The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will kill all 350 animals at its Newmarket shelter this week.
OSPCA spokesman Rosaline Ryan told the Sun Monday night that the animals — including 60 dogs — “need to be humanely euthanized,” after ringworm tore through the Woodbine Ave. shelter. Two turtles are the only creatures that won’t be put down, she said.
“The OSPCA is deeply saddened we had to take this action,” Ryan said. “We were left with no other option.”
Ryan said ringworm, which can spread to humans, showed up in the shelter about five weeks ago.
The shelter subsequently was closed.
But despite quarantining the animals, the disease continued to spread, Ryan said, forcing the “depopulation” of the shelter.
“It has reached epidemic proportions,” she said. “It is not controllable.”
While ringworm is not uncommon and is treatable in animals, Ryan said the aggressive disease is “difficult to control” within a shelter.
“It’s tragic when it reaches these proportions,” Ryan said. “It’s shocking and sad.”
A few volunteers gathered outside the shelter Monday night as news of the looming euthanasia plan spread.
“We have offered help,” said Ruth Wozniak, a volunteer at the shelter for 10 years. “A number of animals who are not infected will be euthanized.”
Wozniak said York Regional Police were at the shelter while OSPCA officials spoke with the volunteers.
“Even if they do let us inside, what are we going to do?” she said. “They expect us to understand.
“Surely killing animals is not the answer.”
The OSPCA and the issue of animal euthanasia was front and centre last year when the society raided the Toronto Humane Society. OSPCA investigators along with Toronto Police raided the shelter on Nov. 26, claiming THS was keeping sick animals alive that should have been euthanized. Former THS president Tim Trow and four other senior employees were charged with animal cruelty.
OSPCA investigators accused the THS shelter of being a “house of horrors.”
Hundreds To Die
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What is wrong with the shelters in Toronto? First THS and their house of horrors and now the OSPCA and their heads in the sand. The volunteers were willing to help and not all the animals were infected, so why did they just go ahead and make such a stupid decision? Money. I bet they didn't want to treat the animals. And also fear that they would get in trouble like THS. Now, they'll kill everything in sight rather than risk a complaint. That's what we're reduced to. It's sickening. Poor animals. I'm sure they're gone by now. I'm sure they did this suddenly so no one would have enough time to rally to the defense of these creatures. It boils my blood! Grrrrr!!!
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