World Animal Protection Canada

Was approached by one of the world animal protection supporter after work while waiting to cross the street. He was very upbeat and enthusiastic about protecting animals from cruelty. Wouldn't stop talking, I do love and care for animals, but the man was very pushy in asking for monthly donations of min $20 /month. He then took out his pad and wanted my information. I was in a hurry to catch my train and was not comfortable in giving out my information, so I told him I will checkout the website and donate online later if I decide to. He was pushing on if he processed it for me on his pad that I would receive a tax receipt and the donation would go through within 24hrs versus if I donated myself online it wont get procssed until weeks later. No thanks, I'll pass. Please do not lie and makeup excuses. When I was about to leave another supportor jumped in and commented that the person I was talking to was new and asked for my name and suggested he can assist me instead. Goodbye I need to go. These people do not take no for an answer. They are too agressive.

Avoid eye contact and run away if you can. I was ambushed near the station when I was trying to catch my train home. When I was trying to leave and asked if I could do this online, they just simply didn't let me go. Followed me all the way to the platform so if I didn't sign up for donations I wouldn't be let go. Don't get me wrong I love animals and would like to help as much as I could but not like this. I don't appreciate being forced to donate. Donations should come at my own will and at my own convenience, not when I try to catch my train home after a long tiring work day. Very forceful, pushy and persistent in getting your name, personal information and credit card information. I love animals but don't particularly like your approach that you force on people. You don't respect that I said I was really in a hurry and needed to get home, blocking my way till I signed up. This is personal right abuse and very selfish for someone working for a non-profit organization.

I was told to review this organization via facebook. I wanted to give them a fair shake, because I don't think review bombing anything is ethical. However, after reading a few articles they've published I found an unwavering and ideological adherence to principles that just aren't true regarding reptile and amphibian pets. Maybe later I'll come back and do a point by point refutation, but off the top of my head it appears a lot of points revolve around the idea that the continuum of domestication has not past a critical point for reptiles and amphibians and that current husbandry does not adequately satisfy or exceed the naturalistic tendencies and needs of the species. The first problem is that domestication is a continuum and it is difficult to establish if a species is indeed domesticated. What has been found in domestic breeding projects is that species that breed in captivity are selected for traits that are conducive to the captive environment. Over not that many generations, the animals begin to acquire many adaptations, either genetic or potentially epigenetic that make them more fit for captivity and less fit for the wild. The most extreme example of this that I know of is the domestic household fish tank Seahorse, all descended from a single male that happened to have some genetic quirk that let him breed in captivity. Indeed this fact is so well known that Amphibian Ark (a consortium of amphibian conservation breeders and herpetologists) are making efforts to save germplasm (mostly sperm) from primary captives (wild caught) so that it can be reintroduced to future generations to both maintain genetic health and maintain wild environment adaptations. This is necessary as reintroduction to the native habitat is necessary for their purposes after successful captive breeding. Domestication is malleable and the process begins after the first generation of captive breeding. The second issue makes a good point. It is indeed the case that both reptiles and amphibians have more complex internal and behavioural lives than was thought by the general public for a long time. My own Pixie frog has recently demonstrated quite a lot of problem solving behaviour. However, the idea that current husbandry is inadequate is a bit too broad. husbandry of certain individuals is inadequate. One may have inadequate or cruel husbandry of a pet or livestock as well. It is actually rather easy to mistreat any animal, common or exotic. As it is, the community at large does a pretty good job of self-critique. People who improperly care for their pets are often the subject of ridicule and defamation by responsible owners and collectors. Furthermore, full domestication could be argued for a few species including Leopard Geckos, Crested Geckos, Axolotls, Spanish ribbed newts and Xenopus laevis (African clawed frogs). For the amphibians in that list, they have been used for a very long time in laboratory settings as model systems. I will speak somewhat for amphibians, that it may very well be the case that the hobby level captive husbandry and breeding of them might be key to their survival past the Anthropocene mass extinction we are currently witnessing. It has happened a couple times that hobbyists have documented the first captive reproductions of certain species where herpetologists were unable to do so. To lobby against this hobby might mean a serious blow to the conservation of many species whose habitats are being demolished. I endorse responsible legal and environmentally conducive acquisition, conscientious care and careful husbandry but not wholesale elimination of livelihoods and the enjoyment of keeping and rearing these animals. They may prove very useful for us in the future.

Reading published comments, it looks like a recent canvassing campaign did not go without bumps. Hard to tell if these are anecdotal or if it was a generalized issue with this campaign. I have no doubt that WAP is taking those comments seriously and will strive to do better in the future. My support towards this organization remains whole. Their work towards reducing cruelty towards animals is so important. WAP’s operational costs are also kept low (lower than many charitable organizations) as 76 cents per dollar is spent on implementing their mission. WAP will continue to be my charity of choice.

I've been donating for 6 years towards this charity. Due to financial reprioritizing, I am unable to continue my monthly donations. This company has made it difficult to reach anyone to cancel my monthly donations and frankly I am on the verge of contacting my bank to file fraud soon. I have contacted them though email and phone numerous times with no email or call back. This is feeling like a scam and highly unprofessional.

I wanted to do a one time donation, but was informed it’s a monthly contract. The girl who approached me on whyte ave, Edmonton, let me know I could call/email and cancel, no problem. I emailed you on June 1st to ensure it’s just a one time donation and just followed up again today, June 13th. I have also called numerous times, unable to get through. If I realized how difficult this would be to cancel, I would have never donated initially. I love animals, my doggo included and do everything I can to help, but this has put a very sour taste in my mouth. I will continue to only support local animal shelters, as I always have. Now please respond to me! :(

Super weird that you don’t have an easy way to manage the monthly donations the fundraisers sort of railroad you into signing up for. You’d probably get a lot more donations if it didn’t feel so sketchy to be locked into $30 a month until someone hopefully sees your email. Want to believe this is a good organization but the management of the donations and the fact on your website it says it “shares contact details” with other groups makes me wickedly uncomfortable!

We were walking at Stephen Ave and was stopped by a “volunteer” who told us about this organization. We wanted do more research about this and walk away but this individual tried hard to manipulate us into giving our personal information and donate on the spot. I don’t have to go into detail. We felt very uncomfortable and the whole encounter felt like a scam. Seriously, train your volunteers to be respectful of other people’s rights to refuse. I would give no star in this review if given that choice.