The Toronto Humane Society – whose reputation has been tanished recently by charges of animal cruelty – says it will regain control of its animal shelter on April 12 and will close it for six weeks to retrain staff and put new care guidelines into force.

The society announced Thursday that the Ontario Superior Court had approved a deal to let it back into its River Street shelter, which has been under the control of the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals since a much-publicized raid in November 2009.

OSPCA officials, who were backed in the raid by Toronto police, alleged that animals were neglected at the shelter, with some being left to die in cages without proper care and nutrition. Senior humane society officials, including then president Tim Trow, were arrested and taken away in handcuffs.

Six senior staff members have since been charged with offences ranging from animal cruelty to impersonating a peace officer.

This cat, said to have tongue and eye ulcerations, was among the animals seized at the River Street shelter. (CBC)

In this clash of rival animal shelters, the OSPCA had the upper hand because its inspectors have police powers in Ontario to enforce animal welfare laws.

There was little love lost between the two groups, partly because the humane society took a stricter line on killing animals, saying it would do so only when one was in pain, severely ill with no chance of recovery, or dangerous. The OSPCA lists feral overpopulation and shelter overcrowding among grounds for killing animals.

Under the terms of the court-approved deal, the humane society will clear out the remaining 200 or so cats, dogs and other animals at the shelter.

"Most of the animals will be adopted out or boarded at other locations," the humane society said in the announcement. "In some cases, animals that are too physically or mentally ill to make full recoveries for adoption will be euthanized as determined by an OSPCA/THS veterinarian."

The society aims to start taking in animals again on June 1. Meanwhile, the building will be thoroughly cleaned, new equipment will be installed and a new board of directors will be elected, it said.

'We will come back stronger, wiser and better able to serve Toronto's sick and abandoned animals.' —Garth Jerome, executive director of the Toronto Humane Society

"This short-term closing will reap long term benefits to the Toronto Humane Society," the society's executive director, Garth Jerome, said in the statement. "We will come back stronger, wiser and better able to serve Toronto's sick and abandoned animals."

In its own statement, the OSPCA said that the past four months have been difficult — for humane society staff and volunteers, the OSPCA and animal lovers everywhere.

"Finally, there is a light at the end of the tunnel," the OSPCA said. "A new chapter is beginning at the THS that will see it transformed into a responsible, accountable and respected animal shelter and pet adoption centre."