de-barked because his bark wasn't as strong as it should but Lucky had taught him how to bark. Benji knew how to act around each member of the family, which parts of the house he wasn't allowed in, and knew exactly when someone was opening the cheese drawer in the fridge, in which then he proceeded to sit and stare at you quietly; he had learned this from my cousin's chihuahua but Benji had never barked when he begged.

Of course years passed, Benji had grown older and I felt he needed a more suitable name, one more gentlemanly as he was always sort of a ladies dog and was always wary around men, and something less childish but still capturing his quirky persona. I renamed him to Benjamin Argyle Remington, esquire. Esquire was just for fun but Remington was his original adoptive name, and Argyle was a character from Braveheart which I was watching with him once and this character had one blind eye like Benji who had begun getting cataracts in his one eye. In any way, he accepted the name and when I called him by it, sometimes he would sit up straight and raise his head as if he was the proudest dog on Earth.

We had to put down Lucky back in August 2012 and we were left with Benji. His demeanour had changed slightly, he would sit as if in quiet contemplation or perhaps in mourning of his older brother. But Benji was still a happy and quiet dog which had shocked us that when very close to Christmas time, his back legs had stopped functioning. Compared to Lucky, we had never had any sort of health problem with him so brought him to the vet and she had told us that he must have been sick for a very long time and may either have cancer or some sort of neurological problem but either way, his body temperature was lowering and his system was slowly shutting down so our choices were to either put him down now or keep him for one more day. Our family couldn't do option A so we had kept him for one more day at home with us. 

He was beside me in my bed that night and around 4:00 AM he had nibbled my finger to let me know it was his time and from there, he passed on. He loved everyone in the family but I was the favourite; Benji and I were the best of friends and had a connection that no one else in the family had with him. For 10 years he was always at my feet no matter where I was or what I was doing in the house and he will always be in our hearts.

To not just one but both our dogs, rest in peace.
October 23, 1997 - August 7, 2012: Lucky
June 20, 2000 - December 23 2012: Benjamin Argyle Remington, Esquire.
We will always love you.

-Leslie, Jodie, Tootchie, and Malinda

December 24, 2012

Dear THS staff,
I meant to write years ago to tell you about the success story of Baby Blue - the 3 year-old blue-grey rex who lived at River St until October, 2005. I showed up at the THS one rainy afternoon with a wicker picnic basket from Chinatown, intent on adopting a pet rabbit. My first choice, a brown lop named Wilma, had already left with someone else. Baby Blue (who was quickly renamed Bunneh) rode the street car home with me that day and we've been inseparable ever since.

In our time together, she's discovered all the best hiding places, destroyed her share of cables and upholstery (in record speed) and even survived a bird attack with only a little scrape. She is my partner in crime, my quiet companion and the smartest and snobbiest herbivore I've ever met.

Now, with a tumour robbing her of her ability to frolic, it's time for us to say goodbye. Even though this is a sad time, I wanted to thank you for helping us find each other. My life is richer for having had her in it and her 10 years of life were only possible because you cared for her when she didn't have a home.

All the best
Rí & Bunneh.

December 9, 2012

This is Daisy.  She was born in April 1997 in Chertsey QC.  She loved the outdoors, played in the woods, chased after skunks (she had a tomato bath twice)  She loved to have her belly scratched and always was looking for a treat after dinner. 

Loved dearly, spoiled of course, and she travelled all across Canada twice with her 2 Dads, and her other furry family members. 

In 2012 we noticed as she turned 15 she was slowing down, and by December she was not herself anymore.  She was a wonderful, friend, companion and just a loving dog.  On December 7th, Daisy went peacefully to doggy heaven.  Her 2 Dads and her half sister Lulu miss her dearly.  May you rest in peace our sweet baby.  We will miss you, always in our hearts.

Love your Dads,
Patrick and Darren

November 17, 2012

I adopted Tasha from the Toronto Humane Society in June 2002. Unfortunately, when her original owners moved, they left her behind, alone in a basement apartment. It was the kind heartedness of the superintendent who took her in. However, as she didn't mix well with children, she was brought to the Toronto Humane Society. 
 
After bringing her home, it was clear to see why the folks at the THS nicknamed her "Precious".  She was every bit that and more.  

I've had ten wonderful years of Tasha of always greeting me at the door, following me around endlessly, hugging me when I slept and most of all, smothering me with kisses.  She was affectionate beyond any cat lover's expectations.

Unfortunately, Tasha became ill in June 2012 and relapsed a couple of weeks ago, never to recover.  On November 13, 2012, I had to say good-bye to my beloved beautiful girl. 

Heaven has gained an angel. 
I miss you terribly, sweeheart. 

Love, Mommy.

October 20, 2012

4 and half years ago my family adopted two black and white sibling cats who we named Romeo and Oreo.
Today October 21st 2012 we unfortunately had to put down Romeo.

I love my Romeo, he cuddled me every day but unknown to my family his liver had been failing for months. The vet tried to do everything he could for Romeo but sadly he was in too much pain and had to be put down. I am completely devastated by this and will always miss him.

R.I.P my little cuddle buddy.

October 20, 2012

Spot was a dog I've had almost my entire life. I've had her since I was three until a couple months ago. I'm now 15 and don't remember a time before her. Spot may now be gone but her memory remains.

I'm so glad I got a dog to teach me so much about unconditional love. Every kid should grow up with a pet. Spot showed me what it was to love, and what it is to cry. No matter how much pain I am in from losing her, it's worth the times I had with her. I can't imagine what my life would have been like without her. She was there for me through thick and thin, she never judged and she was someone to talk to when I couldn't talk to anyone else.

She will never be forgotten, by me or my family. 

October 20, 2012

To understand why this photo is so beautiful, I need to tell you a story.

In 2005, I went with a friend to THS in search of a companion for myself and my previous adoption, Gravity.  At the main entrance of the cat ward sat a few cages with special needs animals.  In one cage, I noticed a tiny Torti.  "Experienced owners only.  No kids, no dogs," her cage cautioned.  She ventured from the back corner to briefly sniff through the bars and retreat.  We continued to circuit through the animals.  We came back to the beginning, where we watched others try to entice this cat (at the time, named Dreamer) to come forward.  She wouldn't.  I returned and again, the quick sniff and retreat.

"She chose me.  I have to take her home," I told my friend.

Even THS staff were surprised that I'd chosen her; I assume that they (like me) felt she'd be a very hard sell, so to speak.  Having years of vet tech experience and spending a lifetime around animals made me confident that with some work, she'd come around.  I named her Karma.

In time, I understood her very well.  She was terrified of feeling cornered or confined, splitting open her nose whenever in a carrier as she threw herself into the sides in panic.  I suspect she was once feral but worse, had been mistreated as well prior to THS taking custody of her.  At first, the best we could manage was scratching her head, Karma coming just close enough for us to reach.  Over time, I began acclimating her to longer petting sessions, to being placed on a lap and immediately allowed to escape, to briefly picking her up.  It took four years before I could pick her up and hold her briefly without stress and protest. 

People who knew Karma her whole life were amazed by her progress.  When they would see her burrow behind me on the couch, basically sleeping in the small of my back as I typed away, they would grin.  Everyone knew Karma's struggle and how tremendous a gift her trust was.  I selected apartments with kitchens with two exits to accommodate her fears and eventually, she'd eat with people near.  She would headbutt you with surprising force for a six-pound cat when she wanted attention and chattered and chirped happily when we came home.  Being music-obsessed, I'd nicknamed her Karma Police and Karma Chameleon, often singing her songs to her as she purred.  Karma loved purely:  she never needed to be told not to do anything.  She was angelic. 

In light of this, her sleeping in my fiance's lap is a treasured photo.  It's a testament to her recovery.

