Toronto Humane Society Complaint on Staff and Tre Smith

I went into the Toronto Humane Society, located at 11 River St, on November 28, 2007,

hoping to adopt a dog. I have donated to this organization on several occasions and my husband

and I decided we now wanted to adopt a dog. Upon arriving to THS we looked at many beautiful

dogs. We especially liked Angel (red level) a 3 year old pit bull terrier. We had filled out the adoption

application and the spoke to an adoption interviewer. She didnt look over our application whatsoever.

She just informed us that we would have to go through a lengthy licensing process to adopt this dog,

so we should probably go look for another dog. She said orange level would be best for us because

we live in an apartment. We then found a gorgeous dog named Beck (orange level) a 2 year old

brown and white Canaan Dog Mix. On the dogs profile located in front of his crate, it stated he was a

very friendly energetic and loving animal. He sounded great. We filled out another application and

spoke to the same adoption interviewer. Again she did not look over our application. She went and

looked at Beck's file. She informed us what was on his file. Everything sounded great to us. He was

exactly what we had read on his crate. She then told us that we could not adopt this dog because he

showed signs of seperation anxiety on occasion and then she walked away from us. We were extremely

frustrated at the fact that she was not giving us the time of day or explaining anything to us. We then

went back to look at Beck and we saw our adoption interviewer in the vicinity. I then again asked her

why we could not adopt this dog, because it did not make sense. I told her that I am at home everyday

and my husband works and I would be able to train Beck, which he response was " for how long 6 months,

a year." I informed her that these dogs of course show signs of seperation anxiety because they live in an

animal shelter. I also showed her what it says on his crate. Another adoption interviewer said to us,

"dont believe what it says, the people who write these things don't know what there talking about."

Again we were walked away from. That comment upset us completely, and we both thought, what kind

of organization is this? We then decided to speak to another adoption interviewer. She seemed very

sincere, knowledgeable, and empathetic to the way were we dealt with. At the same time my husband

had asked to speak with the supervisor. The supervisor came downstairs and approached us.

We were unable to say a word to him, he just took our application and walked away. A few minutes

later he returned and said "you cannot adopt this dog, but you can look at another one." We asked

him why. He then said that this dog suffers from severe seperation anxiety. As we were trying to

explain to him that, that is not what his file says. It said on occasion he has showed signs of seperation

anxiety. He loudly and rudely interupted us and said, "bottom line your not getting this dog." I had told

him I would be filing a complaint. He then told me "the buck stops here lady, I'm as high as you can

go." I was in shock and embarrassed at the way he was treating us. As we were walking out my husband

was holding on to our application. The supervisor was trying to yank it from my husbands hand. My

husband yanked it and said to him, this has our information on it and we do not want your establishment

having it. My husband then crumpled the application and put it in his pocket. The supervisor became

even more unproffesional and told us to "get the fuck out of here." I was shocked and a bit nervous,

as he walked toward my husband in an intimidating fashion. My husband then told the manager to "fuck off."

The manager then told my husband "why dont you take your little bitch home and have her suck your dick."

He was referring to me. I was outraged at this time. My husband was also furious. My husband turned

around and asked the manager to repeat himself. The manager with a sarcastic smile said "you heard me

you little fuck, get out of here before I remove you both myslef." At this point I was extremely scared for

our safety. The manager called security out and he told us to get off the property. At this time we were

on the phone with 911, and they were recording everything that was being said. The investigator named

Tre Smith then came towards us waving around his handcuffs and smiling as if to intimidate us. The 911 dispatch said

"if he puts a hand on you, you call back immediately and you report him." We were informed the police were

on their way. We made an informal complaint on THS. I have never in my life been treated with such disrespect

and ignorance. I cannot believe that the Humane Society of Canada would allow such unprofessional and

uneducated people take care of neglected, abandoned and abused animals. I still want to adopt Beck for some

reason. I feel he is still being neglected by some of the staff at THS. He would have a better

and loving home with my husband and I. As for the Humane Society of Canada, I suggest you do an extensive

evaluation on your staff and management and have them trained and/or fired. I would also like a letter

of apology as we were treated like "animals," like the way the animals at THS are treated; horribly! I would

also like a trained and knowledgeable adoption review commitee to review my case and grant me Beck.

(Tre Smith is the same agent who was investigated for leaving a man hancuffed and allowing him to get beaten)