TORONTO HUMANE SOCIETY
AUGUST 2026
HUMANEINSIDER
Thank You for Paws in the Park - Page 1
Pledge for Paws Wrap Up- Page 2
Meet Mohseen - Page 4
Paws in the Park Appreciation Event. - Page 10
Adrian G. - Page 8
Soba - Page 12
TABLE OF CONTENTS Thank You for Making Paws in the Park a Success Page 1 Pledge for Paws: A Summer of New Beginnings Page 2 Toronto Humane Society in the News: July Media Recap Page 3 Meet the Team: Staff Q&A with Mohseen, Registered Veterinary Technician Page 4,5,6 Staff New Hires, Promotions & Career Opportunities Page 7 Volunteer Updates Page 8,9 Thank You for Joining Our Paws in the Park Appreciation Event Page 10 Adoptable Pet of the Month: Meet Louisa Page 11 Happy Tails presented by Royale: Soba Page 12
Event
Thank You for Making Paws in the Park a Success
Paws in the Park Presented by Amazon was an
Adoption is the result of many people working
incredible day—and it would not have been
together—from the foster parent who provided a
possible without the dedication, energy and heart
safe place to land, to the staff and volunteers who
of our Toronto Humane Society community.
helped
Thank you to every staff member, volunteer and
connection possible.
prepare,
promote
and
make
that
foster parent who helped make the event happen. We are so grateful for the time, compassion, and From caring for animals and supporting the
teamwork you brought to Paws in the Park.
Adoption
parents,
Whether you were there on event day, helped
answering questions, helping with activities and
behind the scenes, fostered an animal who
keeping everything running smoothly, you each
attended, or supported the event in another way,
played an important role.
you helped make a difference for animals and the
Fair
to
welcoming
pet
people who love them. And most importantly, your support helped create new beginnings for animals in our care. Our
Thank you for showing what our community can
Adoption Fair connected adoptable pets with
accomplish when we come together for animals.
families throughout the day, giving animals the opportunity to find loving homes and begin their next chapters. From Friday, August 14 to Sunday, August 16, 49 animals were adopted, and 22 were placed on hold. August 2026 - Humane Insider
Campaign
Pledge for Paws: A Summer of New Beginnings
Our Pledge for Paws campaign was a tremendous
Donation Incentives Are on Their Way
success, raising more than $80,000 to support
If you donated to Pledge for Paws and selected a
animals and families at Toronto Humane Society
gift incentive, keep an eye on your mailbox! Your
—surpassing our campaign goal.
Pledge for Paws pin, tote and/or team T-shirt will be making its way to you soon, featuring the team
The campaign brought together our community,
you pledged to support.
generous donors, and corporate partners around one shared goal: creating new beginnings for
From fundraising to the Blue Jays partnership,
animals
our
Pledge for Paws showed what is possible when our
partnership with the Toronto Blue Jays, which
community comes together. Every donation helps
helped bring the campaign to an even wider
provide care, resources and opportunities for
audience and gave our adoptable puppies an
animals—and helps us continue creating new
unforgettable day at the ballpark.
beginnings, one pet at a time.
We are incredibly grateful to Mark Shapiro,
Thank you to everyone who pledged, donated,
President & CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays, and the
shared, volunteered and helped make Pledge
entire Blue Jays organization for welcoming
for Paws such a success!
in
need.
A
key
highlight
was
Toronto Humane Society to the ballpark and helping shine a spotlight on the animals who need our community's support. Page 2
In the News
Toronto Humane Society in the News: July Media Recap
July was another strong month for Toronto
Dr. Karen Ward, Chief Veterinary Officer, also
Humane Society in the media, with 274 mentions
provided expert guidance to CP24 on protecting
reaching an estimated 150.4 million impressions.
pets from wildfire smoke, helping pet parents understand how to limit exposure and recognize
Our team continued to be a trusted source for
potential respiratory concerns.
timely, practical information to help pet parents keep their animals safe, while our adoptable pets
Helping Pets Find Homes
also received valuable exposure through local and
Our adoptable animals also had a strong presence
national media.
in the media throughout July, with Cute as a Button, Zola, Polo, and Kessie among the pets featured in news coverage.