Sadly, we lost Karma on April 23, 2012.  She'd taken very suddenly and very severely ill with what we came to believe was an aggressive mass (likely cancerous) in her intestines.  We did all we could - even postponing our wedding and dumping our savings into her care - but in the end, I knew what was best.  On her last day, she walked onto my chest and sought cuddles; later, she willingly entered a carrier for the first time for a trip to the emergency vet at 1am.  We played Karma Police for her one last time and let her go.

I don't think I will meet a cat with as beautiful of a soul ever again in my life.  For all of the positive changes in her, she made me a better person as well.  

--
Amber Hiles

August 11, 2012

I got Buddy a German Shepard mix, during an THS adoptathon in the summer of 2008. He was 10 years old, and the shelter staff told me how nice a dog he was but his age was not a selling feature. 

I was off work that summer and spent everyday getting to know Buddy and visiting the park daily. We had a great summer together, he helped me through a difficult part in my life.

In the fall after I went back to work, Buddy became seriously ill. Unable to even walk to the door, the vet sent some people over the transport him to the hospital. He was diagnosed with a massive tumor on his pancreas.

He died the following morning, in my arms. We only had 3 months together, but thanks to me he didn't have to spend those few months on a concrete floor, and thanks to him I didn't have to spent the summer alone.

I cannot express how much he is missed, and what a pleasure it was to know him even if only for a short time. 

-Chris

August 10, 2012

It was a cold day in early December of 1993 when our neighbours across the street were cat-sitting for two kittens. I had just turned 5 and my brother was 6, so our neighbours brought the kittens over for us to see. We had so much fun that the very next day, our parents took us down to the Humane Society to adopt a kitten of our own. I remember looking at all the kittens and cats in their cages and not seeing any in particular that I liked. I was about face level with one rusty-coloured kitten, and being the curious 5-year old that I was, I pressed my face right up against the cage, and she bit my nose! I said, “Bad kitty! I’m not taking you home!” However, throughout the rest of our time at the shelter, I couldn’t get her off of my mind, and we ended up choosing her to take home with us. I named her Whiskers, seeing as it was one of the few names I knew of for a cat at the time.

We loved Whiskers right from the start. She was playful and friendly, never territorial and never hissed. She was curious as a kitten and grew into a very loveable and playful cat. She slowed down a lot in her later years, developing minor arthritis in one of her legs, and not being able to jump up on furniture the way she used to. Despite her age, she still kept her spirit. She was still playful and friendly with us, and would always strike up a conversation!

Just last week we noticed a bump above her right eye that made it look slightly closed. Throughout the weekend, she was not herself and the lump seemed to get bigger. We took her to the vet on Tuesday morning, August 7th, where the Doctor told us that the back of her right eye had split open, and fluid was leaking into her brain. It seemed that her almost 19 years had finally caught up with her, and we had no choice but to say goodbye.

I am now 23, and Whiskers has been an important part of my life for as long as I can remember. Getting used to life without her is proving to be difficult. I feel so blessed to have grown up with such an amazing friend, who was able to live a long and happy life with us. We all loved her dearly, and she will forever be missed and remembered as a part of our family.

We all love you Whiskers! May you rest in peace.

Jessica Puskar

August 2, 2012

Just put my beloved cat Little Bear down this evening. I had her since she was a kitten. She was just under 20 years old. My family and I already miss her dearly, and yes we all shed tears for her. There will never be another cat as loved as she was. Little Bear you are in a better place now, jumping and playing with all of the other cats that were loved too. Meow for me from heaven.

Dave

July 23, 2012

My Little Puppy
By Joanne Clarke, 2005

I love my little puppy,
so innocent and sweet,
with fur as black as midnight
and moonbeams on her feet.

We found her at a shelter,
very frightened and alone.
We couldn’t bear to hear her cry
and, so, we brought her home.

We named our puppy “Shadow”
for she always likes to be
beside someone who loves her
(and especially close to me).

Now she wakes me up each morning
with her favourite embrace;
puppy paws pounce on my pillow
as her wet tongue warms my face.

Then it’s outside for a morning walk
and playtime in the park.
Shadow zigs and zags and wags her tail
and doesn’t growl or bark.

Until puppy senses danger;
then she freezes in her tracks
and her floppy ears bolt upright
like the hair upon her back.

For she has a gentle spirit
and is never rough or mean.
Shadow’s amber eyes light up her soul,
so sparkling and serene.

And my puppy’s so forgiving,
never asking very much –
only food and drink and shelter
and a loving heart to touch.

And, in turn, I feel contentment
when my Shadow is around.
In the silence of a sunset stroll
she’ll sense my ups and downs.

And that’s why I love my puppy,
oh, so faithful and so kind,
for she’s the best companion
anyone could hope to find.

And when the night has fallen
Shadow curls up on the floor,
and we go to sleep, warmed by the love
we share forever more.

Shadow was part Labrador Retriever, part German Shepherd, and part Border Collie. We adopted her from the Toronto Humane Society when she was four months-old. She was a very beautiful dog with a gentle spirit who loved everyone in our family. In turn, we loved her deeply. Shadow died suddenly of suspected cancer of the spleen on June 20th, 2012. She was not yet eight years-old. We miss her very, very much.

July 19, 2012

Mr. Caps
(aka: Whitecaps)
October 1993 – July 10, 2012

It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my extraordinary cat on Tuesday, July 10, 2012 after a long battle with kidney disease. Mr. Caps was raised in Alert Bay, B.C., predeceased by Luna (1994) and his loving partner Pongo (2006).

He was the most loving and gentlest of cats with those bright and soulful eyes, inquisitive to the end. The only cat I have ever known to climb up a tree then find a way to climb back down!

He enjoyed an adventurous life, living in Alert Bay, B.C. for his first 5 years, romping in the backyard and chasing butterflies with Pongo. Then it was on to Kamloops, B.C. for 2 years, followed by a stint in Grand Prairie, Alberta, and then a final road trip across Canada in 2002 with Pongo and me to Toronto, Ontario.

He leaves behind his feline companion (Beulah, adopted from the Toronto Humane Society, 2007) and his human companion (Christine) who will forever love and miss him.

July 5, 2012

My story is about a beautiful Beagle named Rosie.  She was about 5 when I adopted her from the Toronto Humane Society and took her north with me.  Having only lived in the city, she found Elliot Lake to be a dogs dream come true. 

Unfortunately, when she was adopted, she weighed 70+ pounds.  I finally was able to get the weight off of her but not before she developed diabetes and went blind.  This amazing dog went blind in less than 8 hours on Christmas Day, 2010 but she didn't miss a beat.  She had a needle twice a day and thought it was great!  She knew a treat would follow it.  She had every path down here (and that's quite a few paths!) and loved every minute of it.  This was a dog that loved life no matter what.

On May 13th of this year, Rosie started having seizures and they lasted through the night.  On May 14th, she had a final seizure that was just too much for her.  It did some brain damage.  The weight that she had on when I adopted her had damaged her liver and it was giving up on her.

 I packed up my little girl that day, stopped at McDonalds and ordered her a large order of fries and gave them all to her.  When she finished them, I took her to my vet and had her put down.

I am in tears telling you this story but I wanted you to know that there was an amazing little girl named Rosie who loved life and lived in Elliot Lake.  It was, sadly, for a short time but it was a happy time.  She filled everyday with smiles.  She was only 8 years old.

I had her cremated and she will go with me some day.  I miss her so.  I loved her so.

Karen Franks

April 16, 2012

I adopted Abby, a pit bull mx, from the Toronto Humane Society in March 2005, several months before the pit bull ban came into effect. They estimated her age at 5 1/2 at the time

Abby stood out in the shelter for her friendliness, standing and wagging her tail every time I passed her cage. That proved to be her style throughout her life. I can truly say that she never met a person who she wasn't delighted to see. In return, I hardly ever took her for a walk when people wouldn't come over to greet her, even crossing the street or walking down from their houses. People for blocks around knew her by name. Her personality did more than anything I have ever done to persuade people that BSL is wrong.

