Humane Insider - February 2023

FEATURED ARTICLES

Honouring Black History Month

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Celebrate a Love Like No Other This Valentine’s Day

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Join us for Cake My Day – A Sweet Fundraiser That Helps Animals in Need

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Toronto Humane Society in the News

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Appreciating our Marketing, Communications and Fundraising Teams

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Volunteer Updates

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An Update on Building Security

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New Public Training Services and Care Support Group Class for Reactive Dogs

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Community Day Update

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Staff Announcements & Career Opportunities

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Raise Awareness for World Spay in Style

Page 12

Helping Mama Bear and her Pups

Page 13

Upcoming Events

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Honouring Black History Month

February is Black History Month, a time for Canadians to honour and celebrate the diversity, history, and culture of Black people in Canada and to acknowledge the many everyday contributions of Black communities from across the country.

With the theme of “Ours to tell” we are encouraged to engage in open dialogue and commit to learning more about the stories of history, successes, sacrifices and triumphs within the Black communities across Canada.

As we commemorate Black History Month, we also reiterate our commitment to address and remove racial inequities and barriers within our organization. Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) team, in collaboration with members of our DEI Council, is working on implementing our first DEI strategic plan with the goal of fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging, especially for our staff members, volunteers, foster parents, donors, and clients who belong to underrepresented and equity-deserving groups

During Black History Month, as we pay tribute to Black Canadians and their immense contributions to the development of this nation, let’s also renew our commitment to learn, reflect, and advocate against anti-Black racism not just during the month of February but always

Research Resources:

February is Black History Month - Canada.ca

Toronto Public Library’s list of BHM-themed events, podcasts, and readings lists

Compiled Documents from The National Film Board of Canada

Ontario Black History Society

City of Toronto

Celebrate a Love Like No Other This Valentine’s Day

Who makes the best valentine? Hint: they have four legs, they’re waiting to get adopted, and they have lots of love to give.

Even after just a few minutes of gently petting a cat, taking a dog for a brisk walk, or sitting patiently waiting for a bunny to approach you, we know first-hand that an animal's love is like no other.

This Valentine’s Day, join us in celebrating a love like no other by sending an animal in our care a Valentine’s Day Goodie Gram!

Full of their favourite treats, a toy, or a Valentine’s Day card, these gifts of love will not only make their day, but it will also remind them that they are truly loved by people out there.

Funds from Goodie Grams will also go towards supporting all the animals in our care, as well as programs and services aimed at strengthening the human-animal bond and keeping pets at home where they belong

In return for helping us spread the love, you’ll receive a personalized love letter written by a pet that you helped feel loved this Valentine’s Day, as well as a video of the pets in our care enjoying their Goodie Grams.

More than a favourite treat, new toy, or something to snuggle up with – Goodie Grams is a simple way to support animals and share the special kind of love they bring with the community.

Send an animal a Valentine’s Day Goodie Gram

Join us for Cake My Day – A Sweet Fundraiser That Helps Animals in Need

Cake My Day presented by Tom&Sawyer is one of the sweetest fundraisers that supports Toronto Humane Society! Animal lovers from across the GTA come together to raise money and spread awareness to help animals in need

This year, the day falls on Saturday, February 25th, 2023, but we’ll be fundraising all month long!

Start your Own Fundraising Page

Whether you are bringing cupcakes to school, sharing baked treats with your colleagues, or having a bake off with your group of friends, every cupcake, slice of cake, and donut sold helps raise money for animals in need. We encourage you to create your own fundraising page and track the progress of your fundraiser. Plus, we have adorable posters of the pets in our care with cupcakes and donuts that you can share to help raise awareness

Don’t forget to tag us on all your social media posts using #CakeMyDay – we want to see all your creations!

Indulge in Baked Goodies from Our Bake Sale

Check out the list below of local bakeries that will be contributing baked goodies to our in-person bake sale on Saturday, February 25th at 11 River Street in Toronto. Just imagine all this deliciousness under one roof!

Bobette and Belle Frenchie’s Doughnuts

6ixdonutz

Sweet Serendipity

Tori’s Bakeshop

Briar Patch

We’d like to give a special shout-out to volunteer Dominique Hueniken for capturing and editing all the adorable photos for Cake My Day! It was a sweet and messy day full of cupcake icing, sprinkles, and wet puppy kisses.

