Homes First is not only a refuge for humans but also a sanctuary for their furry family members. Many animals reside at our 24-Hour Housing Program, Non-24 Housing sites, shelters, and hotel programs. The exact number of pets under our care fluctuates daily as clients and residents move in and out. While many pets have loving families, too many still suffer from neglect and abuse. As part of our ongoing commitment to animal welfare, we are updating our Pet Policy and improving our communication with the Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS).

To ensure the protection of animals, we have established partnerships with the Toronto Humane Society and Toronto Animal Services. Every step we take to advocate for animal protection is a challenge. Ideally, we aim to know the number of pets in our shelters and housing programs. If you would like more information, please contact your supervisor or manager. At our Delta Hotel Program, we have developed a pet tracking system that includes the following components: owner’s information, pet name, species (cat or dog), sex (altered or unaltered), intake package completion, last vaccination date, microchip status, license status, and animal description (color, character, size, breed, health).

We are dealing with limited resources and a law enforcement institution, PAWS, which struggles to respond to our calls for support. Despite these challenges, we can implement essential steps to address needs in all our shelters through partnerships. For instance, Delta hosts the SNYP truck every two months, providing surgeries (spay and neuter) for dogs and cats under 30 pounds, along with vaccination, microchipping, licensing, and wellness checks. Dogs over 30 pounds requiring surgery are booked at the nearest Animal Services clinic. While we encourage clients to arrange their own transportation, we will support those unable to do so. We strongly discourage breeding in our shelters and housing programs.

The Toronto Humane Society (THS) and Toronto Animal Services (TAS) face constraints due to the pet ownership crisis and funding issues in the city. However, they ensure that animals belonging to low-income families or individuals are never left without support. We appreciate and celebrate the work done by THS and TAS on behalf of the animals under our care. THS consistently provides support and guidance when needed.

Thank you to the Toronto Animal Services and their wonderful SNYP Truck staff on behalf of our furry residents, such as Sarah, an elder cat in our Non-24 Hour Housing Program who was very sick. We also express gratitude from Diesel, an 8-week-old puppy who brings joy to his dog dad, and many others like Peppie, Princess, Kiru, Huggy, East, Chunky, Zena, Santana, Athena, Ray of Sunshine, Junior, Pavel, Shavkra, Kharma, Persia, Lizzy, Duke, and Richard, to name a few, who have received their care at Delta.

For more information, visit the PAWS website.