My love for Abby led me to become involved in the fight against BSL, and over the years, we attended many events together, including fundraising booths, protests and vigils at Queens Park and walks with other pit bull groups. Abby met and befriended hundreds of people active in the anti-BSL fight across Ontario.

In 2009, I took her to our booth at the Barrie Kennel Club and was encouraged to try her at the Canine Good Neighbour test. She passed handily without any advance preparation.

Abby's sweet temperament was reflected in her handling of the new addition we brought in to the house about three years ago. I crated Deoge on the way home from the shelter and he spent most of the trip crying. Abby went to the back of the car and lay next to him to calm him down. While they didn't always get along at first, Abby provided invaluable assistance in the training of Deoge and the two became inseparable best friends.

Abby was truly the sweetest dog I have ever known. In her younger days she was incredibly strong and fast, yet she instinctively knew to be gentle with even the smallest of children as well as elderly adults. 

Sadly Abby was diagnosed with Lymphoma last summer and after a short period of chemotherapy treatment she was euthanized on the advice of veterinarians

I don't think that I will ever have such a good friend and companion as Abby has been for me. She will never be forgotten.

Bryan

April 16, 2012

We adopted Maggie, our Maltese in August of 2009. She stole our hearts from the moment we brought her home. Maggie wanted only to be loved, and gave incredible amounts of love and affection in return. She especially loved small children in the neighbourhood, much to their delight.

Maggie and I bonded totally. There were times when she took the role of guard dog, and tried to be ferocious with my husband... but always gave in to a tummy rub. She loved her walks through the park, and enjoyed endless attention, always rewarding her new friends with licks and kisses, and the opportunity to stroke her tummy. Maggie was a traveller. The word "trip" would send her flying into her sherpa bag, ready for the next adventure.

She enjoyed 13 round trips flight to Florida, always basking in the winter warmth, frollicking in our condo complex. Maggie would spend entire days with us, enjoying being pushed around in her doggy stroller when her legs became tired. She flew to visit my mother in law in Kansas, making the aquaintance of Rudy, her black lab. One evening we returned home to find Rudy and Maggie snuggled on the sofa. Maggie had assured Rudy, previously trained never to go on the furniture, that it would be OK. Indeed it was. We were not surprised when Maggie's DNA revealed that she had some Scottish terrier in her. She had a willfullness and mind of her own that made her all the more endearing. Ultimately she only wanted approval. Maggie made car trips to Montreal to visit family, and most recently, a final car trip to Florida, to complete her "bucket list". 

Our darling Maggie was diagnosed with lymphoma in early January of this year. She began a course of prednisone, to keep the symptoms at bay. Respiratory distress finally got the better of Maggie. She gave her final kisses last Saturday morning before being gently put to sleep. Her passing after only two years and eight months has left a tremendous hole in our hearts. We are comforted by all the wonderful memories of a little dog who was never perfectly behaved, but always absolutely loving and loved. You have left indelible pawprints on the hearts of all who knew you.

Much love Margaret

April 01, 2012

Letter to Trouble and Mickey

Eight years ago during a tough time in my life I was visiting the Toronto Humane Society to see what animals were up for adoption. As I came across you Trouble and Mickey I instantly was taken with your charm and gaze, Trouble. Looking through your charts I learned that you both were not perfect cats, with imperfect teeth and that you had been at THS for awhile. Trouble you were extremely affectionate purring loudly and rubbing your head on the cage door looking so attentively wondering when I might open the door as you didn’t belong there. Mickey was hiding behind you as he was more shy but equally as loving as you. I remember whispering to you as I grabbed your charts – don’t go anywhere sweetie you are coming home with me. I originally was only going to adopt Trouble but the staff had mentioned to me that Mickey and you had grown up together, you were also both great boys. Taking you both home in the cardboard boxes they handed you both to me in…Mickey had an unfortunate stinky accident. This was the beginning of our adventures together.

I stocked up on new toys, cat nip, food and treats. I quickly learned about your quirks, habits and preferences as well you learned of mine I am sure ;) Nonetheless you both were the most well behaved, affectionate, sweetest cats I could have ever dreamed of. I remember your love of water Trouble which was made apparent to me that day I was in the shower and I happened to turn around - there you were standing on the inside of the shower edge of the tub staring at me and startling me. As well how you loved climbing in our first home together in Forest hill where you loved to sit atop of the kitchen cupboards watching the world go by on Eglinton Street. You kept me company by sitting by my hand often while I worked at my computer, and peering over my desktop from behind with your socklet paws overtop.

Trouble and Mickey you helped me through tough relationships and a period when I lost a job worrying about supporting us. You were also there when I landed a great job and it was happy times again. That summer day in 2006 I was taking you both to the vet before our move out to Vancouver I recall Mickey having a seizure in the carrier on the way to the vet. As I put the carrier down and opened the cage door to console Mickey – Trouble you stood there patiently, I broke down wondering if my move out west was the right decision for us all.

Nontheless we all made it there with me worrying, especially upon arrival to Vancouver I remembered waiting for you Trouble to arrive with other passengers undercarriage items. Trouble you came out purring and I couldn’t believe it you were a better passenger than I could of dreamed of. Of course you were both there to comfort me in a strange new home, we all really helped each other settle in quite well. I remember the first time I saw you Trouble with Bailey our neighbours golden lab. You jumped up to rub your head on Bailey’s ear and then rolled over submissively wanting to play with her which really shocked both Bailey and I. Again you made me a proud mamma showing your love for other animals cat or dog. Mickey was the lazier one usually as he loved laying across the scratching boards, only moving slightly when I brought out the cat nip or it was feeding time. Trouble you often took great care of Mickey as he was older especially when he had diabetes. You always lay by his side licked his head for comfort and were visibly upset when Mickey had to leave us eventually due to kidney failure.

Trouble I really believe that you were too gentle of a kitty as you never showed any instinctual behaviour towards birds, insects or dogs. I remember the one night when a spider was on my bed and you running off as I switched on the lights I saw the massive spider there and knowing that the spider scared you off. I remember you loving our outdoors walks on our condo terrace as you lay basking in the sun and listening to the birds you were in heaven. Even when the mean Vancouver crows came swopping down to get you out of their territory you simply ignored them.

Eventually we moved back to Toronto in August 2010 and again you travelled very well. Helping me settle into my new home in Toronto you were again by my side.  Trouble even when your health started to turn I refused to believe you were getting older as you were always will be my handsome boy. I wanted to always make sure you were happy, not neglected, cared for and healthy. I could always count on you to be there with no judgment, happy to just lay alongside whatever I was doing and I always made sure to kiss you on your sweet face everyday.

I truly will forever love you Trouble. I was not ready to let you go even when the vet had tried everything to help you get better and he advised me that you were not going to. It was the toughest decision I have made in my life thus far and I knew it would be really hard as I was truly attached to you and really had wanted more years with you.    

I want to believe that you are there in heaven now feeling the grass beneath your paws and the sun kissing your sweet faces.  You taught me unconditional love, to live in the moment, to capture life’s simple pleasures, and to always chase after my dreams.

Love you my boys forever Mickey and Trouble. You are forever in my head and heart never to be forgotten.            

Thank you THS for helping and giving animals a second chance to such great animals.

