MARCH 2024: NONE OF THE CHARGES AGAINST MALLY’S RELATE TO ANIMAL ABUSE OR NEGLECT

We, the Board of Directors for Mally's Third Chance Raccoon Rescue (Mally's), would like to take a moment to acknowledge and respond to recent news articles ‐ based largely on misleading statements from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF)‐ which depict our wildlife centre as a hotbed of disease and animal cruelty. We understand how disturbing this news may have been for our supporters and the public, as we too were sickened by these allegations.

While we cannot speak to the specific charges in detail, as legal proceedings are underway, we would like to reiterate that Mally's has NOT been charged with animal cruelty or neglect. All charges pertain specifically to the "conditions of authorization" ‐ alleged regulatory infractions that in no way justify or explain the excessive use of force exercised by more than 50 enforcement, science and research staff who raided Mally's last September, or the subsequent mass killing of all 87 raccoons in receipt of care. The MNRF has alleged that 49 raccoons were found living in the same house as humans and domestic animals. They also reported that six raccoons were found deceased in the facility and that another, still alive, was infested with maggots. Most notably, they have claimed that ALL 87 raccoons tested positive for canine distemper virus (distemper).
These inflammatory statements have unfortunately led some to believe that Mally's was operating an unlicensed facility akin to a hoarding situation or puppy mill.

The fact is that Mally's was a fully licensed wildlife rehabilitation centre with many staff and volunteers working around the clock, seven days per week, to provide care to sick, injured and orphaned raccoons. A significant portion of the 6000 ft² building was approved for wildlife in an area separate from the dwelling.

Aside from the healthy orphaned raccoons admitted as babies, many of the raccoons approved for intake faced a variety of serious medical issues, including, trauma, wounds, and burns. Even with immediate and appropriate care, it could take several days or weeks for injuries to heal or infections and parasitic infestations (e.g., mites, fleas, ticks, maggots, worms) to be resolved. Finding animals in poor health is exactly what one would expect in this environment, much like in human healthcare settings.

As is common in the wildlife rehabilitation field, some animals approved for intake died on route to our facility, succumbed to their injuries/illness unexpectedly or were humanely euthanized following assessment or decline. When this occurred, deceased animals were placed in a designated freezer to halt decomposition until they could be buried in accordance with MNRF regulations. This was the case for all but one of the six deceased raccoons found on site the day of the raid. The other, who was in quarantine, died in their enclosure overnight.

When raccoons were first admitted to our wildlife hospital, it was not always apparent whether they had a serious disease, such as distemper (which typically kills within several days), or other illnesses or injuries. For this reason, new intakes were housed separately from those who had been in care for many weeks. Healthy raccoons in the final stage of rehabilitation were housed in outdoor pre‐release enclosures, situated in the middle of the 50‐acre property.

Considering that nearly all the raccoons in care had been double vaccinated against distemper, some even several months prior to the raid, the assumption that all 87 raccoons had this disease not only defies logic but is virtually impossible. Many of the raccoons were healthy juveniles who had not been inside the facility for months. More than 40 of those seized were still alive, with no apparent symptoms, almost three months after the raid. Any reputable scientist or veterinarian would know that this is not how distemper manifests.

Our authorization to care for up to 150 raccoons was renewed in May 2023, five months AFTER the "public tip" was received in December 2022. The raid and seizure did not occur for another four months after that. At no point in this nine‐ month period did the MNRF conduct a site inspection, as would be expected, to determine whether the complaint was valid, or to address any alleged compliance or animal welfare concerns.