February 1, 2000-02-14

Councillor John Filion, Chair

Board of Health and Members

City Clerk's Office

City Hall, 1^st Floor, West

100 Queen Street West

Toronto, Ontario M5H 2N2

Dear Councillor Filion:

Re: The Humane Society of the United States Professional Consultation Report

The Ontario SPCA commends the City of Toronto for commissioning such a comprehensive review of animal services in the New City of Toronto. The Ontario SPCA was pleased to be part of this review.

As you are aware, the new City of Toronto is served by two branches and two affiliates of the Ontario SPCA. (The Ontario SPCA currently has 25 branches and 34 affiliates). The branches serve North York and Scarborough. The affiliates are the Etobicoke Humane Society and the Toronto Humane Society.

The Ontario SPCA, in general, supports the recommendations contained in the HSUS Professional Animal Services Consultation Report. The Review appears to have been conducted in a thorough and objectives fashion.

We agree with HSUS that the current arrangements are working well and do not consider that there is a need to make substantial change. As far as we are able to assess, the recommendations generally appear reasonable and appropriate. They appear to reflect our opinion and our experience that, generally speaking, the City of Toronto, through its Animal Services Department, is doing a good job of managing progressive and effective animal control and pound services for the community.

In this light, we hope that Toronto will see fit to at least maintain, if not enhance, its budgetary support for Animal Services. We agree with HSUS that "the City of Toronto is currently getting value for its animal care and control dollar". We hope that the City will continue to fund Animal Services at a level that permits an adequate quality and quantity of service for the community, including the animals.

Pertinent to the recommendations contained in the HSUS report, the Ontario SPCA would like to advise the Board of Health that the Society is working towards strengthening services in North York, Scarborough and Etobicoke, in collaboration or partnership with Toronto Animal Services and other appropriate animal welfare organizations:

- Adoption services - the Ontario SPCA plans to open more adoption facilities in the areas of North York, Scarborough and Etobicoke, as an adjunct to city run programs - helping to increase adoptions in the New City of Toronto

- Emergency animal care - the Ontario SPCA offers a Family Violence Assistance Program which arranges emergency shelter for pets of abused women entering women's shelters. This will be enhanced when the new Animal Centre is completed in York Region at the end of this year

- Spay neuter - the Ontario SPCA is currently planning to strengthen its spay-neuter awareness campaign in conjunction with the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association. In addition, the Ontario SPCA has a mandatory spay-neuter policy for animals adopted from all 25 branches - including North York and Scarborough. Furthermore, a new clinic will be built as part of the new Ontario SPCA Animal Centre in York Region

- Selling dog licenses and cat registration - We would be willing to discuss ways in which we may be able to assist in the promotion of purchase of dog licenses and cat registrations in our new Adoption Facility close to Lawrence and Victoria Park

- Education on responsible pet ownership - the Ontario SPCA is currently developing an enhanced education program and would be pleased to work with TAS on initiatives to promote responsible pet ownership

- Publishing and distribution of educational materials on animal issues - the Ontario SPCA, through its Communication and Education Department, already issues a substantial volume of educational materials - such as "living with wildlife" - collaboration on this would lead to more effective and efficient dissemination of education on important issues

- Media releases on appropriate responsible ownership or health and safety issues - the Ontario SPCA already regularly makes such releases. The Ontario SPCA is willing to discuss opportunities for collaboration on this which may make the message more effective

- Injured wildlife - the new Animal Centre in York Region has plans for a wildlife rehabilitation centre which will help to provide care for injured

- Wildlife from North York, Scarborough and Etobicoke as well as from York Region and other areas

- Dog obedience - Ontario SPCA will be strengthening services in dog training

- Respond to animals in distress - Ontario will be further enhancing response to cruelty complaints - a 24 hour information and referral service, which will provide service to all of Ontario, will be available with the completion of the new Animal Centre. Training and standards for agents, inspectors and affiliate are being improved

- In-school education programs - the Ontario SPCA is developing program packages and materials that will be available to branches and affiliates in Ontario for use in schools. Other initiatives will be launched to improve in-school education programs.

The Ontario SPCA is striving to ensure equity in service delivery across Ontario, through the issuance of standing orders pertaining to the investigation of cruelty complaints, the improvement of training programs for agents and inspectors, the enhancement of standards for agents and inspectors, and the gradual introduction of comprehensive standards for maintenance of affiliated status with the Ontario SPCA. As mentioned above, both the Etobicoke and Toronto Humane Societies are affiliates of the Ontario SPCA.

The Ontario SPCA is continuing to build its violence prevention initiative. This initiative could be of interest to the City of Ontario for a variety of reasons, including one of improving public safety. The underlying premise on which this initiative is based is that there is strong evidence of a link between animal cruelty and human violence. It we can address animal cruelty effectively and promptly, we will help to reduce violence against people.

The Ontario SPCA appreciates the positive working relationship it has enjoyed in the past with Toronto Animal Services, and looks forward to building on this in the future, so that, in collaboration, we can work together to further improve animal welfare and public education to everyone's benefit.

Yours sincerely,

Victoria E.R. Earle

Chief Executive Officer

Cc Brigadier General (Ret'd) Christopher B. Snider, Chair