12 Strays of Christmas

If you want to get a pet for someone -- or for yourself -- for Christmas, consider participating in the 12 Strays of Christmas Animal Services event,which runs until December 23rd.
However, I would urge you to investigate the realities of owning pets -- and the responsibilities -- prior to taking the plunge. Having said that, there's no doubt that the right pet can enrich your life enormously!
Cheers,
Vanessa
(who is fervently hoping that the forecast rain actually turns out to be snow)

"December 12, 2012           

Toronto Animal Services presents the 12 Strays of Christmas

Today is the first day of the 12 Strays of Christmas - an animal adoption event the City of Toronto's Animal Services is presenting to heighten awareness of the adoptable animals available in its shelters. These strays, and many others, are all currently available for adoption at one of Toronto's four shelters located across the city, as well as at adoption partner locations.

The 12 Strays of Christmas features three animals from each of the four shelters located in Toronto. You can view the 12 strays (and all the other animals up for adoption) at http://www.toronto.ca/animalservices. Consider bringing one of these wonderful animals into your life-long, loving home.

The adoption event runs from Wednesday, December 12 through Sunday, December 23. During that time, all bunny adoptions are just $10 plus tax, and all cat adoptions are just $25 (a saving of almost $60) plus tax and a licence, if applicable. Toronto residents are required to purchase a licence for all cats and dogs in Toronto. Licences for sterilized cats are $15, with a lower fee ($7.50) for senior citizens buying a cat licence; for sterilized dogs, licences are $25, with a reduced fee ($12.50) for seniors buying a dog licence.

All cats and dogs up for adoption are vaccinated, micro-chipped, spayed or neutered, vet checked and de-wormed.

There is a wide variety of animals available for adoption into life-long loving homes at each of Toronto's shelters, including cats, dogs, hamsters, guinea pigs, bunnies, and birds.

For anyone unable to adopt a pet but who wants to contribute to an improved life for these animals, a donation can be made on the website or in person at any one of our four animal shelters.

Torontonians may also drop off a holiday gift for the animals to any of the shelters. These pets are always in need of blankets and towels (new or used), cat treats, dog cookies, leashes, collars and halti-leads, toys, hot water bottles, can openers and even Canadian Tire money.

Pets are available for adoption at these locations:

Toronto Animal Services Shelters

(Open seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.) • West Region - 146 The East Mall (Highway 427 and Dundas Street West) • North Region - 1300 Sheppard Ave. W. (Keele Street and Sheppard Avenue West) • East Region - 821 Progress Ave. (Highway 401 and Markham Road) • South Region - 140 Princes’ Blvd. (Exhibition Place, Horse Palace)

Adoption Partners

Toronto Animal Services partners with a number of retailers in Toronto to adopt out pets. A link to a list of all adoption partners is available at http://www.toronto.ca/animal_services/pet_adoption.htm."

Here, Kitty, Kitty...

Yes, they're demanding, arrogant and hairy. But I guarantee that if you ever have a cat in your life, you'll fall in love.
Now is a good time to get a cat because Toronto Animal Services is having a "sale" this weekend and next.
"Adopt a cat during 'Fall in Love' adoption campaign in Toronto

Toronto has an overpopulation of unwanted cats - which leads to people dropping off many of them at the City's animal shelters. Toronto Animal Services (TAS) tries to keep up with the high intake of cats into its shelters and attempts to find good homes for as many cats as possible.

The public can help by adopting a kitten or cat. During the "Fall in Love" adoption campaign over two weekends this fall (October 26 to 28 and November 1 to 4), all cats are just $25 - reduced from $75 - plus HST and the licence fee.

Several circumstances lead to the shelters' intake of homeless cats. Some cats are born into feral cat colonies and live long enough to reproduce before their lives are cut short by the hardships of living on the street. Others are born in homes where the cat owners don't spay/neuter their cats and allow them to breed. Cats breed in every season. 

As a result of the warm weather Toronto has experienced lately, there has been a continued high intake of homeless cats at TAS shelters. Also contributing to this high shelter population is the fact that stray and homeless cats are more visible in warm weather. As a result, they continue to be brought into TAS shelters in high numbers. These factors result in shelters that are either full or nearing capacity.

Strategies are being used to stop the cycle of cat overpopulation - such as promoting the adoption of cats from shelters. When people adopt a kitten or cat from TAS, they receive a pet that is microchipped, vaccinated, de-wormed, vet-checked, and most importantly, spayed/neutered so it cannot reproduce.

Kittens and cats adopted from sources other than a shelter may not be spayed or neutered and will often reproduce at least once before being spayed or neutered. Some cats never benefit from being spayed or neutered and continue to reproduce for years.

Toronto Animal Services' fall adoption promotion provides a good opportunity for residents to change the life of an animal living in a shelter. With colder weather on the way, it's a great time to have a warm, furry friend to curl up with at home.

For more information, call 311 or visit the Toronto Animal Services shelter or participating PetSmart location in your neighbourhood. PetSmart is a Toronto Animal Services adoption partner.

