Congratulations to the City of Toronto!

Jacqui and I attended the official opening of the City's new spay / neuter clinic last night. How wonderful it was to see everyone's hard work for the animals paying off. The clinic is just opening its doors this month and will be available for their own adoptable animals (from their 4 Toronto Animal Services locations). A fantastic new service is the offer of free spays/neuters for feral kitties. It has been a lot of work and organization - well done everyone involved!!!


Aside from a few kinks that need to be ironed out, the clinic is well on its way to making Toronto's ferals happier, healthier kitties - yay!


Feral cat caregivers can take advantage of traps loaned out by the City to catch ferals for sterilization. All the necessary information and forms will soon be available through Toronto Animal Services' website. In the mean time, caregivers who wish to use the program will need to register the colony and take a TNR workshop (see below for details). Caregivers can contact the Toronto Animal Services clerk at 416-338-6281 for a sterilization appointment upon completion of the workshop.


With this new service and a push for more responsible pet ownership through licensing, Toronto is well on its way to becoming a model city, like Calgary.


A big 'Thank you' too to everyone who contacted us about the beagles at the University of Guelph. Adoption applications are being reviewed and interviews are being set up. The University should have no trouble finding 10 suitable homes for the girls. Additional dogs will be available soon, so if anyone is still interested in adopting a research animals, please give them a call. The person to call at the University's Central Animal Facility is Annette Morrison, one of the animal care technicians. She is responsible for adoptions and can tell you about the other dogs they have.

Annette Morrison
1-519-824-4120 ext: 54308

Alternatively, we have 4 beagles currently waiting to come into the Project Jessie program who would love to go straight into new homes.

We also have 4 cats that will be coming out of the same Guelph VSTEP program towards the end of August. If you are looking to adopt a pair of these cats, please let us know.

Tail wags,
Lia and the AAC crew

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TNR and Feral Care Workshop
Toronto (East York), Saturday, August 21st

Dear Colony Caretakers,


The next in our series of workshops on TNR and feral colony care will take place in East York:
Anyone interested in feral cat care and population control is most welcome to attend.

This is the perfect time to plan your spay/neuter project and get cats ready for the season-that-shall-not-be-named.

Trap-Neuter-Return and Feral Colony Management


Date: Saturday, August 21st, 2010
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m
Location: East York Civic Centre, Committee Room A
850 Coxwell Avenue (Coxwell and Mortimer) http://www.toronto.ca/311/assets/PDFs/map_east_york_civic_centre.pdf

Caretakers who would like to access the new Toronto Animal Services clinic for free spays or neuters for ferals must attend a TNR workshop, and register their colony with the Toronto Feral Cat Survey http://www.feraltoronto.com/en/register/.

Workshops are offered monthly in different locations in the city of Toronto.

*Please note that registration for this workshop is by mail only and space is very limited*

Deborah Chalmers
Toronto Feral Cat Project
http://www.feraltoronto.com/

Great News!

For Immediate Release: August 3, 2010

ANIMAL PROTECTION COALITION APPLAUDS INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION OF REPLACEMENT TO CRUEL RABBIT “DRAIZE TEST”

New International Guideline Lauded as Global Standard for Skin Irritation Testing

Toronto––After more than a decade of scientific research and lobbying by animal protection advocates, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) test guidelines programme has approved a new, internationally agreed nonanimal approach for skin irritation testing. The guideline was adopted on July 22 and it is now available for use by companies and governments worldwide.

The OECD guideline allows for the use of three artificial human skin models engineered by SkinEthic in Nic e, France, and MatTek of Ashland, USA, or other methods that meet the guideline’s specifications.

These methods in all but a few circumstances will fully replace the 1940s-era Draize rabbit skin test, which entails the application of a test chemical to the shaved, raw skin on the backs of rabbits.

These new methods, however, provide a humane—and more accurate—assessment of the potential damage a substance poses to human skin. Manufacturers use excess skin cells from surgical procedures to construct a three-dimensional skin model that closely mimics the properties of human skin. Substances are applied to the skin model to assess the potential for skin damage when used in industrial or consumer applications.