Toronto Humane Society in the News

With over 90 million impressions, December was a buzzing month for Toronto Humane Society, in the news! Media outlets continued to share updates on our break-in, we shared a spotlight on a sweet pit bull that needed a foster home, and added our voice to the discussion around the effects of pet surrenders and the importance of pet insurance. Here’s a greater look into Toronto Humane Society in the media during the month of December

Toronto Humane Society raises $100K to cover repairs, stolen van after break-in this week

The Toronto Star reported on our CEO’s letter to the community thanking them for their generosity. After two individuals broke into our facility, stole our van, and left some damages, our community rallied together to raise over $100,000 to repair and replace what we lost

Current State of Challenges for Pet Parents

In a CBC Radio One interview, Melissa Shupak, Toronto Humane Society’s Division Manager of Shelter Programs, discussed factors effecting pet surrenders and the current challenges pet owners face, such as inflation and access to pet care.

Importance of Pet Insurance

Hannah Sotropa, Assistant Manager of Communications, discussed the importance of having pet insurance and the effects of pet surrenders on the behaviour of animals on CTV Toronto.

Other Media Hits:

Pet of the Week: Victor - The New Classical FM

More than $100K raised for stolen Toronto

Humane Society van | CP24.com

Police trying to ID men after Toronto Humane Society van stolen | Durham Radio News

Donations reach $100k after thieves steal

Toronto Humane Society van | Toronto Sun

FOREVER FRIEND: Goldie needs home without 'too much hustle and bustle' | Toronto Sun

Four 'long stays' at Toronto Humane Society need home for holidays | Toronto Sun

Pet Profile: Bugsy and Greywind – Global News

Mogwai Adoption Feature - Toronto Guardian

Dexter Adoption Feature - Toronto Guardian

Benji Adoption Feature - Toronto Guardian

Pet of the Week: Ty - The New Classical FM

December Media Stats:

Mentions: 108

Impressions: 93,226,250

Appreciating our Marketing, Communications and Fundraising Teams

This month we’re celebrating our Marketing, Communication and Fundraising Staff! Although they serve as two separate functions, they work as an integrated team and very closely together

What does Fundraising Do?

The Fundraising team is small but mighty, with several different areas of focus when it comes to driving donations and building relationships with our stakeholders – or people who are interested and invested in what we do. Areas of focus range from events to corporate giving, to monthly giving, to grant writing and so much more

Whether their role focuses on storytelling, data collection and analytics, or keeping stakeholders engaged, their focus is making sure that donations keep coming in so that we can continue to support the animals and community members who need us. Fundraising, like Marketing and Communications, is also responsible for communicating the compelling work we do each day with our stakeholders in such a way that compels them to donate.

What does Marketing & Communications Do?

Every effort that involves generating awareness and communicating information involves the Marketing and Communications team.

Areas of focus range from community engagement, delivery of missions and strategic priorities, elevation of our brand, raising awareness of our causes, promotion of our programs, services, and events – and the list goes on

Because we’re a charitable organization, we engage diverse groups of interested parties with different communication tools Whether that’s communicating through our weekly newsletter “Scratching Post”, creating and posting engaging social media content on multiple platforms, designing posters that hang on the walls of our facility, or contributing to animal welfare discussions in the media, the Marketing and Communications team works diligently to amplify our mission to reach as many people as possible

As an integrated team with a variety of different skills, talent, and knowledge, the Marketing, Communications and Fundraising teams are at the forefront of our storytelling When animals receive life-changing care, when advocacy messages are shared, and lives are changed for the better, these teams are there to show the world what makes Toronto Humane Society like no other

Volunteer Updates

Thank you, volunteers, for contributing over 1850 hours in January!

We’re excited to share that two new teams of volunteers will be introduced during the month of February The first team will support client services as Visit Service Agents They will help direct clients entering the building to the appropriate services and assist with the public flow.

The second team includes Experience Day Facilitators who will lead informative and interactive sessions with corporate groups who would like to volunteer as part of a team building activity We are looking forward to working with these new teams of volunteers!

Volunteer Anniversaries

Please join us in celebrating volunteers who are reaching a milestone anniversary this month!

Thank you for all your hard work and continued dedication!

3 Years:

Melissa B, Canine and Special Species Care

Karen L, Canine Care

Robert L, Canine Care and Fundraising Events

Ann N, Canine Care

Kristy S, Canine and Feline Care

Available Volunteer Opportunities On Call Volunteer Drivers

We are looking for volunteers to sign-up to be oncall drivers for both our Foster and Clinic Teams

The Volunteer Driver will work within these teams by driving Toronto Humane Society vehicles for various pick-ups and deliveries, bringing animals to and from appointments, and/or delivering supplies to Foster Parents This volunteer role is on-call and volunteers will be contacted when we have a need for drivers. The Volunteer Drivers will possess an Ontario G license, carry their own insurance, and have a clear 3-year driver’s abstract

Volunteer Spotlight of the Month

We are so grateful for all our volunteers; we rely heavily on your support to meet our operational needs. We want to take time once a month to extend our thanks to a volunteer who has had a positive impact on furthering our mission of improving the lives of animals.

