The drama unfolding at the Toronto Humane Society is upsetting on so many levels it’s difficult to know where to begin, so I’ll start with what’s bothering me the most: The fate of a young, long-haired, orange cat I dropped off at the place last spring.
I fell for him the moment we met in the yard of my cottage. He was six months old at most and handsome, with eyes the colour of light amber, curly, white whiskers and a purr that sounded like my car the time the muffler fell off. He was also starving.
I resisted feeding him for two days, hoping he had a home and would go back there. My place is pretty isolated, however, and he was all bones and fur, suggesting he’d been on his own for some time. I named him Nevison after the nearby lane and explained to him he couldn’t stay because I already have Oskar, a big, orange tabby who doesn’t like to share.
Trying to find a safe haven for the little fellow was frustrating work. An area farmer said he already had six cats, most of them dumped in the countryside by irresponsible owners. The animal shelter 100 kilometres down the road was full. The local veterinarian couldn’t help. A woman one township over who sometimes rescues animals had no space left. In desperation I called the Toronto Humane Society.
“Bring him in,” said the woman who answered. So I did. I left Nevison and a donation at the River Street facility last April. I’ve thought about that cat many times since, hoping he was adopted into a good home.
These days, however, I’m hoping he isn’t among the allegedly dehydrated, neglected, sick animals discovered during last week’s raid on the agency’s premises by the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. OSPCA investigators say they found a female cat with front claws so overgrown they curled around into the pads of her paws. Media reports cite leaked documents that suggest the charity has spent $418,609 on lawyers so far this year compared with $276,248 on emergency animal care. The provincial agency that investigates the financial management of charities earlier this summer demanded audited financial statements and other documents.
Humane society officials deny anything is amiss and to date nothing has been proven in court. I’m pleading guilty, however, to the crime of misplaced trust.