Keeping Pets Safe Lucas
Solowey,
Public
Relations
Manager,
appeared on Global News around Canada Day to
These stories are an important part of our adoption
share fireworks safety tips, reminding pet parents
efforts, helping introduce animals in our care to
to keep animals indoors, create a quiet and
new audiences and, ultimately, helping more pets
comfortable
find the families they deserve.
space,
and
ensure
identification
information is up to date. As temperatures rose across the GTA, Lucas also joined Global News to share tips for keeping pets safe and cool during extreme heat, including walking dogs during cooler parts of the day, avoiding
hot
pavement
comfortable indoors.
August 2026 - Humane Insider
and
keeping
pets
Staff Updates
Meet the Team: Staff Q&A with Mohseen, Registered Veterinary Technician
Tell us about your role at Toronto Humane
What inspired you to work in animal welfare?
Society! What do you do, and what do you love
Almost a decade after opening Good Rebel with
most about it?
my partner Mercedes, with the intent of reducing
My role at Toronto Humane Society is that of a
animal exploitation and suffering, the opportunity
Registered
Veterinary
under
to become a veterinary technician and help
Community
Medicine,
Public
animals in another way was too motivating to pass
provides
up. My inspiration started in Cuba, supporting vets
veterinary care to the public, with a particular
and animal protectors who were caring for stray
focus on spay/neuter services, vaccines, and
and abandoned animals, and doing everything
parasite prevention. Knowing that I’m making a
they could with very limited resources. Witnessing
difference in the lives of animals and the people
how
who love them, as well as seeing the passion and
campaigns were made me strive to be able to
dedication from every member of our THS team all
contribute to these campaigns and ultimately
working towards the goal of enhancing animal
become a tech!
Veterinary
Services
Technician specifically
arm.
Our
our
team
necessary
and
effective
sterilization
welfare are the things I love most about being here.
Page 4
Staff Updates Do you have any pets at home? Tell us about
What’s a memorable or heartwarming moment
them!
you’ve experienced while working here?
I have 3 cats and 1 dog (soon to be 2!). Monty, 12, a
There are many moments that are heartwarming
stray who followed me home one night many
and make the days fulfilling and rewarding.
years ago. Habeeb, 7, who we found in the street at night in Havana and became our first rescue from
Although
Cuba. Pilla, 6, also from Havana, was orphaned as a
surgeries, we also often will do more critical
kitten after her mother was killed by a dog, and
surgeries such as pyometras, and seeing the relief
was fortunate to be saved by a volunteer at one of
and gratitude from the animal guardians and
the only cat refuges in Cuba. Tilly, 10, our rescue
hearing about the positive changes post-op to the
Jack-huahua,
animal’s well-being is always amazing.
a
stray
from
Georgina
Animal
we
mainly
do
routine
spay/neuter
Services who I met in my final year at Seneca. And we will soon be welcoming Kevin, 12, another
While some of the most rewarding and interesting
chihuahua mix, also adopted from Seneca, in
moments of my time with THS have been
September. Not quite a zoo, but dangerously (and
experienced during our pop-up clinics and TNR
adorably) close!
nights, the most memorable time while working here was a trip our team took to the Northern communities of Matawa. Working with the First Nations of Nibinamik, Neskantaga and Marten Falls,
with
a
focus
on
population
control,
vaccinations, and preventative medicine, spending 10 days under the Northern lights with an amazing team will be a memory of a lifetime. What’s one fun fact about you that your coworkers might not know? Here’s 3! I am the co-founder and COO of Good Rebel,
Toronto’s
100%
vegan
grocery
store
(celebrating our 10 year anniversary this month!), I play the trumpet (apologies to my cats and neighbours!), and my partner and I are high school sweethearts, celebrating 20 years together this September!!
August 2026 - Humane Insider
Staff Updates
What’s your go-to comfort food or favourite
Rapid-Fire Questions!
local spot to eat? Malaysian or Thai food (always vegan of course!).
Coffee or tea?
Namely Singapore Laksa, Char Khoi Teow or Pad
Coffee. A chai if I’m with my pops.
Kee Mao. Spicy. Local spot(s): Stefano’s, Pai, Tenon Sushi, Sushi Momo. Willing to travel for: Gourmet
Early bird or night owl?
Malaysia.
Night owl. I could sleep till noon every day.
What’s a skill or hobby you have outside of work
Sweet or savory?
that people might not expect?
Sweet. Wait, savoury. Hmmm….context matters!
I am a huge sports fan and actively play a lot of sports (currently a proud ally and member of the
Books or movies?
