As we welcome the arrival of spring, I find myself reflecting on the incredible momentum we’ve built together—and feeling energized by the possibilities that lie ahead.

This marks the first issue of Animal Talk for 2025, and it comes at a time of exciting growth for Toronto Humane Society. Last year, thanks to your unwavering support, we made great strides in improving animal welfare across our city and beyond. From expanding our training and behaviour offerings to helping more animals through our Public Veterinary Services, your generosity made it all possible.

But we’re not stopping here.

With your continued partnership, we’re setting our sights even higher for the year ahead. We’re proud to be launching additional group training classes—accessible, effective programming that helps keep pets in loving homes. We’re continuing to host two Community Days each month, where people and pets can access vital pet supplies and compassionate care. And yes, we’re even laying the groundwork for further expansion of our veterinary services —bringing accessible care to even more pet families.

These are big goals. But with you behind us, they’re entirely within reach.

As always, our mission remains rooted in compassion: to improve the lives of animals. Our approach is holistic—centered around care, education, advocacy, and support—because animal welfare isn’t just about what happens within our shelter walls. It’s about meeting people where they are, removing barriers, and building a future where every animal has the chance to thrive.

In this issue, you’ll find stories that reflect this vision in action: a spotlight on preventable diseases like parvovirus, a powerful feline training success story, and a deep dive into why diversity matters in animal welfare. You’ll also hear from our team about the growing number of kittens arriving during “kitten season”—and what we can all do to help, starting with something as vital as spaying or neutering pets.

To each of you reading this—our monthly donors, our supporters, our advocates—thank you. Your generosity is not only saving lives.; it’s shaping the future of animal welfare in this city.

Let’s make 2025 a year of even greater impact. Together, we can.

Warm regards,

Phil Nichols, RVT, CAWA
Chief Executive Officer
Toronto Humane Society