Toronto Humane Society Opens Victoria Park Branch

  • Posted by Jade
  • Filed in City
  • April 17, 2008

Weasley the cat getting adopted at the Toronto Humane Society
Good news for fellow animal lovers living north of downtown: we don't need to trek all the way down to Queen and River to adopt a feline or canine companion. The Toronto Humane Society officially opened a new satellite location at the Van Horne Plaza on Victoria Park and Van Horne (a few blocks north of Sheppard Ave.) last Tuesday. The Victoria Park branch houses mostly cats but there are dogs, rabbits, rats, birds and guinea pigs as well.

The branch has been operational for a couple of weeks now. As of press time, the THS has had 39 adoptions and counting, including 30 cats, six dogs, two rats and one rabbit. While I was there, a few people were filling out forms to adopt "forever friends" like Weasley, a 10-year old orange tabby.

Toronto Humane Society's new Victoria Park branch
The Toronto Humane Society is an independent, non-profit animal adoption centre not funded by the government and relies solely on donations and volunteers. The organization prides themselves as non-euthanasia and provides 24/7 care for the animals rescued. The Victoria Park branch actually houses some of the cats salvaged from a Hamilton clinic that was about to put them to permanent sleep. Even with the amount of care given by the THS, the animals still need loving homes. "It's sad seeing them in their cages, like a cat jail," one THS volunteer said. So it's always heartwarming to witness an animal getting a new home.

Puppies at the Toronto Humane Society

The Victoria Park adoption centre is located at 2802 Victoria Park Avenue, North York, Unit 13 and is open from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm everyday. Drop by or check out the Toronto Humane Society's website's Adopt A Pet section to see which animals are ready to be taken home. Both THS branches are also open to volunteers (18 and above) who want to help feed and groom the animals.

Reader Reviews and Comments

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I have such mixed feelings when I hear about new shelters opening up. On the one hand, great, we have more shelters to take care of animals in need! And on the other hand, damn, why do we STILL have so many animals in need that we keep needing more shelters?

Posted by: -andrea. at April 17, 2008 1:28 PM

It's really sad. It seems like even if adoption increases, the number of homeless domestic animals never seems to lessen. I hate seeing animals in cages but you know they're getting the proper care (but not enough love) in these shelters.

Posted by: Jade at April 18, 2008 10:10 AM

They should never separate 2 dogs or cats that arrive together for adoption. That's what the Victoria Park center did with 2 little 4 years old white dogs, one of them was losing his friend and was crying so hard. I know Humane Society on River don't do this. If they have 2 cats or dogs or any animals that came together, should be adopted together, it is too hard on them. Also, please don't encourage small children to have small dogs, kids are too hard on them.

Posted by: Danielle at June 18, 2008 9:57 AM

I tried taking 2 stray cats that were living in a recycling facility to THS back in May. At first I was told that I can't take them to the facility because I told them one of the cats was in a bad shape, they were concerned they might have a disease, then, when I was getting upset, they told me that I can't take them in right away, I need to make an appointment and wait until they have room for them. I was shocked. After hanging up with THS I was furrious. I had the cats with me already, I was trying to help these cats out and THS did not care! I adopted a cat from THS prior to this incidence, and supposedly, she was a stray too! So were they lying to me?? While I was waiting for the phone call from THS that never happened to let me know of that appointment, (great service, congrats), I did not keep the cats indoors for a couple of reasons. One, because of my already existing cat, two, yeah, what if they do have a disease? Didn't want to take the chance. I'm not a vet. Well, I tried to feed the cats and keeping them around while keeping them outside, but they wandered off and long gone now. These cats would of had a chance for a new healthy beginning and THS ruined it for them! The facility that SUPPOSED to care! Do you people, really? Bullshit!

Posted by: Kat at July 23, 2008 5:57 PM

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