CITY STRIKE MAY EMPERIL ANIMALS
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THS President Tim Trow |
The Toronto Humane Society stands by ready to help citizens during the strike.
"We're here and we'll help. We've have a store of supplies, and we spent the weekend assembling additional cages. We're ready."
Tim Trow
President, Toronto Humane Society
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Ian Robertson
Sun Media
Jun 21, 2009
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Strike not a death sentence for strays, city says
Fears of an increase in stray animals being destroyed if a city-wide strike goes ahead tomorrow are unfounded, officials said yesterday.
Rumours of increased euthanizing by Toronto Animal Services (TAS) managers who would take over duties vacated by staff in the event of a walkout at 12:01 a.m. Monday are "far fetched," spokesman Rishma Govani said.
"That's absolutely not true," chief city spokesman Kevin Sack told the Sun.
A downtown veterinarian alerted the media Friday in an e-mail about the potential for thousands of animals being euthanized unless they are placed with new owners by Monday.
"I know that the workers at Toronto Animal Services are frantic about helping these animals," said the vet, who could not be reached yesterday.
(--continued from home page--) "That's not what's going to happen," Sack said in an interview.
THREE SHELTERS
He said managers at the three city shelters, which will be open 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, "will ensure that animals will be looked after.
"We'll do the best we can," he said. "The city of Toronto is a lover of pets."
TAS responds to calls about wild and stray animals and if workers go on strike, "we'll take a look at the call and determine if it is a health and safety risk, which will be our major priority."
Sack said residents have expressed concerns for animals at Riverdale Zoo, but "it will be closed and management will care for the animals.
"We have plans in place," he said. "It's not as if this hasn't happened before."
As for the largest animal facility, the Toronto Zoo, Sack said its workers are not part of the current negotiations and would "not be affected" by a strike.
Click here to read the entire story online at torontosun.com |