TGBA!) and water is my happy place. I try to go to
Movies. I love a good book, but a movie is much
our lovely Toronto beaches as much as possible in
lower stakes!
the summer (I recommend Bluffer’s Park or Ward’s Island) and any vacation I go on must
Summer or winter?
include some time near water. Also, I love
Summer. Give me that humidity and the sound of
gardening and have an epic fruit and veggie
those cicadas over the frigid temps any day.
bounty from my garden every year! City life or country life? City life. Country life (cottage life) I would love, but there has to be water nearby. Spicy or mild? Spicy. Always. Reality shows or documentaries? Documentaries. Unless it’s Drag Race. Road trip or plane? Road trip. Or plane. A vacay is a vacay! Board games or video games? Board games. Either way my competitive spirit gets unleashed!
Page 6
Staff Updates
Staff New Hires, Promotions & Career Opportunities
Staff Announcements
Career Opportunities
Toronto Humane Society is continually growing!
Toronto
Here is a list of new staff members who have
Improving the the Lives of Animals. Our team of
joined our team or moved internally.
talented, dedicated staff work to support this
Humane
Society
is
committed
to
mission. If you are interested in joining our New Hires
dedicated team please view current job openings:
Maria Luiza do Valle Pereira Cardoso - Animal Care Worker
Veterinary Assistant - Full Time
Bronwyn Bruzzese - Animal Care Worker
Client Service Agent - Public Veterinary
Kayla Pelletier - Animal Care Worker
Services - Full-Time Animal Care Worker - Full-Time
Promotions
Adoption Agent - Part Time (20 hours/week)
Kelly Johnson - Clinic Manager, Rural
Registered Veterinary Technician - PVS - Full
Veterinary Services
Time
Mehek Rahman - Fundraising Coordinator
Veterinarian -Public Veterinary Services Casual Senior Manager, Animal-Integrated Social Services - Full-Time Registered Veterinary Technician - Public Veterinary Services - Casual Veterinary Care - Veterinary Assistant - Part Time 16 hrs/week
August 2026 - Humane Insider
Volunteer Updates
Volunteer Updates New In-Shelter Puppy Training System
Volunteer Spotlight of the Month
Starting September 1, we’ll be introducing a new
We are so grateful for all our volunteers; we rely
approach to our in-shelter puppy socialization
heavily on your support to meet our operational
program. Instead of following a one-size-fits-all
needs. We want to take time once a month to
age-based training plan, each puppy will now have
extend our thanks to a volunteer who has had a
an individualized socialization plan based on their
positive impact at Toronto Humane Society based
temperament, current needs, and behaviour goals.
on staff/volunteer feedback.
The good news for volunteers is that this makes
This Month we would like to shine a spotlight on
things simpler! All you need to do is read and
Adrian G.!
follow each puppy’s instructions in Shelter Sense, which will be updated weekly by our training
For the past year and a half, Adrian G. has been
team.
making a meaningful impact at Toronto Humane Society, contributing 200 hours of volunteer
If you’d like to learn more about the thinking
service. As a Pet Support Service Agent, Adrian has
behind
Puppy
become an invaluable part of the team, helping
Socialization Manual is available in the binder in
community members and being an all-around
the back hall.
wonderful
the
new
program,
a
new
person.
He
has
also
embraced
opportunities to get involved beyond his regular Thank you for helping us provide every puppy with
role, including serving as a lead volunteer at Paws
the individualized support they need to thrive!
in the Park earlier this month.
August Anniversaries Please join us in celebrating volunteer and foster parents who have reached a milestone anniversary this month! Thank you for all your hard work and continued dedication! 1 Year: Aga B., Foster Parent Rose Q., Foster Parent 3 Years: Benny H., Canine Care and Special Species Care Volunteer Kenneth K., Canine Care Volunteer Jen N., Donor Relations Volunteer Aziz S., Canine Care Volunteer and Foster Parent Page 8
Volunteer Updates
Volunteer Updates For Adrian, volunteering at Toronto Humane
Adrian has also discovered a love for community
Society is deeply personal. He has always been an
events, including Doors Open Toronto and Paws in
animal lover, but his connection to THS began
the Park. While these events can be busy, and
when his previous dog was adopted from the
occasionally a little chaotic, they provide an
organization. “I've seen firsthand the difference
opportunity to connect with the public, answer
that animal welfare organizations can make,”
questions,
Adrian says. His current cat was adopted through
programs and services. “It's incredibly rewarding to
another
further
interact with the community, answer questions,
work
and sometimes even help create connections that
rescue
strengthening
his
organization, appreciation
for
the
shelters and rescues do. “Volunteering at THS felt
and
educate
people
about
THS
lead to an adoption,” Adrian says.
like a meaningful way to give back and support a mission that I personally believe in.”