Love Maria

March 17, 2012

On January 2, 2008, 3 weeks after we put our 17 yr. old Timmy to sleep (kidney failure), we missed a cat presence too much and went to THS looking to give an older cat a good home.  With 3 pictures in hand, the first one brought out to show us was Jenny, a 16 yr. old tortoishell.  She was eager to get out of the cage & licked my nose – a very smart move!  So we packed her up & brought her home.  She adapted immediately as the only cat & loved her own bed & fenced in balcony.  At 16 she was very spry and used to launch from the bureau to the bed to play fight when making the bed.  She did that up to 18 yrs. old and then became more sedate and a persistent lap cat, constantly purring.  Despite some old age problems, she continued to be a very happy cat, even after seizures which became more severe.  On March 15, 2012, we had to put her to sleep at 20 yrs. old. Mt. Pleasant vet kindly made the home house call the most peaceful passing in her beloved home with mummy and daddy.

I highly recommend adopting an older cat and giving one the best last years of their life.
S. Beaudoin & A. Martin

January 28, 2012

Hi,

I would like to share the story of Sheldon, who was a stewardship cat from the Toronto Humane Society. We saw him on the website. He was 14 years old and already had been returned twice. We thought that Shelon deserved a good home for his final years. He was a funny looking little character, very thin, curled lip and liked to nip. When he came home with us he settled in quickly and it was like he had always been there.

He loved to talk to us and was extremely social. We grew to love him very quickly and I think he loved us too. He put a bit of weight on and was very healthy. He loved to go for car rides and would come and pick me up from work. We had him for almost five years.

Last Fri. Jan 20, Sheldon past away in his 19th year. It was his kidneys. My husband and I haven't been the same since. We knew this day would come, but it still a terrible loss. We would encourage anyone who is considering adopting a geriatric companion not to hesitate. The love they have to give makes every moment special. Thank you for letting me share our story of a very special boy, Sheldon.

Lisa McPhee

January 23, 2012

Dear Shyla,

You have been with me through thick and thin. You were always there for me when I needed a shoulder to cry on. Shyla was my first pet dog and the best jack russel ever! Back in 2000 my house was broken into and robbed when no one was home. We kept Shyla in the laundry room while we were out so she didn't chew the furniture. Because Shyla was in the house, she was in guard of the laundry room when it got broken into. She scared the theives from even coming close to that room! She was a great guard dog and an awesome friend.

When we moved out she was passed onto my grandmother who needed some help around the house. Shyla took care of any mice problems :) and was great scaring away the mail man who brought unwanted flyers! Shyla was a great partner to my grandmother and to everyone in the family. She was a very happy dog until she got cancer in 2009. There was no way we could save her, God was determined to take her from us. :(

Now she is away from the pain and suffering and watching over us. You will never be forgotten.

I love you, rest in peace my angel!

January 18, 2012

"In Memory of Jake"

It was spring, 8 years ago, when my mom Lois, and brother Art adopted "Jake"(a beautiful border collie)from the Toronto Humain Society. Jake was already 8 years old at the time. After a bit of research we learned that he had lived as a pet of a mentally handicapped couple in northern Ontarion, and was often forgotten outside, in all types of weather conditions.

I can remember when they first met Jake, they both fell in love with him. It was at that point that Jake's life changed and so did Art and Lois'. For 8 years, Jake was a great companion. From his walks with Art, and his vocals in letting the neighbours and other dogs know he was "in the hood', to bolting around the backyard to investigate who was passing by our house. In the night, Jake would sleep beside Lois' bed and protect her as she slept. It was quite comical to see Jake walk circles around the kitchen table, and practice his herding talents. He would howl if they went out shopping without taking him. He was a beautiful companion, friend, and protector.

In December 2011, Jake was diagnosed as having 2 tumors , one on his liver, the other his spleen. The diagnosis came a few days before Christmas. On December 30th, 2011, Jake herded the invisible sheep around the kitchen table one more time.

I have no doubt that he is herding God's sheep up in Heaven, and doing a great job of it!

God Bless You Jake! We Love You Always!
Mom, Art, Fred xo

January 11, 2012

Dear Toronto Humane Society,

On August 9, 2000, my husband and I adopted an adorable male, brown tabby cat from your rescue. We named him 'Maximus', Max for short, and he instantly became the centre of our world. Over the course of Max's 11 and a half year life we got married, bought our first house, added a dog to our family, moved to a new house and had our daughter. As Max was a huge part of our life and family, he was very much a part of all these experiences which greatly enriched our life. Our Max was quite a character, known and loved my many, with a larger than life personality. He was a cat like no other and we loved him dearly.

In early December our Max became very ill with pancreatic problems. Our amazing vet, Dr Greg Usher, did everything he could but our poor boy deteriorated quickly and heartbreakingly, he was unable to make our Max well. So on January 2nd, 2012 after several heartwrenching weeks of watching our poor Max suffer greatly, we did the kindest, most humane thing we could do for him. With Max wrapped in a blanket in my arms with my husband by my side, Dr Usher put our boy to rest.

We miss our Max more than words can describe, our house feels empty without him. His memories will always live on with us and we thank you for so greatly enriching our life with this sweet soul.

With much gratitude, Noelle, John and Victoria Hiscox

December 1, 2011

I adopted Milo from the THS over 12 years ago. He was abandoned and abused, not to mentioned terrified of men. After watching the THS advertisement one early Sunday morning we saw Milo. His name at the time was Chucky, given by staff there. We fell in love, rushed over and stood in line for 3.5 hours to ensure he was coming home with us.

It took some work and a lot of love, but MILO became a confident and happy little boy. Living with his new family and fellow sister, another dog we own by the name of Cloe. He lived to a ripe old age of 14.5, only to lose his battle with cushings disease and seizures. To this day I miss him dearly, and so does Cloe. His ashes, his plaque and photo adorn our fireplace mantel, but he will always be in our hearts.

Milo is proof that adoptive dogs can be amazing, loving pets. They just need some love that they didn't get before.

MILO – SEPT 1996 – APRIL 2011

R.I.P. my dearest little boy
Elle

November 3, 2011

This is a letter to my dear dog Lucy, whom I adopted from THS on July 16th, 1998. She was a great dog, and here is my letter to her (photo attached).

Dear Lucy,

You have been my friend for over 13 years.

You have been my faithful companion through most of my adult life. You have licked away my tears through broken relationships, lost loves, and the deaths of my mother and grandfather. You were here the day I found out I was pregnant, and the day that I brought Victoria home from the hospital. You were with me on my wedding day.

We drove across Canada together for 13 days and stayed at some pretty shoddy hotels and motels along the way. But we did it together. I still can't believe we made it alive. Those roads in Ontario were so terrible in the rain!

You taught me what true friendship really means. You taught me how to love. You are the reason that I became a vegetarian. You are gone now, up to heaven with all the other good dogs.

I was expecting some sort of closure but I guess that will only come in time. Your eyes were open and you still looked like herself. But there was no heartbeat, and no breathing. I miss you, Moosey...

I came home to a quiet house this afternoon. There is no more Lucy barking. I always cursed that bark of yours, but now I miss it, strangely enough. I tried my best to give you a good life, B, and I can only hope that your last moments were free of pain and that you know your mommy was with you till the end. You were my lifelong friend.

I will miss you.

Our long summer days at the doggie beach in Vancouver, when you and Winston played in the sand and dipped your paws into the Pacific ocean. You were the best dog a girl could have ever asked for.

I loved you from the moment I heard you panting in your cage at the Humane Society in Toronto, way back in 1998 when I first adopted you on that hot, humid day. I remember buying you a hot dog and a bottle of Evian. I said, "welcome to the good life, DOG!!" And it was you and I from that moment on.

You changed me in so many profound ways. Mostly in teaching me to live more in the moment and what it meant to unconditionally love another being. I was so very proud of you when we went to dog obedience camp and you won the prize for "most improved dog". You passed the CKC Good Neighbour test too!

And then you went on to become a St. John Ambulance registered therapy dog. From a dog wandering High Park to a therapy dog. "You go girl!", I said. You were a good girl. You sometimes drove me crazy when you would not pee in -20 temperatures during snowstorms in Toronto back in the day. I am surprised you survived through my 20's with all my shananigans! And then there was that time that the German Shepherd bit you at the park and left his teeth marks in your neck.