This month we would like to shine spotlight Judy T!

Judy is one of our most dedicated Feline Care volunteers with Toronto Humane Society She has volunteered for over 7 years and has contributed over 700 hours! You can find Judy most Monday mornings second floor providing lots of love to all the cats we have onsite. Anyone who has met her would quickly tell you that she is a wonderful, kind person and great to talk to. We are so fortunate to have this incredible woman as part of our team. Please join us in celebrating Judy this month!

Upcoming Events in February

Education Series: Ways to Engage with Toronto

Humane Society

Date: February 28, 6pm - 7pm

Location: Virtual over Zoom

Have you ever been curious about how you could help advocate for Toronto Humane Society and further our mission? Join members of our Marketing & Communications and Fundraising teams to learn about ways you can be more involved with our cause.

Date: February 28, 6pm - 7pm

Location: Virtual over Zoom

Registration: Please sign up to attend meeting via Zoom

An Update on Building Security

We received funds from our generous animal-loving community after our break-in in November 2022 to upgrade our security system, and we did

First, all door hardware was updated, and now our Facility Team is in the midst of installing a new security system with an alarm system that monitors the exterior doors. The alarm system is monitored by a third-party company that will notify police in the event of a break-in The system features audible sirens and keypads that will notify anyone in the building of a break-in, and at which door, if a break-in were to occur.

We hope that these updated security measures will continue to make everyone feel safe in our building

Leash reactivity is one of the most common behavioral complaints pet parents are hoping to resolve when they engage with us for behaviour and training solutions We’re answering their call for assistance by launching Small Group Classes for Reactive Dogs in February

What is Reactivity and Why is it so Common?

Reactivity can simply be explained as a dog’s reaction to a specific stimuli or trigger It can look different for many dogs, but usually reactivity leads dogs to start barking, growling, lunging, or jumping up when they see a specific trigger. We most commonly see this kind of reactivity towards other dogs, but we may also see it towards people, squirrels (and other wildlife), vehicles, skateboards, etc. All dogs have different triggers and react in different ways

Dog reactivity is very common, especially in a busy

city like Toronto. We may see a dog react this way to certain triggers for various reasons, including fear, a desire to chase, or most commonly, frustration Often, when a dog is reactive on leash towards other dogs, they want to be able to greet the other dog but since they are restricted by the leash, they become frustrated and will lunge or bark towards the other dog This happens even with dogs who may be friendly with other dogs if they are able to greet on or off the leash, however the frustration can very easily escalate

How Do We Treat Reactivity?

Training and behavior modification solutions to alleviate leash reactivity combine both changing the dog’s conditioned response to the sight of the trigger that causes them frustration or fear, along with a careful plan to teach the dog alternative behaviours to lunging and barking.

Many of our staff and volunteers are familiar with the engage and disengage training protocol which essentially incorporates both operant conditioning and classical counter condition as explained above.

Once the dog has some essential replacement behaviours trained, we then practice those behaviours in the presence of other dogs, ensuring that adequate space is left between the dogs, so they don’t escalate over threshold This kind of training takes a lot of skill to ensure each dog feels comfortable and safe, and thanks to our wonderful 5x5’ barriers and a carefully thought out classroom set up, we are delighted to be able to introduce this group class to help the dogs in our community feel comfortable and gain new skills in a safe and controlled environment where triggers are present but at an intensity that will not cause undue stress

Can Dogs Who Display Aggression Both on and off Leash Attend?

The safety of all the dogs and pet parents in our classes is of paramount importance Our Reactive Dog group class is intended for dogs who display reactivity on leash but are otherwise generally fine with other dogs or people when they are off leash.

To ensure all participants enjoy the class and experience good welfare, dogs with more complex behavior that culminates in aggression both on and off leash are encouraged to work through a Private Behaviour Consultation and Training Support package and then progress to a group class only on their trainer’s recommendation.

We are very excited to launch this class Our first cohort begins Saturday, February 11th and will run for four weeks Interested pet parents can book this class or one of our many other services on our self serve booking page.

On January 28th, 2023, we hosted our first Community Day event of the year Although it was a chilly day, we were happy to see the many smiling faces of our community members as they gathered to collect pet essentials and accessories.

Here is a recap of the items we were able to share with our community members.

We’d like to extend a special thank you to the staff and volunteers who assisted with the event! Thanks to you, the event ran smoothly, and many community members received much needed support.

