TORONTO SUN (Ontario) 18 August 06 133 pets found in filth at shop - Humane society now bursting (Vivian Song)
Investigators recoiled this week when they walked into an abandoned west-end Toronto pet store and were assaulted with the "unbearable" stench of feces, distressed, screaming birds and dead, caged animals.
On Wednesday, the Toronto Humane Society went to the Everything Under the Sun shop at Bloor and Dufferin Sts. after receiving a call from a concerned citizen.
Inside investigators were met with free-hopping bunnies, swarms of flies, a dead bird and dead rat.
But the strangest sight of all was a king snake housed in the same cage as birds, THS spokesman Lynda Elmy said.
"Those poor things must have been petrified," she said, describing the sound of distressed birds as deafening.
"I can't imagine how petrified those birds must have been with a predator in the same cage."
The abandoned animals were filthy, hungry and dehydrated, and sitting in mounds of feces.
Investigators seized 58 domestic animals including rabbits, hamsters and rats, two birds, 34 reptiles, two dogs and seven kittens.
The society rescued 133 animals in total and is now "bursting at the seams" Elmy said, with hundreds of cages lining every inch of floor and shelf space available.
The pet store appeared to be closed for the past three days and has been the subject of public complaints in the past when it was under a different name, Elmy said.
The shelter now has 450 cats, 90 dogs, and 200 small domestic animals like birds and reptiles, forcing the society to describe its predicament as "situation critical."
"We're very desperate ... (for the public) to adopt animals in their homes and free up space," she said.
The THS will be hosting an "Open Your Heart Adopt-a-thon" from today until Sunday, asking the public to welcome hundreds of waiting animals into their homes.
None of the seized animals will be up for adoption because of an investigation. Criminal charges are pending against the store owner.
The society will waive adoption fees and include vaccinations, six weeks of pet insurance, a microchip ID implant, discount coupon for pet food, and a pet care information booklet.
The shelter at 11 River St. is open 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. today, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. tomorrow and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.
http://torontosun.com/News/TorontoAndGTA/2006/08/18/1763009-sun.html
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CBC (Torono, Ontario) 18 August 06 133 animals rescued from abandoned pet store
An investigation is underway following the rescue of 133 dehydrated and hungry animals abandoned at a pet store in the city's west end.
On Wednesday, police and the Toronto Humane Society went to the Everything Under the Sun shop at Bloor and Dufferin St. after receiving a call from a concerned citizen.
The store appeared closed and unattended for at least three days, according to investigators.
Inside, they said they discovered abandoned animals that were filthy, hungry, dehydrated and sitting in mounds of feces.
"The smell apparently was horrific, feces everywhere, flies buzzing everywhere," said Lynda Elmy, a spokesperson for the humane society. "It was determined that the animals were not being cared for in the proper sense and so we determined that we would seize them."
Investigators seized 58 small domestic animals including rabbits, hamsters and rats as well as 32 birds, 34 reptiles, two dogs and seven kittens — 133 in total. The animals are now in the care of the humane society.
Elmy says looking after these animals is difficult since the society is already crowded with 450 cats and almost 100 dogs.
"The society is bursting at the seams," said Elmy. "There aren't any more cages available for the lost or abandoned animals that arrive daily. The situation is critical."
Starting this Friday and continuing through the weekend, the society is holding an adopt-a-thon to try to find homes for its animals.
The rescued pet shop animals will not be available for adoption until an investigation into the incident is completed.
No charges have been laid in the case.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2006/08/18/animals-rescue.html