You chased that black cat on Sammon Ave. and I remember running down the road with my pajamas on. What a sight that must have been. We found you though, barking at "RIMBO" in a yard a few doors down. I was so upset that day....I thought I had lost you.

We've been through a lot, you and I. 13 years is a hell of a long time. The trip from Virginia when Tiffy pooped on you as you shared a dog crate and we had to stop and wipe you off. HAH! Poppy never thought we'd make it back to Toronto alive, but we all did just fine!

You enjoyed the days we spent at the dog park in Norfolk. And the hot summers in Toronto, when you dug holes and buried yourself in the sand at the beaches so you would be able to cool off. I thought that was awesome.

You so loved to go down the slides with me. People must have thought I was crazy going down slides with a little lapdog. HAHA. And you stole poppy's heart the moment he met you. You stole so many hearts over the years, Lucy. Most of all, mine...

But you are the only one that ever bit me. And over a dog treat. Of course. And I've groomed a hundred dogs or more! And you snored so loudly that I had to wear earplugs all of these years. HAHA. You and your pug nose.

Do you remember the time that you literally stopped traffic? You were wearing your faux fur leopard print jacket and the school kids made such a fuss that the driver had to stop the bus and say hello to us. You loved to prance around in that jacket! You looked so cute doing it, too!

And you were there with me on that fateful day when we met Chloe and daddy. Of course we didn't know then that he and I would get married and live happily every after! But our mutual love of dogs enabled us to come together, so thank you for that, too! If it were not for you, I wouldn't have ever met him! Amazing.

Oh my....so many years of memories. So many ups and downs together. The day I lost my job and was terrified of what would become of us. And then, miraculously, three weeks later when I got my way better job. You did a very enthusiastic high five when I told you the news.

I just want you to know, Lucy, that you meant and will always mean everything to me. I know that since the baby was born that I have not given you the love you so so deserved.

We didn't have the time that I would have liked to have in your golden years. I am sorry for not being there for you 100% this last 19 months. All this 'mommy to a human baby' stuff has been hard on your mommy. You were so easy to take care of compared to a human baby!!!

But I did my best to love you in the many years that we had together. I am so so sorry for having to do this to you, my best friend. I love you.
Now and forevermore.

Mommy

November 2, 2011

Dear Staff and Volunteers at the Toronto Humane Society,

Let me formerly introduce you to our baby girl, Chelsea. Don't be fooled though, our "baby girl" has been just that - for 16 beautifully long years. I remember the day I met my lifelong sister, as clearly as if it were yesterday. It was a beautiful October weekend in Toronto; the air was crisp and the leaves had begun to change. At the time, I was an 8 year old little girl; who had never had a pet before. At the time, my brother was 3 years old and my parents were ready to teach us about responsibility and love.

Unbeknownst to any of us, we would find SO much more in our baby girl. I will never forget the first time I met Chelsea - her name at the time, was Rita. I am a big believer, especially after that day, that "you just know" when you meet the right animal for you. "Rita" was very subdued - she wasn't like all the other dogs. I distinctly remember how loud the room was, filled with dogs who needed a home - they definitely made themselves known! "Rita", however, was different. The moment we laid eyes on each other - I knew she would become my lifelong friend. She immediately perked up, and began licking our hands and faces - we just, knew. Our family was now proud owners of a beautiful baby girl, that we named - Chelsea.

I'm not going to lie, those first years were filled with chewing up converters, tearing apart our couch - she was a big teether! Chels loved spreading out in the grass, rubbing her head against the ground, but most of all - she LOVED to suntan! She, very fast, became part of our family - a love unlike nothing any of us had ever felt before. Her early years were spent "seeing the world", and enjoying every minute of it! Every summer, our family would travel up North with Chels, and do week-long camping trips. Boy - did she ever love those! Our family grew accustomed to dinnertime with Chels, which almost always ended up in "someone" feeding her under the table! As she got older, she became our beautiful princess. It was no longer "us taking care of her", she - really, took care of us. Every night before dinner, when my mom and dad would call the kids to the table, they would always remember to call Chels too (hehe).

When I say she was a part of the family - you have no idea. She lit up our life, unlike anything either of us had ever experienced. Her life was beautiful; with a huge backyard in the country, and 2 long walks a day - she had it made! I consider our family, so unbelievably blessed, for having met Chelsea - I can't imagine my life without her.

Unfortunately, though, on October 4th 2011; our biggest fear became reality. After months of prolonging the inevitable - it became apparent that Chelsea was no longer, Chelsea. With my dad holding her face, and rubbing her ears (as he's always done, to comfort her) - she went to sleep, one final time. Losing my baby girl has been one of the hardest things my family and I, have ever had to endure. To some, she might have just been "a dog" but to us, she was family - she was our everything. Chelsea now rests downstairs, in a beautiful doubled picture frame; one side holds her ashes, in a velvet bag - which rests behind a photo of her. The other side, holds a beautiful coloured imprint of her paw, set in stone.

Although we miss her terribly, we are forever grateful for the beautiful memories we have made throughout the years. We are looking forward to the day, when we may be reunited with our baby girl, one last time.

Huge thanks go out to the Toronto Humane Society, for allowing our family the opportunity to find love. We gave Chelsea, 16 beautiful years of love and happiness - we would not have wanted it, any other way. We are so proud to have been able to give our Chelsea girl, the opportunity at a FANTASTIC life! I can finally say, our life has been made complete. Never again, will we go anywhere, other than - the Toronto Humane Society; to adopt a pet.

Lots of love,

The Bartolacs

October 14, 2011

I never thought I would become so attached to a pet but what they say is true, "A dog is a man's best friend".

In June 2010, Roscoe, a three month old English Bulldog came into my life. As he walked around my home familiarizing himself with the new surroundings (peeing on my furniture) I knew that I was ready to take on the responsibility of owning a dog.

His adorable wrinkled face, giant sized paws and body much to small for his head, he had won me over. "I'll take him" He approached slowly and cautiously toward me. "Daddy?" I couldn't help myself to do nothing but give him kisses on his head. "Yes, I'm your new daddy"

As he licked my face the hours passed by, I knew this was a special bond. As the weeks passed Roscoe grew larger and larger. We would often go to the park or on walks where Roscoe would attract everyone in sight. People would often stop their cars to comment. One time a TTC driver stopped her bus and asked if I could bring Roscoe aboard. He proceeded to lick her face as the riders waited patiently. At 8 months he was 45 lbs an healthy as could be. Within the year of having him we visited numerous festivals from Italian Festival, Taste of Danforth, Woofstock and Oktoberfest to name a few. He was my little sidekick and life was good.

At one year and a half and weighing 65lbs Roscoe injured his leg after chasing a ball in the park. I decided to get surgery done to repair a torn cruciate ligament. The surgery was a success and Roscoe was on his way to recovery. After several weeks my family who supported me so much during this ordeal noticed a little bump on Roscoe's hip. After numerous hospital visits and weeks admitted they discovered the bump that once was small grew larger and was a cancerous tumor. I couldn't believe what I heard. A puppy at one and a half years old with cancer. As I wiped away the tears the reality sank in and two options were given to me. You have to understand at this moment Roscoe's leg is double the size of his other leg and for the last five days on two pain killers he was in enormous amounts of pain.

The options were:
A. Amputate his leg/hip and start chemotherapy which was a 25% success rate or
B. Have him put down

The decision was difficult and took so much out of me that till this day I am still sad and regret it but I knew that at the time it was the only way to take the pain away. I chose B and lost my best friend.

Oct 13, 2010 was the saddest day of my life. I will always remember you Roscoe the time we had. I miss you so much. You will always be my little boy.

