Today, together with Toronto Street Cat volunteers, the Toronto Humane Society will perform 100 spay/neuter surgeries in an effort to reduce the number of unwanted litters.

"Eighty of cats are flood survivors from the Muskoka region and their rescue is the result of a true collaboration between animal welfare organizations and volunteers," says Toronto Humane Society's Executive Director Barbara Steinhoff.  The Muskoka colony began just two to three years ago as a group of only four to five tame household pets and quickly grew. The cats were left living without medical care or a consistent food source. Recent floods in the area only added to the desperation.

A group volunteers became aware of the situation and when floodwaters receded set out in a determined effort to get the surviving cats into shelters and rescues. Those who were tame were moved to an emergency makeshift shelter and any requiring medical attentions, as well as surviving nursing moms and kittens, were rushed to the Toronto Humane Society. North Toronto Cat Rescue also stepped into help offering care for ten young adults and two nursing moms.  It is unknown how many cats were lost in the floodwaters.

With a large population of feral and tame cats remaining a long-term solution was needed.  A lack of funding meant the Huntsville SPCA's only solution was to euthanize the feral cats. "When we heard the story we knew we had to help," said Steinhoff.  In collaboration, with Toronto Street Cats, 80 flood survivors will undergo spay/neuter surgery. Following their surgeries, rescues including North Toronto Cat Rescue, Pride Rescue and Oasis Animal Rescue and Toronto Cat Rescue will help find forever homes for all those who are tame. Any feral cats will be returned to their colony with support from PAWS (Peoples Animal Welfare Society) and a food donation from Hills Pet Nutrition.

A major milestone will be reached today as many of the veterinarians involved in this initiative stay late into the night performing surgery as part of Toronto Street Cats' TNR (trap neuter return) program Sometime tonight this dedicated group will perform their 2,000th TNR surgery.

The Toronto Humane Society reminds everyone to help reduce the number of unwanted litters by spay/neutering your pet. For information on accessible spay neuter services at the Toronto Humane Society visit www.torontohumanesociety.com.

Happy wasn't so happy when he first arrived at THS; he was very scared and hid in his cage and would panic when people approached him. He was missing part of his back left leg, below the knee and his front right leg was broken and had healed abnormally resulting in him having to walk on his elbow. Little is known about Happy's history; a local rescue group found him living in someone's shed and brought him to THS because of his injuries and to help socialize him for adoption.

Once at THS, Happy was given pain medication and a cozy room to call his own, with plenty of blankets covering the floor to make it more comfortable for him to get around . He was assessed by our feline behavior staff to determine if he was feral. Although he was slightly under-socialized and quite nervous, with alot of extra TLC from volunteers and behavior staff, he began enjoying and seeking out attention from people who would visit. It didn't take long before Happy became a staff and volunteer favourite.

Happy was sent to a specialist to determine what could be done to help improve his mobility and quality of life. It was determined that the back leg could be left as is and he was fitted for a brace for his front right leg.  He underwent surgery on May 7 that Toronto Veterinary Emergency Hospital. The surgery was a success; his leg was straightened, wrist joint fused and a plate was installed in a normal weight-bearing position.  Happy will be living in a foster home for the next 6-8 weeks where he will be receiving physiotherapy to improve his mobility.

We are so glad we are able to treat Happy and provide him with a better future; despite his injuries and traumatic start in life, he is in fact a happy little cat!

His specialized surgery and ongoing care and rehabilitation is quite costly (approximately $4,500). Without government funding, we rely on donations from caring people like you to be able to help the animals.

Please donate today to help Happy. Tax receipts for gifts of $20 or more will be automatically sent to you via email.

On behalf of Happy and all of the animals at the Toronto Humane Society, thank you!

Dear Humane Society,

Ten years ago I adopted Indie.  (The name on her cage said Lucky and I took it as a sign.  That and her saucer face with big eyes.)  Indie is now 11 and I've never regretted choosing her.  She's a hoot and still gets the crazies and runs through the home for no reason.  Indie is fond of stealing my food, especially cheese corn, butter, pepperoni, parmesan cheese and finding random awkward places to sleep. I'm grateful that she's mine. 

All the best,
Devon.

The Toronto Humane Society will be holding vaccination clinics from 4pm to 8pm on May 23, June 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25 and 27 at 11 River Street.

Please call 416-392-2273 to book an appointment.

With summer just around the corner, we want to help you have some BBQ and poolside FUN in the SUN !

Register online for PAWS in the Park and raise $200 by Friday, May 31st for your chance to win a summer prize package, including a $50 Metro gift card!

For more information and to register please go to www.pawsinthepark.com.

New Shelter adoption hours are:
11 River Street
Monday to Friday - 11am to 7pm
Saturday and Sunday - 10am to 6pm
416-392-2273