No “Mass Euthanasia” Will Happen: OSPCA Chairman
Posted May 13, 2010 10:37 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Heavy backlash has prompted the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) to rethink its strategy to deal with an outbreak of ringworm at its Newmarket shelter.
Earlier this week the agency announced it would have to euthanize all 350 dogs, cats and other small animals in its charge at the York region facility due to an epidemic of the parasitic skin fungus.
That decision sparked outrage and spawned protests outside the Newmarket animal shelter.
On Thursday OSPCA chairman Rob Godfrey announced a “mass euthanasia” wouldn’t happen and said 96 of the animals are in foster homes, adding 95 per cent of those creature had already been fostered before the ringworm problem first emerged in late February.
Another 91 cats and 23 dogs are reportedly set to undergo further testing over the next month at private clinics.
Ninety-nine animals have already been put down upon veterinarians’ advice. Twenty animals have so far been found to be ringworm-free.
The president of the Toronto Humane Society, which has experienced its fair share of problems over allegations of animal cruelty, issued a statement Thursday on the current situation.
“The Toronto Humane Society is deeply disappointed that the Ontario SPCA has killed almost 100 animals and it took three days of vehement protests from animal welfare advocates to stop their plan to euthanize all 350 animals in their shelter,” Bob Hambley said.
“Ringworm is a treatable fungal skin infection and should never be the sole reason for euthanizing an animal.”
Ringworm is treatable, but the OSPCA had said it’s a difficult problem to deal with in the shelter environment. The skin fungus causes raised patches of itchy skin.
The shelter’s manager was fired nearly two weeks ago.
The Newmarket OSPCA has cancelled a planned fundraising walk-a-thon this weekend. Protesters plan to hold a funeral march in its place.