Lino

August 18, 2011

On February 10, 1998, I was blessed with a staggering gift, in the form of a small stray dog that I was allowed to adopt from the Toronto Humane Society. That day was one of the luckiest of my life.

In those days, adoptable dogs were posted on a recorded phone message that was updated each day around 10AM. I phoned regularly to see if there were any small dogs available. One day, they mentioned a male dachshund, and I left work, and ran over to River Street. My first view of Spencer was of a little dog cowering in the back of a very large cage, barking at me. I was a little worried about how he'd act with my other dog Rebecca, but from the first moment they got along famously. She was probably the only dog he didn't greet with a snarl.

Spencer never did believe in making a good first impression. But 10 minutes after he'd bark at a stranger, I'd look over to see him happily settled in their lap, whether they liked it or not.

He was truly a wonderful friend. When it was within his power, he was never more than a few feet away from me. He utterly and completely stole my heart. After 13 1/2 short years beside me, my beautiful little buddy died on June 28th after a difficult struggle with renal disease.

While I selfishly think of him as my dog, Spencer got to be a part of two families, with Darren and I on evenings and weekends, and ‘dog-sitters' David and Brian on weekdays - and, of course, Rebecca 24/7. The years that he shared with our families were something for which we will be eternally grateful, and a large piece of each of our hearts will always be with him.

John

July 22, 2011

We brought Billy into our family when I was 8 years old. When we agreed on him at the Humane Society, he was a one year old frisky little cat, who clawed at me through the cage as I waited by while my mom signed the adoption papers.

Billy became part of our family immediately, and he was a great sport in games that my brother and I would make him play.

As an integral part of our family, Billy moved with us to NY, then with my brother to Montreal. He lived in more places that even I did as a human!

Everyone that met him adored him. He let kids torture him, he let adults pet him, and everybody, even non-cat people, fell in love with the little prince that he was.

Billy would sleep in between my brother and my room, every night, making us both believe that we were his favourite-I still don't know how he managed, but every night he slept with both of us, in both of our rooms.

He died at the age of 14 and although it has been 2 years since his death, I still think of him and miss him. He was an amazing addition to our family and really truly brought us a great deal of happiness. RIP

Billy the cat.

July 22, 2011

July 1997 about 2 years after putting our previous pure breed tri-collie down after 13 yrs, as a family that there was something missing. We decided to visit the THS for the first time. We gathered up the three kids and headed down to the shelter from Pickering. We looked through the kennel where the dogs are kept and didn't see anything or so we thought. My husband was going to leave…I told him he couldn't drag us down there and leave without a new pet. The kids would be devastated. We looked again and found a tri-colour, part hound, part collie, part Australian cattle dog. He was a stray. He was hyper and was barking at us as to say pick me, pick me! So we did and he has been a part of our lives for 13+ years.

He started having difficulties over the past few months with what we thought were tremors or seizures whereby he would collapse on the floor, plus he was dribbling pee. On July 18th he had three seizures within 5 minutes. Then six more before 2 pm. My husband took him to the vet and they observed him as well as did 3 ECG's in various positions. It showed he had a secondary blockage in the heart and the blood was not getting to his brain which was causing fainting spells as we were told. They tried Atropine to see if they could regulate the heart but they couldn't. It was determined he needed a pacemaker.

We picked him up from the vet and he kept having the fainting spells. He started loosing control of his hips and shaking. We decided as a family this was not they way we wanted him to live if he even survived. On July 18, 2011 we took him to the Whitby emergency clinic and said goodbye to Harley. He was part of the family and will be extremely missed by all of us, but forever in out hearts. RIP our little buddy! Your not in pain anymore. Thank you THS for giving us joy in our family for the past 13+ years.

Respectfully yours,

Cheryl A. Craig

July 19, 2011

In July of 1998, at the young age of 5 years old, my parents brought me and my 2 brothers to THS to pick out a dog. My father really had in his mind that he wanted a collie, and when he didn't find one, he was going to leave. As I circled the dog adoption centre, this one particular dog stood out in my mind. Every time I stood in front of his cage, he would whimper and just look at me with his sad eyes, and the moment we continued, he'd begin to bark and scratch the inside of the cage. As crazy as he seemed, I told my father that I liked him and that he was the one. Not wanting to disappoint me, my father agreed and he soon became our dog.

At 6 months old, Harley was adopted into our family. He was part collie, part hound, and part australian cattle dog, and he was crazy! As soon as we brought him home, he ate both my moms and my favourite pair of sandals, knocked over our plants in the house, and barked at everything and everyone. My dad was definitely having second thoughts, but I told him that he was perfect and nothing a little bit of training couldn't fix. Harley was the best dog a family could ask for.

On July 18th 2011, Harley began experiencing some troubles. We rushed him to the local vet, and we were told he had a second degree blockage to his heart. Either he would need surgery to implant a pace maker, or we would have to put him down. At 13 years of age, as a family, we decided that it would be best to put Harley down. He suffered a lot in the last few hours of his life, and as I held him when he was being put to sleep, I knew that it would be hard to love another dog as much as I loved Harley again. I laid with him after he passed, not wanting to leave because he had been my best friend for my entire life. I know he is in a much better place now, but I would do anything to re-live those 13 years with my Harley again.

The Craig family would like to thank THS for giving us our Harley, we had a lot of great years with him and we are very blessed that we were able to find a dog like him. You saved his life and we took him and gave him the best life he could possibly have.

Thank you THS, sincerely,
The Craig Family.

June 23, 2011

I recently posted an in memory for my cats Molly & Gypsy, but as I was doing that I was taking care of my babygirl Fluffy. We got her from THS in may 2004 shortly after Molly passed away, just to see if it would help heal us a bit and give our cat Gypsy another friend so she wouldn't feel so lonely. She was only a couple of months old when we got her, and little did we find out after that she was epileptic, and she had seizures from the crinkling of plastic, and the ringing of bells. She was a sweet girl, but had some moments when she wouldn't act like herself and she would try to attack our other cat. But she didn't know she was doing that. She loved to cuddle up with you, and make you feel better when you were sad. I lost a bestfriend, in april and she was there for me through the entire time.

This morning (June 23, 2011) at around 7am she passed away, I don't know what the cause was
or how she got sick in the first place, but she's in a much better place. I promised her the entire night that I stayed up with her, that she was going to feel better soon. And I kissed her, and repeatedly told her I love her so much, and that I would give her the world. Many thanks to the THS for giving us this beautiful cat, and our beautiful previous cats.

One day I'll be with her again, and I promise then everything will be perfect. Her name from the THS was Lila, but we couldn't decide what to call her, because she had socks/boots so we called her Soxy, Boots and then Fluffy.

I love her more than anything in the world, and once again I thank the THS for her.

- Katie H.

June 23, 2011

We got Gypsy, from the THS about 14 years ago when she was little with her sister Molly, who passed away in 2004 from lung cancer and was my bestfriend. Gypsy became apart of our family, and became a bestfriend to my sister. We never really let her outside, unless we were there watching her , but even then she'd get scared and run inside. She was a house cat and a loveable one at that. She loved to curl up on my sisters head, and she'd watch movies, and curl up beside you if you were ever sad. She was a great friend to talk to because she always listened, and she always wanted attention.

So when you'd either be playing a game, or just on the internet she'd paw at you just to let you know she wants attention. Over the years her breathing started to change, and by this february she started to get sick. The day before she passed away, we knew something was wrong. She wasn't acting the same, she wasn't eating, or drinking. And she wasn't really using the bathroom either. The next day we called the vet because she went into hiding and she knew something was going to happen because she wouldnt come out and she kept meowing. We brought her downstairs, and the vet gave her a needle, to try and calm her down, but she had a heart attack right in front of us.

