Latest news with #RodenticideFreeOntario
CBC
4 days ago
- Health
- CBC
'Torchy' and other pets the faces of what rat poison can do in new London bus ads
A new series of ads have appeared on London city buses to warn of the dangers of rat poison for wildlife, and even displaying photos of household pets who have died from it. The ad campaign was created by Rodenticide Free Ontario (RFO), an organization dedicated to ending the use of rat poison in the province, and it was sponsored by Londoner Shannon Chande. Chande has always loved animals, she said, and when she came across the organization's page on social media, she wanted to do something to help. "I was actually shocked," she said. "I was one of those people many years ago that would have used that poison, thinking that was the only option." While rat poison, or rodenticide, has long been a go-to solution when dealing with rodent problems, it can seriously harm or kill any animal that eats it, the advocacy group said, including when wildlife species feed on a poisoned rodent. The exact effects depend on the type of rodenticide used, according to Dr. Ellen Denstedt at the East Village Animal Hospital. The most well-known is the anti-coagulant type, which can lead to severe internal bleeding, she explained. Other types include neurotoxic poisons, and some that concentrate calcium in the body. Animals that get into rodenticide often survive with prompt veterinary care, Denstedt said, but it can be expensive with treatment sometimes lasting weeks. Among wildlife, raptor species are the most commonly treated for poisoning. When birds like owls and hawks eat a poisoned rodent they are actually at risk of the same effects as an animal that ingested the poison directly. "And just remember that these are the animals that people are are finding," Denstedt said. "There are many more animals out there that potentially have been exposed that pass away in the wild that people just don't find, you know, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, really anything that eats rodents." 'A matter of changing the mindset' RFO was started in 2021 by Allison Hansen. She began researching the topic after her rescue dog, Torchy, died from liver failure caused by a buildup of rodenticide. Since then, the group has grown to include about 10 volunteers who engage with municipalities and businesses across Ontario. One of their first breakthroughs came in 2023, when the City of Pickering banned the use of rat poisons on all city property. Part of the organization's work is also teaching people about alternative solutions to rodent problems that are not only safe for pets and wildlife, but also better at addressing the root causes, according to Hansen. She recommends sealing all holes into the building, clearing any brush in the area, not feeding nearby wildlife and, if necessary, using temporary traps with one-way doors. "We've done a cost analysis and it's money saved in the long term," she said. "I just honestly think people have been used to using these poisons for so long, and it's just a matter of changing the mindset." While the ultimate goal is a total ban of rat poisons, the group is not quite ready to take the fight to the provincial government, they said. "I think it's going to happen one person at a time," Chande said. "I'm hoping people, when they're driving or standing at bus stops, see this and think, 'I didn't realize those poisons could kill somebody's cat or dog.'"
CTV News
7 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Animal advocates call for end of rodenticide use after pets die from poisoned rodents
Campaign ads posted on buses around the city, featuring photos of pets that have been killed by rodenticides. (Source: Rodenticide Free Ontario) Torchy was an adventurous pup who spent hours hunting for rodents. What seemed like a harmless hobby, quickly turned dangerous and ultimately led to Torchy's death. In 2021, Torchy's owner, Allison Hansen, noticed her pet starting to act differently. 'Taking her to the vet we started to realize her liver was shutting down,' said Hansen. 'Her blood wasn't coagulating properly, she had sores in her mouth, trouble eating, which were all signs of rodenticide toxicity.' Torchy had come in contact with poisons frequently used to manage rats and mice around buildings. 'It was traumatizing,' said Hansen. 'There was a lot of anger that came with it, but then I realized a lot of people don't know because they are sold these poisons and told they are safe for cats and dogs.' Animal advocates say it can take up to one week for the poison to kill the rodents. During that time, they are weak and out in the open, making them easy prey. 'This is problematic for all the scavengers that rely on these animals as a source of food and you can see that's how dogs and cats also get into them,' said Hansen. A citizen-led campaign that launched in London Monday is aimed at preventing similar deaths from happening in the future. 'Rodenticide Free Ontario is the lead on this campaign which is trying to raise awareness of the harms and risks posed by the use of rodenticides,' said Brendon Samuels, a campaign partner. The group is calling on the government and building operators to use lower-impact and more effective alternatives. 'Use of poison as a strategy for managing pest infestations in buildings is not typically very effective unless you are dealing with the actual reason why you have an infestation in the first place,' said Samuels. Campaign ads were posted on buses around the city, featuring photos of pets that have been killed by rodenticides.
CBC
10-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
Toronto's proposed rat reduction plan passes 1st hurdle, could come into effect in 2026
Toronto's proposed rat response plan is one step closer to being implemented after a municipal committee unanimously approved the plan Wednesday. The new plan brought forward by city staff focuses on ways to reduce the use of rodenticides, such as eliminating food and shelter, as well as opting for the use of gases like carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide for rat control. Davenport Coun. Alejandra Bravo said that the plan will need coordination across city departments in order to be effective. "Rats are pests and they require an interdivisional approach to deal with and to manage," Bravo said during the meeting for the economic and community development committee. Bravo also said climate change has allowed rat mating season to be all year, making Toronto's rat problem worse and worse. "We are talking about a single pair of rats being able to produce hundreds of offspring," she said. Additionally, the plan outlines a strengthening of municipal services to improve cleanliness in urban areas and a coordinated rat management response that prioritizes hot spots. But it does not entirely eliminate the use of rodenticides — a source of contention among some speakers at the committee. Allison Hansen, campaign director at Rodenticide Free Ontario, told the committee she lost a pet after it accidentally ingested rat poison. "Pesticides are dangerous," Hansen said, adding that they should be a "temporary and last resort." The plan will now make its way to city council for final approval later this month. If approved, it could take effect next year.
