Doors opened to the public yesterday at The Toronto Humane Society’s River street location, with adoption services resuming following a six-week investigation by the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. But while the shelter is housing over 800 animals, only 25 dogs were ready to go to adoption, down from the OSPCA’s original estimate of 100.

48-year-old Rita Mueller, who cares for homeless dogs and fosters them out of her own home, argues the number is too low and is indicative of the inefficiencies holding up adoptions at the THS and leaving too many animals sick in cages.

While she has been fostering stray animals her entire life, a year ago Mueller began offering dog adoption services over the Internet for Toronto pet seekers out of her home in Tottenham, a little north of Toronto.

Mueller says the work she does is part of a growing trend and is vital to society, especially in light of the problems at the THS.

“It has to be done,” Mueller insists. “There are so many people involved… I’m just a very small part of a larger operation.”

Mueller, a single mother of three, pays out-of-pocket to import dogs from shelters across the continent and relocate them to Toronto homes. She specifically seeks dogs that face euthanization because shelters cannot support them.

It is a legal, somewhat complex, and generally successful operation. But with nine dogs, four on the way, plus three children at home, and with hundreds of dollars a month spent on vet bills and food, Mueller finds the endeavour demanding and precarious.

“I’m trying to (recoup) what costs I can,” Mueller said. “But I end up paying-out-of-pocket.”

Mueller persists with her work because she feels the small scale of her operation is a better adoption system than that of the THS. Because Mueller can personally attend to each of her animals, she can ensure they are eventually placed in an appropriate home. The adoptions are generally successful, and the dogs are not subjected to long holding periods in cages.

“When I do an adoption I do a home visit,” Mueller said. “And (I) do a follow-through, even six months later, to make sure things are going well.”

Tending to sick animals can often be done at home, Mueller argues, as long as people have the common sense to take their pet to a vet when things get out of hand.

“I picked up three dogs this weekend,” she said. “One was only seven pounds. He caught a pneumonia (from the cold). So I called my vet and within 24 hours he had an appointment, and we had him on antibiotics…The THS has a vet on staff! So there’s really no excuse.”

OSPCA spokesperson Alison Cross says that many animals at the THS are still being held back from adoption to receive medical care, but also because they are part of the OSPCA’s ongoing investigation into animal cruelty allegations at the shelter. She had no comment on the rise of independent, home-based fosters, but said it was a concept the OSPCA is interested in exploring in the coming year.

Ian McConachie, spokesperson for the Toronto Humane Society, speculates that home-based foster services are the product of both failing institutional services and the desire of individuals like Mueller to care for animals.

“Some people want to do their bit to help foster pets,” McConachie said. “And some smaller communities might not have access to (larger) adoption services.”

However, McConachie said that he encourages people to look critically at foster homes advertised on the web.

“Some are fly-by-night operations, and some are well-run,” he cautions.

While the Humane Society faced criticism by its own workers for reluctance to euthanize even very sick animals, Mueller objects to putting down viable, healthy dogs that are fit for homes.

Ultimately, Mueller would like to see more small-scale home-based foster operations, that partner with local veterinarians and satellite foster homes to provide care. Mueller herself partners with a network of volunteers, pet food stores and her vet to support the dogs until they can find permanent homes.

“That would be an ideal dream,” Mueller said.

In the meantime, she said the best we can hope for in animal care reform in Ontario would be more spay and neuter clinics available to the public. Preventing unwanted litters would reduce strain on foster and shelter services across the board.

“The wait time in Toronto and York Region right now is supposed to be three or four months. But in reality, it’s more like six,” she said.

So her advice to anyone bringing home a puppy in the next few weeks?

“Get him on the list!”