In 2010 Toronto Humane Society began a "Barn Home Relocation" program for cats in their care, that ran until October 28, 2014. During this period Toronto Humane Society (THS) admits to having no policies and procedures detailing how the program was to run. None of the appropriate and accepted methods used by reputable barn home programs were used to adapt the cats to their new surroundings which meant little chance of any of the cats learning that these new locations were the places they were expected to find their food, water and shelter.

Many of the locations were completely inappropriate, having no barns at all. Some were merely fields with a few makeshift shelters made of styrofoam coolers or Rubbermaid totes, though the THS assured anyone who asked, of the happiness of the cats in the "heated barns".

No provisions were made for vet care for the cats nor were any procedures outlined as to how these cats were to be regularly fed and watered. Many of the cats sent to these outdoor locations were NOT feral. They had been house pets, some had never been outside. Local animal rescue groups are aware of cats sent to these non-existent barns, that were ill, in need of regular medications and even one who had no teeth. As of January 13, 2015, THS could not even provide information about what cats or how many of them had gone to each of the locations.

This program was finally suspended in October of 2014, after it was evident that a number of animal rescue groups had found out what was going on.

Those responsible for the decision to implement and run this 'program' include Barbara Steinhoff (Executive Director), Jacques Messier (CEO), Phil Nichols (Director of Operations) and David Bronskill (President of 2014 Board of Directors). These people are all still decision makers at THS. We call upon them to resign.

They have made a mockery of THS's 'no-kill' policy. They have lied to their financial supporters, who had no idea they were giving to an organization that was routinely abandoning cats to the outdoors to fend for themselves. They have sent untold numbers of helpless house cats to almost certain deaths from hunger, dehydration, exposure or predators. Such animal abuse can not be forgiven.

Barbara Steinhoff , Jacques Messier, Phil Nichols and David Bronskill, RESIGN! Resign with your heads hung in shame. You do not deserve to be within a thousand yards of any animal ever again.