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

**Catty1** · 05-11-2010, 06:50 PM

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

**king2005** · 05-11-2010, 08:56 PM

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** · 05-12-2010, 12:57 AM

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** · 05-12-2010, 09:06 AM

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** · 05-12-2010, 09:20 AM

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.

**king2005** · 05-12-2010, 02:55 PM

I'm glad 20 might survive this. What about the 6 humans infected? Are they recovering?

**Catty1** · 05-12-2010, 03:32 PM

They're examining each animal on a case by case basis...so more may be spared.

No word on the humans....but I haven't checked the news in a few hours.

**IRescue452** · 05-19-2010, 01:56 PM

You know what, as soon as they can start taking in more animals, they'll be full up again in no time. People only care when news like this happens, and that quickly goes away. Its not the shelter's fault they have so many animals to treat to begin with and thus such a small skin issue grew to such proportions. I feel bad for them for all of the mudslinging. Shelters don't HAVE to take on other people problems (unwanted aminals). Nobody HAS to take the responsibility of all of these unwanted animals except the owners. Shelters VOLUNTEER to try to do what's right for the animals, and then they get the full blame when the animals must be put down. At least somebody tried in a world where most people don't care enough to do anything significant about pet overpopulation. If just for one day, all unwanted pets were to be humanely put out of there misery, they'd be replaced by the next morning. What's going to happen to the pets who were saved? Back to their cages for more of their lifetime to be spent wasting away?

**king2005** · 05-19-2010, 04:28 PM

Originally Posted by IRescue452

You know what, as soon as they can start taking in more animals, they'll be full up again in no time. People only care when news like this happens, and that quickly goes away. Its not the shelter's fault they have so many animals to treat to begin with and thus such a small skin issue grew to such proportions. I feel bad for them for all of the mudslinging. Shelters don't HAVE to take on other people problems (unwanted aminals). Nobody HAS to take the responsibility of all of these unwanted animals except the owners. Shelters VOLUNTEER to try to do what's right for the animals, and then they get the full blame when the animals must be put down. At least somebody tried in a world where most people don't care enough to do anything significant about pet overpopulation. If just for one day, all unwanted pets were to be humanely put out of there misery, they'd be replaced by the next morning. What's going to happen to the pets who were saved? Back to their cages for more of their lifetime to be spent wasting away?

+1
They are not a Pet Sanctuary, & People don't realize that.