She is truly missed, and forever will be, but she will always be loved. Noone will ever be able to replace her. Kelly & all of us miss you so much baby girl Rest in peace now.

Gypsy(black) :1999 - February 20 , 2011
Molly ( grey) : 1999 - May 2004

Love the Hall family

June 10, 2011

On an early November day 2008, my husband walked into the THS on River and saw a little cocker spaniel named Thomasina. She had been living at THS for 4 months and no one wanted her. She hadn't been trimmed in quite some time and she came with thyroid and bladder issues. It was an instant connection between her and my husband as he sat in a little room with her. He called me at work and said "I have found a cocker spaniel for you. Go to the THS website and look at her picture". One look and I knew she was for us.

We had her hair done, changed her name to Shelby, and bought her some clothes. She joined our Bernese, Colton, and even though she was only 32 pounds to his 125, she was the boss of the house. We did everything on Shelby's schedule. She was spunky and strong to the very end. A very classy lady who loved her pink polo shirt, dresses, many sweaters and jackets and above all, her collar which she proudly wore in the last minutes of her life. Nothing was better than laying in bed with her Daddy watching Lady and the Tramp, her favorite movie. She loved her family and would do anything for us, but she loved her daddy most of all. He saved her and brought her into our family.

Our little girl, our little princess Shelby, passed away last Sunday.

No one quite knew her age. We think she was 9 or 10 when we got her, which would put her at 12 or 13. She lived as a true princess these last 3 years and though we miss her more than words can possibly say, we wouldn't trade a minute of our time with her. We feel honored to have given her such a good life and hopefully the best years of her life.

We love you Shelby,

Mommy, Daddy, Quinlan, Carleton, Colton and Lily

May 21, 2011

I got Bella from the THS on November 29th 2002. I had been in Toronto for just over a year and was living alone in my first real apartment and I decided to look for a pet of my own. I was looking for a one or two year old cat. I looked at all the cats and found Bella who had been named Cinderella. She was the age I was looking for at 1 and a half years old. She was a small cat and a little thin. She was lying on her side with her paw stretched out and when I came up to talk to her she responded by trying to touch me by putting her paw through the bars. She had a beautiful face and I read that she was affectionate. There were other sheets on the pad but I didn't look at them, I had decided this was my cat.

While waiting for my interview I decided to change her name to Bella because she was beautiful and it ended the same as Cinderella. In the interview I found out that this cat had been at the THS for over 4 months. She had been returned twice for different reasons and had been with a foster family. This made me want her even more. I took her home and Bella was my constant companion for 8 and 1/2 years. I met my husband, got married and moved three times with her. My husband and her became fast friends. She was the most affectionate, playful and good natured animal I have ever known.

Bella died yesterday of advanced cancer of the stomach and liver. She showed no symptoms and was eating, jumping,running up her scratching post and sleeping on our laps at night right up until her last day. Yesterday morning we woke up unexpectedly and shockingly to a very sick cat. I took her to the vet and she continued to deteriorate during the exam and after confirmation by an x-ray the vet knew why she was shutting down. Bella died at the vet's office. While we are dealing with our grief we do have some comfort knowing that she didn't suffer very long and that we had so many years with her.

Carrie and Dave

May 14, 2011

In July, 2004, I responded to a THS "adopt a cat" campaign and adopted Missy, although I already had a cat at home and hadn't intended to get another. Missy was 13 years old and had been surrendered because a family member developed asthma. She was a gorgeous black cat with green eyes and a sweet temperament. After a short adjustment period, Missy became a playful, affectionate companion for me and my other cat, Samantha, also black with green eyes. Missy, the larger and older of the two, would groom Samantha as if they were mother cat and kitten. I was privileged to have Missy with me for six and a half years. In her last couple of years, she lost most of her sight to detached retinas, as a result of high blood pressure. We got the blood pressure under control and Missy adapted well to her reduced vision, confidently finding her way around the apartment and onto my bed and her favourite chair.

Missy reached the age of 20 in early April, 2011. She had an excellent appetite and was in good shape for her age. Her final illness overtook her suddenly, and there was only one right choice for her. She was gently helped out of her life - licking the veterinarian's fingers as she prepared to give the injection - on April 21. I miss her, and so does Samantha. My thanks to Dr. Vihos and all the veterinarians and staff at Downtown Animal Hospital for loving care of Missy and kind support at the end.

April 30, 2011

We got Coby at the Toronto Humane Society on December 27, 2005. She was 5 1/2 years old. She seemed very sad all alone in her cage. We could clearly see that she had been a mother, and would of had to give away her pups. She had also been adopted once before and returned to THS. We just had to bring her home with us. Once we got her in the car she must have given us a thousand kisses. She was so thankful to be going home with us. Coby was always a very affectionate, loyal and loving dog. She loved children, going for walks everyday, playing with her toys, table scraps and getting lots of treats. She especially loved resting in her own bed.

Sadly, on April 18, 2011 she passed away just one week before her 11th Birthday. She was a very good dog. We are so glad we were able to adopt Coby and have her in our lives. We are sad, crying and missing her very much. She was a big part of our lives and we think of her everyday. We will always, always love Coby.

Larry & Doreen.

April 27, 2011

My cat 'Frosty' or (Winter) as he was called passed away on April 21st, at seven years of age. It was unexpected, even he had been sick a few times with an infection in his mouth and teeth. The vets couldn't figure out what was wrong. He was feeling better even the day before, he was rolling around, jumping on the couch and eating heartily.

He had been adopted by my niece in 2009, and I agreed to look after him. He had been abused and I told him that he'd be safe with me. I accomplished that for two years and he trusted me and I was very happy. It took him awhile to come out of his hiding spots, I didn't push him. He loved to lie under the chair, so it was more like a tent. He would stare at his girlfriend 'Snowflake', a stuffed white cat, in which is still there.

I say a prayer every night, telling him that I love and miss him, and that he will not be forgotton. I'm sure another cat will come into my life and I will give them the best that I can.

Good night 'My little man', Susie loves you.

Thank you.
Susan Fadden (Cat volunteer)

April 21, 2011

I got Billy from the THS at Christmas, 2005. He had been at the shelter for 4 months, and I suspect no one wanted him for two reasons: 1.) he was a little stand-offish, and, 2.) some people have a ridiculous superstition of black cats. He died today because he was hit by a car. Thankfully, he died instantly. I am going to miss him, terribly. I know some of you may be saying that it was my own fault for letting him out, and rest assured, I do feel guilty. but I also know that he had a very good life with me for 6 years.

Although I got him for my son that Christmas of 2005, he really was my cat. He only ever showed affection to me. I have read that some persian cats are like that, and Billy had a lot of persian in him. Billy was also blessed at Saint-Simon-the Apostle's Anglican Church on Bloor St., and somehow that makes me feel a little bit better , that somehow God knows what a great cat he was and that he is in whatever heaven there is for cats.

Billy, Glenna

On October 4th, 1997 we went down to the THS on River Street with friends so "they" could look for a dog to adopt. Little did my husband and I know that is was "us" who would be coming home with a forever pet of our own.

As we went from one dog to another trying to help our friends find their forever pet, my husband noticed this little puppy who wasn't that little in a cage by herself. He went over to read what was written about her. She was a husky/shepherd mix that was 3 months old. She had one blue eye and one brown eye. And her ears were bigger than her whole head.

We read the name on the card and it said her name was "Casey". We thought this was a sign because our Orange Male Tabby was named KC. My husband wanted to find out more about her and have us spend some time in the meeting room with her.

Right then and there we decided to adopt her. And it was the best decision we ever made. Since we already had a KC in the family ... we offically changed her name to Karly.

