Newmarket OSPCA to euthanize hundreds of animals Update #23 - temporary layoffs

[Medusa]

Oh how awful.

[phesina]

Oh my God... How absolutely sad and tragic. This is just horrible.. especially since it didn't have to happen but for human error.

We had some ringworm in our shelter recently, but not that many cats were exposed, and the treatment protocols were very strictly followed.

This is heart-breaking.

[king2005]

I wouldn't trust a thing that comes from ANY Toronto Humane Society (THS) Members mouth, they are all crooked money hungry monsters & are angry at the OSPCA for cleaning up their nasty mess of Horrors, & are just seeking revenge. The THS has been filed under the same category as PETA & can never be trusted. I've seen what they've done & it was disgusting! It would have been better to just shut them down & open a New one with 100% new members that actually give a darn about the animals & everyone/things safety.

I've worked with the OSPCA before & they are strict about euthanasia. If they feel this outbreak is that bad & euthanasia is the only way then I'll painfully support it.

Remember they said this isn't a normal strain of Ringworm, this one is much worse. So chances are the medications aren't working & thats why they are forced to go this sad route.

With that strain, the animals cannot go to Foster Homes as the Foster Care Givers can get infected & spread it to the Public. Honestly, I don't want another Outbreak here in Toronto, SARS was bad enough...So it has to be dealt with at that Building.

I hope some animals can be saved, & the humans involved will recover in a timely manor. & they'll follow protocol from now on!!! Protocol is there for a reason, when its not followed horrible things can happen

[Catty1]

Yeah, Jess - I kind of wondered who the THS was to point fingers!

[king2005]

The THS is very lucky to still be functioning. I think all of the board members should have been replaced as it takes a board as a whole to steal that much $$ from the animals & to allow that much pain & suffering to go one for that many years

The THS is darn lucky they had as many supporters as they did. Our Rescue functions almost completely off of the Owners paycheque & he has 80 mouth to feed + 4 other locations to assist.

[Catty1]

A sliver of hope.

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/arti...ad-dog-walking

On Tuesday morning, the shelter began euthanizing 330 dogs, cats and small animals, a drastic move it said was necessary to eradicate a ringworm outbreak of “epidemic” proportions. Vets have determined at least 20 animals could be saved. They were taken to private clinics to recover in isolation.

“We are hoping that more will be saved; veterinarians are still in the process of examining the animals,” shelter spokeswoman Alison Cross wrote in an email Tuesday night. “We are taking the steps to make sure no healthy animals will be euthanized and more animals may be saved.”

OSPCA chairman Rob Godfrey said he and CEO Kate MacDonald will lead an investigation to find out what went wrong and how it can be prevented.

“We fully admit that human error played a role in this. . . . It’s not to say that following protocols in this place would have 100 per cent prevented this, all the information we’re getting from the vet is that it is vicious.”

[smokey the elder]

6 years ago we had a very severe strain of upper respiratory go through our cats in my rescue group. There were many fewer animals, but with aggressive treatment they all survived. Ringworm spores exist in the environment; maybe a strong mutant strain erupted that was hard to treat. Sometimes things happen that people can't control; I'm glad they are able to save at least some of the animals.

[Catty1]

ste - apparently it was a particularly virulent strain...they had spent at least a month trying to get it under control.

We'll see what today brings.