After 200 hours of volunteering, Adrian has learned that “every person’s situation and every animal’s
Before becoming a volunteer, Adrian primarily
story is unique”. Whether he is helping someone
associated THS with animal adoption and care.
understand the adoption process, connecting a
Since joining the team, he has discovered just how
family with resources through the Pet Food Bank,
extensive the organization’s community support
or supporting an event that brings the community
can be. “It's been eye-opening to learn how much
together, he knows that every interaction can
of a difference these programs make for families,”
make a difference.
he
says.
“It's
reinforced
the
importance
of
community support in animal welfare.” The Pet
Through
Food Bank, in particular, has shown Adrian how
willingness to lend a hand wherever he is needed,
programs that help make pet ownership more
Adrian is helping Toronto Humane Society support
accessible can play an important role in keeping
both ends of the human-animal bond. Thank you
people and their beloved animals together during
so much for all that you do Adrian! Please join us in
challenging times.
celebrating Adrian this month!
August 2026 - Humane Insider
his
dedication,
compassion
and
Events
Thank You for Joining Our Paws in the Park Appreciation Event A big thank you to everyone who joined us on August 18 for our post–Paws in the Park appreciation event! It was wonderful to have our staff, volunteers and foster parents come together to celebrate the incredible work that made the event such a success. And, of course, a special thank you to Sausage Party for keeping everyone well-fed with their delicious hot dogs! We loved having the chance to relax, connect and celebrate everything our community accomplished together. Save the Date: September 29 We’re already looking forward to our next appreciation event on Tuesday, September 29— and this time, we’re switching things up with a brunch theme! More details to come, but for now, save the date. We hope to see you there! Thank you again for everything you do for the animals and families we serve
Page 10
Animal Stories
Adoptable Pet of the Month: Louisa Meet Louisa, a sweet 2-year-old large-breed girl who
has
been
working
hard
to
build
her
confidence and show everyone the affectionate, people-loving dog she is. Louisa arrived at Toronto Humane Society after being surrendered when her family was moving. She had been with them since she was a puppy and was also reported to have a history of skin issues. Since arriving, Louisa has received ongoing medical
and
behavioural
support,
including
treatment to help her manage stress and anxiety in the shelter environment. Louisa also recently underwent a partial tail amputation and has been recovering well. While her medical journey has added another challenge to her time in shelter, she has continued to make progress and show us more of her personality along the way. When Louisa first arrived, the shelter environment
Louisa
is
still
working
on
managing
was overwhelming for her. She was nervous in
excitement
and
stress,
particularly
new situations and could become stressed and
environments and around fast-moving distractions
over-aroused, particularly around her kennel and
like birds and butterflies. She'll need a patient
the activity of the shelter. With time, patience and
family who is willing to continue building her
support from our veterinary, behaviour, care,
confidence and helping her learn at her own pace.
in
her busy
volunteer and foster teams, Louisa has made incredible progress.
Louisa has been through a lot—and she's still showing us just how much love she has to give.
Today, she is often described as sweet, affectionate and people-oriented. Once she settles into her
Could Louisa be your next family member?
surroundings, Louisa enjoys walks and affection from her handlers. She can respond well to verbal
If you or someone you know is looking to adopt,
encouragement, disengage from people and dogs
consider Louisa. She may be the perfect match for
with the right distance and structure, and enjoy
a family ready to give a deserving dog the
enrichment that allows her to engage her natural
patience, structure and love she needs to thrive.
curiosity and playful instincts. Help Louisa find her next chapter. August 2026 - Humane Insider
Animal Stories
Happy Tails presented by Royale: Soba
We’re the new parents of Orpheus; his name is
At night, he is almost able to sleep through the
Soba now. We just want to write this email to give
entire night with us after just two days at home,
you guys a little update about him!
which was really amazing. It showed us just how quickly he was able to adapt to his new
He was definitely the bravest boy! He didn’t show a
environment.
hint of anxiety when he first arrived at his new home. He immediately jumped out of his carrier to explore the bedroom and didn’t skip a single meal we offered him. He’s super energetic and loves to play multiple times a day, so we tried our best to play with him as much as we could, at least three times a day. After playing, he loves napping on our laps while we work.
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