Staff Announcements & Career Opportunities

Staff Announcements

Toronto Humane Society is continually growing! Here is a list of new staff members that joined our team in January.

Alex Focken – Veterinarian, Shelter Care

Erin Hayes – Veterinarian, Public Veterinary Service

Sydney Vella Albrecht – Animal Care Worker

Emma Calhoun – Animal Care Worker

We've also had some members move into different roles.

Dillon Dodson - Senior Manager, Social Work

And a special congratulations to Andreia Duarte who is now a Registered Veterinary Technician!

Career Opportunities

Toronto Humane Society is committed to promoting the humane care and protection of all animals and to prevent cruelty and suffering. Our team of talented, dedicated staff work to support this mission

If you are interested in joining our dedicated team please forward your resume to our Human Resource Department via email at hiring@torontohumanesocietycom

Current Job Openings:

Data Analyst-Veterinary Medical Informatics

Raise Awareness for World Spay in Style

World Spay Day, on February 28th, 2023, is a day committed to promoting awareness and encouraging pet parents to have their female animals spayed as well as neutering their male pets to keep the pet population under control This year, with the release of our new spay and neuter retail line, we’re conveying our message in style.

Benefits of Spaying and Neutering Pets

Did you know that a female dog can become pregnant as early as 6 months of age and a female cat as early as 4 months? Each year unwanted litters of puppies and kittens create thousands of homeless pets Spaying and neutering pets can help manage the overpopulation pet crisis.

There are also personal benefits pet parents can gain by spaying or neutering their pets – such as protection against certain illnesses. Intact female cats and dogs have a greater chance of developing pyometra (a potentially fatal uterine infection) and uterine, mammary gland and other cancers of the reproductive system Neutering

male pets eliminates their risk of testicular cancer and minimize the possibility of developing benign prostatic hyperplasia which can affect the ability to defecate

Spaying and neutering pets also helps curve their urge to roam Roaming can expose them to fights with other animals, injuries and infections, trauma from car accidents, and other accidental mishaps. Additionally, spaying your pet will help to alleviate in-heat behaviours such as yowling orvocalizing, spraying, and certain types of aggressive behaviour

Raise Awareness with Toronto Humane Society’s New Spay and Neuter Advocacy Line

During World Spay day, and every day, help spread the word about the importance of spaying and neutering your pet with three different t-shirt designs from our latest advocacy line.

Helping Mama Bear and her Pups

Bear, a 1-year-old husky mix, was already approximately 1-month pregnant when she was transferred into our care from a remote community in Ontario Our Foster team immediately started to look for a foster family that would help Bear comfortably bring her babies into the world, but after a month of searching, we were out of luck

We took the plea to social media and Bear was matched with a foster family. But, two days before her move-in date, Bear gave birth to 5 healthy puppies

Grizzly, Sun, Pizzly, Kodak and Spirit were born and placed into foster care. We are happy to report they are growing healthy and happy thanks to the support of their foster family “So far, this has been such an amazing experience for us and such a beautiful thing to just observe,” they shared with the Foster team. “Bear is getting comfortable in the house, and really doing well We love her so much”

They love her so much, that they’ve decided to adopt Bear once her puppies are weaned and old enough to move into their own forever homes

Thank you to everyone who supported mama Bear and her puppies’ journey towards a healthy and happy life!

Upcoming Events

Black History Month

Black History Month in Canada celebrates the immense contributions Black Canadians have made to the growth and development of the country

Tu BiShvat

February 5th – February 6th

Commonly known as the ‘New Year of the Trees’, Tu Bishvat is marked on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Shevat.

Valentine’s Day

February 14th

Valentine's Day originated as a Christian feast day to celebrate two Saints named St. Valentine. It is now also a day to celebrate love and romance across the world

Maha Shivaratri

February 18th

One of the most important days in India’s spiritual calendar to honour and celebrate Lord Shiva

Family Day

February 20th

This is a new holiday in Ontario with very few common traditions Many Ontarians choose to use this day to spend time with loved ones.

World Day of Social Justice

February 20th

This day aims to bring awareness to how social justice affects poverty eradication It also places importance on the global issues of poverty, social and economic exclusion or unemployment.

Pink Shirt Day

February 22nd

This day brings awareness to the negative impacts bullying has on individuals. It focuses on the benefits of treating each other with kindness and respects

Ash Wednesday

February 22nd

Ash Wednesday is a Christian holy day of prayer and fasting Many Christians mark this day by making a Lenten sacrifice that they will not partake in until Easter. This day is also celebrated by having ashes placed in a cross shape on the forehead

Click here to read more dates that we are acknowledging this month.