Justice for Guelph raccoons euthanized due to misunderstandings

https://www.guelphtoday.com/local-news/guelph-resident-angry-that-six-baby-raccoons-were-euthanized-2-photos-2278832?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook&fbclid=IwAR2_CBXWCaI-CrPFgP386b6wpoHQ1USFNhFKCoD1bk3eVvLINaj2M8BSE_4

Dear Guelph Humane Society,

I was devastated to read that, at the end of March, after a Wildlife biologist in Guelph found six baby raccoons and was planning on bringing them into a licensed wildlife rehabilitation centre within 24 hours, an employee of Guelph Humane Society allegedly called the woman, asking here to hand over the raccoons to Guelph Humane Society. The raccoons were euthanized allegedly because the woman did not wear gloves and it was alleged that GHS wanted to test the raccoons for rabies. Guelph Public Health never asked for euthanasia, as they did not consider the raccoons a risk. They were too young to have rabies, never broke the woman's skin, and did not yet have large teeth.

It was also alleged that the euthanasia was because the location of where the raccoons were found was unknown. The woman found the raccoons on the side of the road, and explained which part of the road they were found. While there may have been attic stuffing on the raccoons, this could simply mean that they got into litter or a bin. Even if they were originally from an attic, it still would have been legal to rehabilitate them and release them within 1km from the last place they were from, which was the road.

Please develop a no kill policy for wildlife. Rabies testing is medically unnecessary, and is not specifically mandated under any law. Intramuscular Post Exposure Vaccination is considered safe and effective without prior rabies testing. I understand there is a 1km release restriction for adult animals, and a 15km release restriction for baby animals. One can get special permission from the MNRF to relocate and animal. But if the location of an animal is unknown, there is no law that specifically says the animal must be euthanized.

Please have a policy that every wild animal that comes in will go to a wildlife centre, unless it is imminently dying.

There needs to be a stronger dialogue between Animal Services officers, GHS, Public Health, the public, and wildlife rehabilitation centres.

Please lobby the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to permanently exempt all animal shelters and wildlife rehabilitation centres from the 1km release restrictions, and allow them to keep wildlife for more than 24 hours. Please also lobby the MNRF to ban lethal "pest" control, and regulate/licence "pest" control and wildlife removal companies.

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