Toronto Humane Society could face more charges even as adoptions begin again

At least half a dozen animals were adopted from the Toronto Humane Society on Monday but the fate of some 800 more remained in limbo as the embattled shelter opened its doors after being shuttered amid allegations of animal cruelty.

A steady flow of people to the shelter, which the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals called a “house of horrors” following the Nov. 26 raid, saw seven adoptions completed by late Monday afternoon, said OSPCA Insp. Kevin Strooband.

While 150 animals – 25 dogs and 125 cats – have been deemed fit enough for adoption another 800 aren’t ready for new homes, Strooband said. Those animals had yet to be deemed healthy enough to go to new homes by the OSPCA, which is in now charge of animal care at the facility.

Strooband would not elaborate on their futures, but did say he did not think many would be euthanized.

The OSPCA raid saw five senior staffers arrested, including former president Tim Trow, on a number of charges, including animal cruelty.

Strooband laid the original charges and said there may be more to come.

“There are a number of cases that are of concern to me as an inspector, and those are the ones that we would be focusing on,” he said.

Those involve both the live animals and 25 that had to be euthanized, he added.

The OSPCA will scour veterinary records to see if there is evidence the animals were subjected to pain, suffering, injury or distress to support charges under the federal criminal code or provincial law.

“We’re going to focus on cases of mistreatments, or of animals where they hadn’t been seen by a vet for months and … talk to a veterinarian about what happened in their professional opinion to these animals and then if the evidence supports a charge, then lay further charges,” he said.

Most of the 20 to 25 Humane Society staff and 15 board members that had been banned from the premises by the OSPCA during its investigation were back at work. A court ruling just before Christmas ordered those not charged with crimes be allowed back in the shelter. They perform administrative and fundraising activities, as well as responding to calls from members and donors.

The five humane society officials charged with animal cruelty, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence of animal cruelty, and obstructing a peace officer are still barred from the premises. They include Trow and four senior employees.

The OSPCA has asked the court to remove the board of directors and appoint a receiver to oversee its applications.

Humane society officials have filed a court action accusing the OSPCA of defamation, trespass and negligent investigation.

The humane society’s current president, Bob Hambley, has called the situation at the shelter an “unending occupation.”

Strooband said the atmosphere between the OSPCA and society officials is cordial.

“We’ve been getting along great with the staff for five weeks already,” he said, adding that nothing has changed since the banned employees and board members returned.

And both sides in the dispute characterized Monday as a positive day.

Ian McConachie, spokesman for the Toronto Humane Society, was happy to see the 150 animals made available for adoption.

“The shelter is… meant to be a refuge for these animals when they’re going through a transition in their lives … to a new home and we always try to move the animals through as quickly as possible,” McConachie said.

“These animals haven’t had the opportunity for about five weeks now to be adopted so … to give them an opportunity and to be open for adoptions is a very positive step for the Toronto Humane Society.”

Strooband said he was “happy that we can open for adoptions today because that’s what we want to do, is get these animals out of this building and into a better place.”