The Toronto Humane Society

Toronto Humane Society is an Animal Welfare Charity located in Toronto, Ontario. 

Toronto Humane Society’s mission is to improve the lives of animals.

One of our core beliefs is in strengthening the Human-Animal Bond. We strive to work towards keeping pets and their guardians together and finding unique ways to mitigate pet surrender. Through initiatives such as our subsidized Public Veterinary Services or our Urgent Foster Care program that provides temporary care to animals and families facing acute crises, Toronto Humane Society aims to preserve the Human-Animal Bond and keep pets in the homes that love them. We offer expertise, knowledge, and solutions to any pet (or guardian) in need, through training services and behaviour consults, as well as our Pet Parent Support Network, a service that assists guardians in finding alternatives to surrender and offers resources for other pet-related inquiries.

The goal of our 2020-2025 strategic plan is to improve the lives of animals and build a more compassionate society. We aim to accomplish this by putting animals and people first, enhancing our sustainability, and engaging the hearts and minds of staff and volunteers. In all things, we operate with excellence. We build trusted relationships, both in the community and beyond, and we take measured risks whenever we can.

Our vision is to be a leader in animal welfare, working for a compassionate society where all animals are respected and valued. Leadership requires bold action and active engagement with many stakeholders. Working towards a compassionate society means contributing to the welfare of non-human and human animals in ways which preserve the integrity of the Human-Animal Bond and enrich the lives of both. The mission and vision are synergistic. Combined, they frame an expansive space for us to consider a range of options strategically, and from which Toronto Humane Society can continue to contribute to making the world a better place.

One of our major programs is the community sheltering or Foster Program. For various reasons, such as age or behaviour challenges or for medical reasons, it can be better for some animals to spend time in a temporary home rather than in the busy shelter environment. Toronto Humane Society provides all volunteer Foster Parents with the food, medications, supplies, and veterinary care each foster animal requires, while the Foster Parent provides individual love and affection to bring about the best possible outcome for each animal.

Due to the number of homeless, stray, abandoned, and community cats in Toronto, we offer a high-volume spay/neuter program for cats when open to the public. We also provide low-cost, high-quality wellness services (Public Veterinary Services) for all owned pets, which are now offered primarily via tele-medicine to maintain physical distancing. To increase access to veterinary care for community members facing financial difficulties, we offer subsidized services to those relying on government support for income, or those with Indigenous status. This is a 30-50% discount on top of our low-cost veterinary services. We also offer subsidized or free services to community members referred to us by partner homeless and women’s shelters.

We also run a community pet food bank, which has seen a significant increase in usership during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pet food bank ensures that those in the community who have been affected by the pandemic don't have to worry about their four-legged family members going hungry. Pet food is distributed at our front desk and through regional partner organizations.

For various reasons, pet guardians can find themselves unable to care for their pet and in need of temporary support; for example, if seeking treatment to overcome addiction, or when facing eviction and unable to find someone to take their pets while they stay in a shelter. Under our Urgent Foster Care program and the supervision of our dedicated Urgent Care Coordinator, individuals in the community who find themselves in need can have their pet(s) taken care of for a period of up to one year. This includes free medical treatment for any pet in our Urgent Foster Care program, from routine dental work to emergency care if required.

One reason community members may need to access our Urgent Foster Care program is that they may be fleeing situations of domestic violence. Currently, few Toronto-area Violence Against Women shelters allow pets. According to a recent University of Windsor study, nearly 90% of women staying at the surveyed VAW shelters said that their partner also abused their pet; 56% of these women delayed leaving an abusive relationship due to fear for their pet’s safety. With their pet receiving care through our program, these individuals are better able to seek the help they need.

We recognize that the best place for a pet is in a loving home. To assist guardians in finding alternatives to surrender, our Pet Parent Support Network aims to ensure that each pet and their guardian get the support, advice, and services they need. This may include referrals to our training classes for behaviour challenges, or information about our Urgent Foster Care program – all with the goal of keeping pets in the homes that love them. Additionally, this program provides individualized care to meet the specific needs of each animal and person as we understand that no two situations are the same.

Many of the rescues and organizations we work with are located in areas that are dealing with pet overpopulation and do not have the capacity to house all the animals in need of shelter. Our Rescue Transport Program increases our life-saving capacity by helping these organizations reduce their euthanasia rate. We work with them to set up systems to better manage overpopulation and assist by reducing their burden and transporting some of their animals into our care. A big benefit of this program is that once in our organization, many of these animals find homes in less than two weeks!

Overall, Toronto Humane Society’s programs aim to address the root causes of poor animal welfare rather than simply reacting to animal vulnerability. Through this proactive approach, we are working towards a more compassionate society, improving the lives of all animals as a result.