Give an animal a second chance during Toronto Animal Services' 12 Strays of Christmas adoption campaign

City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:

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News Release:  December 12, 2014

Give an animal a second chance during Toronto Animal Services' 12 Strays of Christmas adoption campaign

The City of Toronto's 12 Strays of Christmas animal adoption event begins today and runs until December 23. The annual event features cats, dogs and rabbits available for adoption at Toronto's three shelters, as well as at adoption partner locations.

The 12 animals featured in this year's Christmas adoption campaign are all hard to re-home for a variety of reasons, including age, type of animal or medical condition.

All cat adoptions are just $25 – a saving of almost $50 – plus tax and a licence. The licence fee is $15, or $7.50 for seniors.

For the first time, this campaign will waive fees for rabbits. People often purchase rabbits as pets without realizing that they need socialization, stimulation and exercise. Like cats and dogs, all rabbits adopted from city shelters are spayed or neutered. This makes them calmer and much better pets.

Rabbits can be litter-trained, as well as trained to do agility exercises. They also love to jump. Rabbits live for approximately 10 years, therefore are a long-term commitment.

All animals up for adoption are vaccinated, micro-chipped, spayed or neutered, vet checked and de-wormed. Each of the 12 strays will receive a gift, donated by Toronto residents, from under the animal shelter's Christmas tree to take to its new home.

For residents unable to adopt a pet but wanting to contribute to Toronto Animal Services, donations can be made at http://www.toronto.ca/animalservices or in person at any of the shelters.

Donations made to Toronto Animal Services directly benefit the animals through programs such as spay/neuter, extended veterinary care, shelter enhancements or pet adoption, socialization and enrichment programs.

Torontonians can also drop off a holiday gift for the animals, which are always in need of blankets and towels (new or used), cat treats, dog cookies, canned cat and dog food, leashes, collars and halti-leads, toys and hot water bottles.

Pets are available for adoption at the following locations:

Toronto Animal Services shelters

• West Region - 146 The East Mall (Highway 427 and Dundas Street West) 

• East Region - 821 Progress Ave. (Highway 401 and Markham Road) 

• South Region – 15 Nova Scotia Avenue, (Exhibition Place, Horse Palace) Shelters are open seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Adoption partners

Toronto Animal Services partners with a number of retailers in Toronto to adopt out pets.

A list of all adoption partners and locations is available at http://www.toronto.ca/animalservices. On that web page, select Adopt a Pet.

This news release is also available on the City's website: http://bit.ly/1so2Haz

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. Toronto is proud to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.

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Media contact: Tammy Robbinson, Strategic Communications, 416-338-3761, trobbin@toronto.ca