By Jaime Woo

With Woofstock having just come to town, why not think about adopting an animal? The Toronto Humane Society just opened a satellite adoption centre in North York (2802 Victoria Park Avenue between Finch and Sheppard) to make adoption easier in addition to its original Toronto location at 11 River Street (at Queen Street East). Another resource is Toronto Animal Services, which has four locations and a website to check out new pets available to adopt.
Both adoption services require a questionnaire as a precautionary measure to make sure the adopter and pet are a good fit. It’s a good idea to allow at least an hour for the adoption process. In terms of payment, Toronto Animal Services charges $75 to $125, which include vaccinations, microchip, and a vet check-up. Toronto Humane Society doesn’t charge a fee, but suggests a donation.
Not only is it a good thing to provide a home for a pet, but research suggests that pet owners are also healthier and live longer. A study done by the US Department of Health showed that people with pets had increased rates of heart attack survival and lower cholesterol levels. Data is still being accumulated as to why pets improve human health, but our source thinks an increased exposure to “ohmigoshes” and “so adorable!!!” as the main cause.
Photo by Evidence from the Torontoist Flickr Pool.