As OECD invited experts, the International Council for Animal Protection in OECD Programmes (ICAPO) provided scientific expertise that helped create the new guideline and ensure its acceptance. In addition, ICAPO members have individually lobbied for regional acceptance of in vitro skin irritation tests or provided direct financial support for the rigorous scientific trials that demonstrated the efficacy of one of the new methods.

“The science of safety testing has come a long way since the 1940s,” says Troy Seidle, who represents ICAPO member Animal Alliance of Canada. “By embracing new testing methods based on 21st century science, OECD countries are making a vital statement that the goals of animal, human health, and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive.”

The OECD produces safety-testing guidelines for its 31 member nations, which represent many of the world’s largest economies.

The new guideline is available at http://bit.ly/b2KNYM.

– 30 –

ICAPO comprises 11 animal protection organisations from North America, Europe and Asia for a combined representation of over 20 million citizens, and is dedicated to the replacement, reduction, and refinement of animals in OECD guidelines and other programs. Online at ICAPO.org.

On Behalf of the Guelph Beagles, Thank You!

There has been a tremendous outpouring of support for the little beagles from the VSTEP programme in Guelph. We have been in touch with a number of people who sound like ideal adoptive families, so many that we are confident the staff at the Central Animal Facility (CAF) will be able to find homes for them all. We hear from potential adopters that CAF staff have responded promptly to phone calls. They will screen applicants and arrange for interviews. We want to thank the CAF staff for making sure the beagles find loving, permanent homes.

If anyone is still interested in adopting an animal from the University, please feel free to call CAF Animal Care Technician Annette Morrison at 1-519-824-4120 ext: 54308 for more information. There are other animals who are up for adoption and are in need of a second chance.

The University has made significant advances by no longer purchasing lost pets from pounds and shelters and by agreeing to recover these 10 beagles. We encourage the University to continue with their progress by ending live terminal surgeries during the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree programme at the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC). We have been contacted by a number of veterinarians who are excited by the prospect of change, not just at VSTEP but at the OVC as well. We all eagerly await the University's decision.

As an aside, if you are in the Guelph area and would like to help, the Central Animal Facility also has a volunteer programme for those interesting in spending time with the animals. To find out more about their dog, cat, rabbit, guinea pig and rat volunteer programs, contact them at 519- 824-4120 Ext. 54311. As well, there are many volunteer opportunities available to you at the OVC Teaching Hospital. For more information visit http://www.ovc.uoguelph.ca/future/dvm/volunteer/

Again, on behalf of the the beagles and from all of us at Animal Alliance, THANK YOU!!!

Liz and the Animal Alliance crew

416-462-9541 ext: 23
liz@animalalliance.ca

University of Guelph Beagles Need Homes!

Beagles at the University of Guelph need our help. Please let us explain the situation.

For the past few months, Animal Alliance has been working to rescue beagles used in the Veterinary Skills Training and Enhancement Program (VSTEP). VSTEP is a program for international vets who want to practice in Ontario. Typically, the beagles are spayed then euthanized. We've said to the manager of VSTEP that the beagles do not have to die, that Animal Alliance can find them loving homes. After a great deal of pressure from us, the beagles are going to be recovered but adopted out only to individuals, not released to Animal Alliance's care.

If you have been thinking about adopting a dog, we have been informed that these beagles are sweet, lovely little girls. There are 10 beagles, all female and approximately one to two years of age. They will likely need lots of love and patience. Most have spent their entire lives in cages and have never walked outside, climbed upstairs or been on a leash. But they are gentle loving animals in need of a permanent loving home.

Please call or e-mail us to learn more about the process and how you can help.

On behalf of the beagles, thank you!!!

Tail wags,
Liz and the Animal Alliance crew

416-462-9541 ext: 23

liz@animalalliance.ca

Hamilton Deer and Toronto Feral Cats

Just a couple quick updates.

