Media Advisory: 41 Rescued Cats En Route to Toronto to Find Homes for the Holidays

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Nov. 30, 2015) - After weeks of care and rehabilitation, 41 cats rescued from a hoarding situation in the Abitibi-Temiscamingue region of Quebec by Humane Society International/Canada and the Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, are bound for Ontario, where Toronto Cat Rescue will help them find forever homes in time for the holidays.

Who: 41 cats; representatives from HSI/Canada and Toronto Cat Rescue

Where: Feral Cat Recovery Centre at 705 Progress Ave Unit 15, Scarborough, ON

When: Nov. 30th, between 2pm - 3pm

What: Last September, HSI/Canada and MAPAQ rescued more than 70 cats and kittens from horrible conditions in a hoarding situation. The cats travelled more than 10 hours to an emergency shelter where HSI/Canada staff and volunteers gave them all the care and attention they needed. After weeks of rehabilitation, these cats are now ready to embark on another exciting journey - this time to Toronto, Ontario, where they will meet the foster families caring for them until permanent homes are found.

Ewa Demianowicz, HSI/Canada campaign manager, said: "We are thrilled about this trip and so happy for the cats and kittens that we've rescued. All of them deserve a loving and caring family to call their own. We found them malnourished, severely dehydrated and showing signs of the neglect they endured. Today, they leave healthy and thriving, eager to be part of a family. We could not be more proud of them and of the team of staff and volunteers that took care of them at the shelter."

Facts:

• In the past two years, HSI/Canada has assisted with the seizure of more than 400 neglected and abused animals in Quebec, including many animals from puppy mills and hoarding situations.
• Nearly 250,000 animals in North America are victims of animal hoarding each year. Unlike other types of animal cruelty, the perpetrators don't always accept or recognize the suffering endured by the animals - rather, animal hoarders usually ardently believe they are saving or rescuing the animals they keep.
• Animals in hoarding conditions often suffer extreme neglect, including lack of food, proper veterinary care, poor sanitary conditions and overcrowding.

Humane Society International/Canada is a leading force for animal protection, with active programs in companion animals, wildlife and habitat protection, marine mammal preservation, farm animal welfare and animals in research. HSI/Canada is proud to be a part of Humane Society International which, together with its partners, constitutes one of the world's largest animal protection organizations. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty worldwide - on the Web at www.hsicanada.ca