Many of you are searching for information about the recent decision by York Region OSPCA, located in Newmarket, to euthanize all the animals at the shelter because of the ringworm outbreak. I know and love many of those animals, and am devastated, but plan to continue volunteering at the centre.
The shelter will, once again, fill up, and those animals will need our help. I don't agree with their decision, but I do believe in the organization's long-term goal of making sure each and every pet finds a safe forever-home. Thousands of animals have been successfully adopted from the shelter, and with your assistance, more will be adopted in the future. If we truly want to make a difference, we have to educate our kids, friends and neighbours -- don't let your dogs or cats wander, neuter and spay them, and report all cases of abuse.
Volunteer. Be a part of the team that will make sure this never happens again. And if you're as heartbroken as I am, then just imagine how this has destroyed the souls of the wonderful staff who care for the animals each day. They deserve our support and encouragement. I don't know how they will deal with the emotional fallout from what has happened.
Update: May 12Just read that protesters are screaming "Murderers" at staff entering and leaving the building. They couldn't be more wrong. These staff members have worked hard, for years, to give top-quality care to the shelter animals. Volunteers, knowing how committed the staff are, would never scream such a thing, so it must be the people who have never set foot inside the building to lend a helping hand. Everyone has a right to protest, but know your facts first -- the staff are far more upset by this than anyone else.
