Cat rescue charity continues battle with Vaughan for licence to operate shelter

The 15 remaining cats have been relocated to foster homes

Torontosun.com
March 1, 2021
Jenny Yuen

The cats have been saved, but the battle is far from over.

North Toronto Cat Rescue said it was able find foster homes for 15 of its remaining stray cats before the deadline of March 1 when Vaughan Animal Services required them to be out of the home the charity is renting, which is slated for redevelopment. The group said it was concerned of animals being seized given the city’s shelter doesn’t have a no-kill policy.

But the group’s founder, Donna Cox, said operations can’t continue in the home, and they’ll be effectively forced to relocate, until the City of Vaughan grants her permits and a licence -- costing thousands -- required to run a cat rescue.

“They’ve totally shut us down,” she said.

Cox said when she signed the lease agreement 2.5 years ago, she was told by the landlord it would be at least five years before they’d have to move. The situation is complicated by zoning issues -- the home near Dufferin and Centre Sts. is on land zoned commercial and the City of Vaughan, she said, requires her to be on agricultural land to run the shelter.

She spent $50,000 fixing up the place on top of paying the $4,000 monthly rent, which is paid up until July, she said. At one point, she had 50 rescued cats in nine rooms.

Cox said she is now asking volunteer contractors to come forward to help bring the place into compliance, which includes installing drains in floors of each room. Once that is complete, she hopes that will satisfy the city.

“This location isn’t closing -- I have paid rent for the next five months -- it just remains empty. You can have three cats and three dogs, but you can’t have four cats and two dogs. It’s the most idiotic policy,” she said.

“They’ve had animal services come by and make sure all our cats are gone. But you can’t move a whole shelter with all the equipment unless you have somewhere to put it. It’s been a nightmare.”

Cox said she’s applied for a variance on this matter. The city said the issue will come before a future Committee of Adjustment meeting, but the hearing date has not yet been set.

She added the cat rescue operates with a no-kill policy, has been saving looking after felines for 33 years and is helped by 60 volunteers around the GTA, “taking dying animals off the streets from the cold, from starvation.”

“We’re reaching out to folks and asking if anyone knows of a temporary place north of Steeles, all the way up to Newmarket,” she said.

The City of Vaughan said in a statement Friday the VAS shelter is the only place where found stray cats can be turned over. Staff then try to locate the pet’s owner.

“(The house) is a single family dwelling, not a shelter, previously housing a large number of stray cats, contrary to zoning, licensing and animal control bylaws,” the city said in a statement Friday.

“The activity of housing large numbers of stray animals of any type/breed is not permitted to operate from this location, and it is not in compliance with the business licensing or animal control bylaws.”

The charity continues to petition Vaughan Mayor Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua to allow the rescue to continue to operate for another two or three years. As of Friday night, more than 71,000 people have signed the petition.