Toronto Animal Services shelters:

West Region - 146 The East Mall, (Hwy 427 and Dundas Street West) North Region - 1300 Sheppard Ave. W., (Keele Street and Sheppard Avenue West) East Region - 821 Progress Ave. (Hwy 401 and Markham Road) South Region - 140 Princes’ Blvd., (Exhibition Place, Horse Palace)

Participating PetSmart locations:

158 North Queen St., Toronto, 416-620-4648

835 Eglinton Ave. E., Toronto, 416-696-0388

2050 Eglinton Ave. E., Toronto, 416-701-0007

225 High Tech Rd., Richmond Hill, 905-764-6116."
Cheers,
Vanessa

Adopt a Kitty For A Special Price Until June 30th

You gotta know that I'm a kitty lover! If you've thought about bringing a furry critter into your life, now is a great time. This is from the city of Toronto:
"A friendly feline can add so much joy to your life. Can you make room for one?
The City of Toronto's Animal Services is holding a two-week special cat adoption event to promote and encourage the adoption of these wonderful animals into life-long loving homes. From Friday, June 17 to Thursday, June 30, the adoption fee for cats and kittens is being reduced to $25 (plus HST and a licence) - from $85.
This event is a wonderful opportunity and represents a great value for prospective cat owners, as these adoptable cats are already vaccinated, micro-chipped, spayed or neutered, vet-checked and de-wormed. Toronto residents are required to purchase a licence for all cats in Toronto (licences for sterilized cats are $15 or $7.50 for seniors).
The following Toronto Animal Services Shelters are open seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• West Region - 146 The East Mall (Highway 427 and Dundas Street West) • North Region - 1300 Sheppard Ave. W. (Keele Street and Sheppard Avenue West) • East Region - 821 Progress Ave. (Highway 401 and Markham Road) • South Region - 140 Princes’ Blvd. (in the Horse Palace at Exhibition Place)
Cats available for adoption can be previewed by visiting http://www.toronto.ca/animalservices. If someone is unable to adopt a cat but wants to contribute to an improved life for these animals, a donation can be made through the website or in person at any of the City's four animal shelters."
Cheers,
Vanessa

Adopt A Kitty For A Low Price This Weekend

If you're thinking of getting a cat, this is the last weekend to get one from Toronto Animal Services for a reduced price -- either $40 or $32.50.

That's a steal because the cat you adopt will be vaccinated, micro-chipped, spayed or neutered, vet checked and de-wormed.
And it's a small, small price to pay for years of devotion, love and cuddling. Okay, if I'm being perfectly honest, sometimes sullen indifference, too, but that just makes the good times all the sweeter.

Prrrr.

Vanessa

It's A Great Weekend To Get A Kitty!

I can't imagine life without my kitty companions. I've always had one.

If you're thinking of taking the plunge, this is a good weekend to do it... Toronto Animal Services needs to free up some room in its shelters.

Here's the scoop from the city of Toronto:

"Adopt a cat for just $25 this weekend only

The City of Toronto would like to find permanent homes for kittens and cats currently living at Toronto’s shelters. Toronto Animal Services (TAS) is offering a special rate of $25 this weekend only for all kittens and cats available for adoption. The $25 rate is about $55 less than the regular fee.

Toronto Animal Services is beginning to see the number of cats in its shelters start to climb. Rather than reach capacity at the shelters, TAS is reducing its cat adoption fee to $25 this weekend only in an effort to move cats from shelters to permanent, loving homes.

There is a wide variety of cats available, from young kittens to more mature cats. Sterilized males and females of different colours and sizes are available for adoption.

This weekend, cats are available for adoption from the North, West and East Animal Services Shelters (South Shelter is closed due to Honda Indy), as well as from a number of partner organizations. Here is a complete list of locations where the cats are available for adoption:

TAS Shelters/Locations (Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday) • West Region - 146 The East Mall, (Highway 427 and Dundas Street West) • North Region - 1300 Sheppard Ave. W., (Keele Street and Sheppard Avenue West) • East Region - 821 Progress Ave., (Highway 401 and Markham Road)

Pet Partners (These locations can only accept cash as payment.) • PetSmart, Laird and Eglinton (835 Eglinton Ave. W.) - Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• PetSmart, 3155 Highway 7, Markham - Saturday. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• PetSmart, 7575 Weston Rd., Vaughan - Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Pet Pod, 766 King St. W., Unit 3 - Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Animal Emergency Clinic of Etobicoke, 150 Norseman St. - Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

• Rexdale Animal Hospital, 843 Albion Rd. - Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For the $25 cat adoption fee, the cats are sterilized (spayed/neutered), micro-chipped, vet-checked, de-wormed and vaccinated. This represents a great savings and an incredible value for a new pet. City of Toronto residents are required to purchase a licence for all cats in Toronto (licences for sterilized cats are $15; $7.50 for seniors).

The $25 adoption price is available this Saturday and Sunday (July 17 and 18) only, and does not include HST. For more information or to view the cats available for adoption, visit http://www.toronto.ca/animalservices."
Purrrr...

Vanessa