The meeting Tuesday night of the Hamilton Deer Committee was mostly concerned with tidying up how the Committee would function and issues that still need to be considered. There was brief discussion about the deer; when the Committee reconvenes in the fall, the deer will be discussed more in depth. Although the Committee will not be meeting for the remainder of the summer, please keep sending in letters and calling the City in support of progressive, non-lethal methods to deal with factors affecting Iroquoia Heights (since there are more complicated factors than simply the deer eating vegetation!).

Yesterday, Liz and I attended a meeting of the Toronto Feral Cat TNR Coalition (more on this to come). Both of us were very excited to see a number of groups working together to address Toronto's feral cat population. This progressive, cooperative initiative is quite unique. A big congratulations to Toronto Animal Services and all the groups involved for working to help the ferals!

Have a good weekend everyone!

Lia and the AAC crew

Hamilton Deer and other stuff

Update Number 1:

For those who have voiced their opposition to Hamilton's consideration of a deer cull at Iroquoia Heights - THANK YOU!

The next Deer Management Advisory Committee meeting is Tuesday July 13, 2010, 7pm, Ancaster Mun. Building, Murray Ferguson Room.

Members of the public are encouraged to review the Committee's Terms of Reference and meeting Minutes. All meetings are open to the public. If you would like to address the Committee, you must contact the Secretary, Shari Faulkenham, to do so.

Click on the following link for more information on Hamilton's Deer Management Advisory Committee.

UPDATE Number 2: from the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition

Canada has its first Bill to ban horse slaughter! A big thank you to NDP MP Alex Atamanenko and horse supporters everywhere for this huge, historical step toward banning horse slaughter in Canada.

Bill C-544, "An Act to amend the Health of Animals Act and the Meat Inspection Act (slaughter of horses for human consumption)", was tabled on June 16, 2010 by MP Alex Atamanenko: http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=4633655&Language=e&Mode=1

Click on the various sub-titles on the left of the document.

On June 16, 2010, a Private Member's Bill to ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption was tabled in Canadian Parliament by MP Alex Atamanenko (NDP Agriculture Critic). The basis of the bill is the fact that horses are not food-producing animals and many are treated with drugs that are prohibited from entering the human food chain.

This bill is a huge step forward in the movement to abolish a cruel, archaic and unnecessary industry, and we applaud Mr. Atamanenko for his monumental initiative.

UPDATE Number 3: from yours truly

Last night, my husband and I brought home Tegan, a Project Jessie cat who has been waiting for a home for nearly a year. Introductions to our two other Project Jessie rescues will be slow but I'm confident everything is going to work out. Poor little Tegan was the last of his litter to find a home - Shelly says that it's quite difficult to find people willing to adopt black cats. But Tegan doesn't have to wait anymore. He's home at last. = )

Hamilton Deer Committee

For those who have voiced their opposition to Hamilton's consideration of a deer cull at Iroquoia Heights - THANK YOU!

The next Deer Management Advisory Committee meeting, which was scheduled for today, has been cancelled. We will be sure to inform you of the next date for those who wish to join us.

Members of the public are encouraged to review the Committee's Terms of Reference and meeting Minutes. All meetings are open to the public. If you would like to address the Committee, you must contact the Secretary, Shari Faulkenham, to do so.

All meetings are held at 310 Wilson St E, Ancaster, unless otherwise indicated.
May 19, 2010 - Meeting Agenda
June 2, 2010 - Meeting Agenda
June 16, 2010 - Meeting at and Tour of Iroquoia Heights Conservation Area
June 30, 2010 - rescheduled
Sept 8, 2010
Oct 6, 2010
Nov 3, 2010

Click on the following link for more information on Hamilton's Deer Management Advisory Committee.

We need to make sure that the City implements a non-lethal approach to the deer. Please call and write the Mayor and Members of Council urging them to implement a non-lethal prevention programme for the deer in Iroquoia Heights and throughout the City of Hamilton.

THANK YOU all again, for being a voice for the animals.

Lia and the AAC crew

****

Mayor Fred Eisenberger and Members of Council
Hamilton City Centre
77 James St. North
P.O.Box 2040, LCD1
Hamilton, ON L8R 2K3

Telephone: 905.546.4200
Fax: 905.546.2340
Email: mayorfred@hamilton.ca