She was truly one of the most affectionate pets I've ever known. All she wanted was love and she gave it unconditionally. She never liked to see us leave but greeted us with such enthusiasm when we came home. Karly had the run of the house. She slept with us every night. She loved to snuggle on the couch but also loved lying in front of the fire place or at the front door when the sunshine came through. She loved being outside in the sunshine. We would take her up north during the summer on the boat. She loved the fresh air. She had no time to nap during those fun summer days because she never wanted to miss someone walking by or watching the kids play.

On December 6th, 2010 we said goodbye to our precious baby girl Karly. She was such a ray of sunshine in our lives. Even as she was slowly going to a better place free of pain, she managed to give her Mom one last kiss. It was so hard to let her go. She was a huge part of our family. We still look for her in all her favourite spots. Her presence is sorely missed. We think about her everyday.

As much as we would love to have another dog in our home, part of us feels this was Karly's home. But then we think about giving another dog a forever home. We have been looking on the THS website and even came down recently to show the kids where we got Karly from. Perhaps this is not the right time because we are still grieving Karly. We hope that one day we will find another dog from THS just as precious as Karly but in their own special way.

Shari and Family

February 9, 2011

On her information sheet at the Toronto Humane Society, Cheyenne was reported to be found in Scarborough in the middle of winter bearing a tag with her name and birthday. When I first met her in the adoption center there, she had been "in residence" for a few months. She seemed sad and only looked up at me once, then turned away. When I asked the adoption attendants about Cheyenne they refused. Apparently she had been a barky dog in the shelter and would look out our apartment window and bark at everyone on the street. I countered by pointing that I had a deck on the front of my apartment 30 feet by about 9 feet deep. They were satisfied with that answer and let me take her home. She spent many hours each warm day on that deck and never barked, even though she had a great view of the Withrow Dog Park. She had a lot of amazing qualities that didn't show up at the shelter. When I brought her home her ears were perpetually down and her back slightly hunched. The first time she stood at the edge of Withrow Park, her back straightened and her ears went up...they never went down again.

She had been obviously hurt in her previous home and remained slightly anxious all her life. But you could not ask for a better behaved dog in the house. Outside was different and it took some time to train her in obedience in that context. She needed to learn that disobedience would not result in physical punishment. My daughter and I worked with her gently to develop a trusting relationship that was also firm in its expectations for good dog behaviour.

The evening I brought her home it was raining and our first bonding experience was her receiving a gentle towel rub and that always remained a pleasant experience for us both. Over the years I kept my pledge of exercising and socializing her. I fed her the best foods I could afford/available and she became a real member of the family and popular dog in the neighbourhood for her great social zeal and her notoriously clever/mischievious side.

In time we moved to a few different homes. I married a man with two cats. Cheyenne with a trainer's help lived with them, without incident...one of the cats, in their last week of life, even went and lay on Cheyenne's bed for comfort and company...Several years ago, my husband and I moved to the Ottawa region, living first in Ottawa and then moving to a rural home. In Ottawa we resided near the RCMP stables and we would visit there every evening to "helloooo" the horses in the paddocks. Last year we bought the house we now live in in a rural location near Ottawa...by this time Cheyenne, at 17 was diagnosed with arthritis and we started on a course of pain relief and natural joint support supplements. In our new home Cheyenne has had the freedom to roam leashless/fenceless--something she always loved-exploring! Because of the arthritis she wasn't able to get very far but loved to do a little wandering and then would return and sit on the lawn in the shade and just enjoy the view.

We made her comfortable with special foods, a princess pile of cushions and blankets next to a source of heat. Over the passed several months, she began to decline in other ways. Recently she began to have pain that the medicam and natural anti inflammatories were not helping. She could no longer eat standing up and was being fed softened food at her bed. She needed frequent breaks outside, but desired to come back in right away. Not like her at all...because she loved the winter. For a few weeks simple walks down the road and back had become too much. I felt she had been suffering for a long time and despite her obvious alertness and will to live, her suffering was on the verge of become morbid. I made the decision that it was time to let her die. Yesterday we took her to our veteranarian and I sat with her at face level and looked into her eyes as the vet administered the euthanization fluid...Right before she died, she lifted her muzzle up through the vallium fog, opened her right eye wide and looked at me. To the end, she displayed an amazingly powerful spirit. A real character we all loved and cherished. Cheyenne had turned 18 this passed December 16th.

She had not been my first choice at the shelter, but if I had it to do over again I wouldn't have it any other way. I am grateful for the life she shared with us and for her constant companionship. I am grateful to the Humane Society for having a place I could share her long story. She outlived all her early friends but continued to make new ones, even in these last few months.

November 29, 2010

My family adopted "Maggy" just over 7 years ago from the THS. We first saw her online and noticed she had been at the shelter for some time. We knew instantly that we wanted her. She was 5 years old and looked like she had been through a lot in her short life. She was scared of just about everything and everyone but as soon as she started warming up to her new family her true princess personality started to shine through.

She became a protector to her new brother "Montana" and a princess to her human sisters and parents. She found out that she loved to tan outside on sunny days and dig up gardens. Maggy loves to be comfortable she would give us her sad eyes and instantly we would find our self's inviting her up on to the couch for some love. She also loved to eat she would always be ready come breakfast and dinner. She quickly came accustom to the 2 milk bones on her bed before sleep time. Maggy would sometimes try and be sneaking and go on her bed during the day expecting to receive a treat... and it usually worked. Maggy has been nothing but an angel to our family and to everyone that has met her. She loves playing with kids and keeping you company during all naps. We couldn't have asked for a better dog and just wish we could have had her for longer.

The last 6 months were tough on Maggy and we found she was in pain and slowly getting worse. We were forced to make a tough choice but we knew what was best for her. We are so thankful for her and we think about her everyday and love her and miss her so much.

Thanks THS for giving us our princess

Lindsay and Family

November 13, 2010

My roommate adopted "Colin" in September of 1995 from River Street THS, to be the buddy to her Cocker Spaniel (he didn't like being alone when we were at work and needed a non-dog to keep him from barking). A beautiful grey DSH, he was about 8 months old, and from the notes on his file, he loved being brushed. Well, that was very true. Buddy, as he was renamed, was also a very friendly, social guy – and he chose me to be his caregiver & lifelong companion.

He tolerated my moves, other pets that roommates had, and was the best buddy around. He had his fun side (chasing and fetching paper balls, having tummy rubs, loving catnip, lying in the perfect sunbeam, and watching the world go by) and his frisky side (knocking over a fully decorated Christmas tree, "playing" with the toilet paper roll and spreading it all over the house, trying to eat a cricket then leaving the remains on the carpet for me as a gift). He always met me at the front door when I came home, would always be there an afternoon nap and became a best furry friend to my partner when he came into my life.

The past month or so, Buddy became tired; he has a seizure on Thanksgiving and then stopped eating. We brought him to our vet and after tests, diagnoses (renal failure, pancreatitis, diverticulosis) and medication, on Sunday November 7th he suffered major breathing issues. On the 8th, Buddy said it was his time to go. Our thanks to Dr. Mitelman & Kingston Road Animal Hospital, for being there for Buddy at the end and to the THS for bringing Buddy into my life. He will always have a very special place in our hearts, and is sorely missed.

August 26, 2010

In late July 2007 we adopted Cookie from the River Street shelter. Cookie had been a stray and was an older dog - estimated at 11 but our vet thought she was older. She came with some pre-established medical problems. As our mission is to give older animals a chance, Cookie was introduced to our other dog and the rest was history. As two moderately dominant females, they had a few spats but worked things out themselves and became friends. We changed Cookie's name as we didn't want every dog in the neighbourhood coming when we called her. Over the years, eyes and ears diminished and Cushings disease surfaced, but we all soldiered on. On August 20th, we lost our beautiful girl and are all coming to grips with life without our resident comic. Thank you, THS, for giving older animals the chance at a comfortable and peaceful retirement. Some day we will be back.

-Judy