Victoria Humane Society

Caring people doing their best for animals!

Dedicated people providing society with a much needed service.

HELP BRING MURPHY HOME! On Sunday April 25, a week into having our new puppy, Murphy got tangled in my feet resulting in a catastrophic fall. Initially, Murphy seemed ok, but to be on the safe side we took him to the Central Victoria Veterinary Hospital. After the vet did several tests we were given a devastating diagnosis that Murphy was severely injured and needed emergency surgery immediately in order for him to survive. We were given two options; surgery or euthanasia. The operation was going to start at $10,000 and go up from there. We were in shock, paying $10,000 to $20,000, with no guarantees, it was way beyond our means. We were then given the option to surrender Murphy to a donor who would pay for the emergency surgery. To save Murphy’s life, we surrendered him. Two days later on April 27 we find out that Murphy didn’t have surgery and that he was still alive and on April 30 five days later, we found Murphy’s beautiful, little face on the Facebook page for the Victoria Humane Society. The FB post declared Murphy was doing “great with no complications” and was now in a foster home. People commenting on this FB page were lining up to adopt Murphy. I called the vet hospital and the Humane Society to find out about my puppy. They told me I was no longer Murphy’s owner and would not be entitled to any information. On the Humane Society’s FB page I commented that Murphy was was my dog, and I stated my case as to what happened to Murphy. My posts were deleted the next day. I feel Murphy has been stolen from me as we surrendered him under false pretenses. I tried to communicate with the Humane Societies director, Penny Stone, and she became extremely hostile. Penny Stone told our breeder, that we refused to pay for the initial tests for Murphy and that we surrendered him immediately, which is not true. We have a bill for $1300.00 for all the tests. She also told me that Murphy had four broken ribs, but the medical records and a review by the BC Veterinary Association, have confirmed that Murphy does not have any broken bones. I feel we’ve been lied to by the Central Veterinary Hospital hospital and the Humane Society. I offered to pay the Humane Society for Murphy’s treatment to date so I could get him back. Penny Stone outright refused to make any financial arrangements, and said she would never give me Murphy. I’ve gone from being sad and guilty to angry. We signed a contract with our breeder agreeing that should anything happen to Murphy and we had to surrender him, she has the legal right to take the dog back. My breeder has been calling the hospital and society saying she has the legal right to Murphy and they flatly refused to acknowledge her. We’ve been reluctant to go public with this story as the Humane Society director has threatened us with, “if we pursue getting Murphy back, she will drag our name through the mud.” She also threatened our breeder. We feel we’ve hit a wall! I’m up against a puppy saving do-gooder versus a perceived abusive pet owner. I’m angry now, and for all those other unsuspecting dog owners, I feel I have to fight back. A comment was made, by a professional in the veterinary field, that these humane societies exaggerate the condition of the puppies to garner sympathy and money from the donors. I feel our puppy Murphy has become the “poster puppy” raising money for the Victoria Humane Society. How much money has this society raised for Murphy’s care and how much has been spent on his care needs to be answered. Murphy is at the top of the FB page driving up donations. The fact that this director won’t even allow me to adopt my puppy back is cruel! Can you help me get Murphy back? Post this on your page and call the Humane Society and ask questions!!

They were very responsive during covid, compared to other places. After an initial quesrionnaire and a few days wait, we took young Bruno home chipped, vaxxed and in excellent health. The adoption fee was well worth it. Thank you for our new catster! You guys are awesome!