June 12, 1998

 To:Scarborough Community Council

 From:Donald Mitton, Toronto Animal Services, Scarborough Animal Centre

 Subject:Animal Services in Scarborough and the relationship between the Animal Centre and provincially-chartered and local organizations.

  Purpose:

 This report has been prepared at the request of Scarborough Community Council at its meeting of June 3, 1998. Community Council requested the Manager of the Scarborough Animal Centre to report on the operation of Animal Services in Scarborough in relation to the new City of Toronto, and include in his report, comments on the relationship between local organizations and provincially-chartered organizations.

 Source of Funds:

 The funds to deliver the current programs provided by the Scarborough Animal Centre of the Department of Public Health, Toronto Animal Services, were approved by Council at its meeting held on April 29, 1998.

 Recommendations:

 It is recommended that this report be received for information.

 Background:

 The Scarborough Animal Centre has provided municipally operated animal sheltering and animal control field services since 1969. The current Animal Centre opened to the public in 1991, providing improved sheltering services and responsible pet ownership education.

 The managers of the six former municipal Animal Care and Control agencies have been meeting regularly since 1989. The purpose of these meetings were to solve common problems and where possible, harmonize programs and service delivery across Metropolitan Toronto. A close working relationship has developed between the management team of these former agencies.

Discussion:

 Toronto Animal Services has been incorporated into the Department of Public Health which reports through the Medical Officer of Health to the Board of Health and Council.

 For 1998, the spectrum of services and their method of delivery to the community of Scarborough by the Scarborough Animal Centre, remains unchanged from previous years.

 The Scarborough Animal Centre continues to provide many valuable services to the community of Scarborough. These range from emergency response for injured animals and possible rabid animals to pet visitation at senior=s residences and the annual Pet Fair. Toronto Animal Services anticipates that these front line programs will be continued and in some areas enhanced, through the harmonization of services.

 The Toronto Animal Services management team, of which the Scarborough Animal Centre manager is a member, has produced a business plan entitled "Animal Services in the New Toronto". This plan speaks to the many services to be provided by the amalgamated Toronto Animal Services.

 The Scarborough Animal Centre has fostered working relationships with a number of corporate and volunteer organizations. The following highlights but a few of these relationships:

 The Canadian Animal Network:

 This company provides the Animal Centre with free advertising of pets for adoption on their website. This has proven to be a valuable tool to assist us in placing pets in new homes. Further, they have created a "What's On" segment in their site. This is used to promote, through the use of photos and promotional material, events being held by Toronto Animal Services and the Scarborough Animal Centre in particular.

 Dog Grooming:

 Several professional dog groomers visit the Centre on a regular basis and give freely of their time and expertise to groom pets at the Centre. This enhances the appearance of these pets and offers them a greater opportunity to be placed in new homes.

 PETsMART:

 The PETsMART store located in Markham has, through their Luv-A-Pet Adoption Centre, placed over 350 cats from the Animal Centre into new homes. PETsMART staff complete the Animal Centre's adoption forms, collect the adoption fees and forward all information and monies to the Centre.

Purina Pets For People Program:

 For the past three years, the Animal Centre has been an active participant with Purina in providing pets, free of charge to senior citizens. This program recognizes the special bond which seniors have with their pets. Purina pays all adoption fees and further, provides the new pet owner with many valuable care products such as leashes, food and water bowls and instructional videos.

 This briefly outlined but four of our partners. Each year, the Scarborough Animal Centre Pet Fair has over thirty corporations and volunteer organizations which donate prizes and support to ensure the success of the event.

 Most important is our team of volunteers who, on a daily basis, visit the Centre and walk the dogs in our walk area. This offers the dogs an opportunity to exercise and enjoy social interaction.

 The Toronto Animal Services, Scarborough Animal Centre has an excellent working relationship with the Ontario Humane Society. This is the only animal oriented provincially-chartered organization providing services in Scarborough. The Toronto Humane Society, as an affiliate of the Ontario Humane Society, offers a number of services to the resident of the community of Toronto, however their authority does not extend to Scarborough.

 Occasionally, Animal Centre staff request the assistance of the Inspector from the Scarborough Branch of the Ontario Humane Society, when they believe that a case of cruelty exists. Similarly, the Ontario Humane will request our assistance when they believe that a situation would best resolved through our Animal Care and Control Bylaw. The Ontario Humane Society frequently leaves abused pets at the Scarborough Animal Centre, where we provide temporary protective care of the pet, until it can be transferred to their Newmarket facility.

 The Ontario Humane Society has played an active role in the annual Pet Fair for a number of years, with the Animal Centre reciprocating in their Homeless Pet Day.

 The Animal Centre and Ontario Humane Society have enjoyed an excellent rapport and work together whenever possible to promote responsible pet ownership and the humane care of animals.

 Conclusions:

 With a view towards the future, it is anticipated that the community of Scarborough will continue to enjoy quality animal care and control services within the framework created by the new Toronto Animal Services. We are committed to continue working with our current partners, and wherever possible, foster new associations to promote pet adoptions and responsible pet ownership.

Contact Name:

 Donald Mitton

Toronto Animal Services

Manager, Scarborough Animal Centre

Tel: 396-7423

Fax:396-4831

E-Mail: mitton@city.scarborough.on.ca

  Donald MittonC.O. D'Cunha, MBBS, MHSc, FRCPC

Manager, Toronto Animal ServicesAssociate Medical Officer of Health