Shelter neglect alleged
Toronto, ON (CA)Incident Date: Friday, Nov 27, 2009
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Tim Trow
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
The Toronto Humane Society's president faces charges of criminal animal cruelty after a mummified cat was found in the group's shelter, officials said.
Investigators for the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals also found animals going without proper treatment, dirty facilities, and evidence of treatment records being falsified, the Toronto Globe and Mail reported Saturday.
Johanna MacNaughton, a Society veterinarian, resigned in April and later helped in the investigation.
"A large number of these animals ... will need significant medical care," she said.
Society President Tim Trow denied the allegations. "I've never been unkind to an animal in my life," he said.
OSPCA inspectors said the mummified cat was found in a live trap containing an empty dish. It may have starved to death in the shelter's ceiling as veterinarians and animal-care staff worked in rooms beneath it, they said.
Trow was released from custody Friday morning. Bail conditions forbid him from visiting or working at the shelter or contacting staff, the newspaper said.
Case UpdatesThe Toronto humane society says it will open its doors on January 4th.
About 100 cats and 20 dogs will be available for adoption when the facility reopens in the new year.
The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals searched the shelter last month and uncovered several alleged cases of animal neglect.
The society's former president, Tim Trow, and four senior employees were arrested and charged with animal cruelty. | Source: AM 640 - Dec 31, 2009
Update posted on Jan 2, 2010 - 7:14PM |
About three dozen Toronto Humane Society employees barred from the building since last month’s raid can return to work in a week, a Superior Court judge ruled on Tuesday.
At the same time, Justice Ian Nordheimer granted investigators with the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals permission to oversee animal care at the River Street facility indefinitely, pending further hearings on the matter.
The decision sets the stage for heightened tensions at the downtown shelter, which has effectively been under OSPCA control since late November. The two groups have a history of discord linked to their differing philosophies on animal welfare, and the contentious issue of euthanasia.
Still, lawyers for both sides appeared content with yesterday’s decision.
“The no-fly list is finished,” said lawyer Frank Addario, retained by the Toronto Humane Society, noting the judge effectively “ended the occupation and let the employees back in.”
The OSPCA was also calling the decision a victory.
“We are pleased by the court’s decision and we will abide by the court’s decision,” said Brian Shiller, a lawyer acting on behalf of the OSPCA.
About three dozen employees, many senior managers with roles in administration and finance, have been barred from the facility since the OSPCA swooped in late last month.
OSPCA investigators have powers similar to the police when dealing with animal welfare issues, and the organization obtained a search warrant after a probe allegedly revealed a horrific record of cruelty at the River Street shelter, with dozens of diseased animals left to die in their cages.
A number of top THS officials, including president Tim Trow, face several Criminal Code charges, including cruelty to animals. The case will be prosecuted by a Crown attorney.
While yesterday’s ruling allows the OSPCA to maintain control of animal care at the downtown shelter for the time being, it requires that as of Dec. 29, investigators “cease to interfere” with other lawful activities of the THS, such as day-to-day administration of donor programs.
The humane society had initially called on the judge to quash the OSPCA’s search warrant, which has been in effect for almost a month. Judge Nordheimer questioned the validity of the search warrant, which has no end date, but adjourned hearings on the matter until next year, providing the Crown more time to prepare a response.
Judge Nordheimer did, however, agree with Mr. Addario that the humane society should be able to resume normal operations in the interim.
The humane society “is entitled to run that business,” Judge Nordheimer said in his decision. While he acknowledged the OSPCA’s need to provide treatment to ailing animals, he said that did not justify the society’s “unending occupation” of the THS.
He also requested that any privileged materials found by OSPCA investigators during their search be turned over to an independent third party. The OSPCA had been keeping some of that material, which included copies of computer hard drives, sealed in a storage facility.
Lawyer Chris Avery said the OSPCA was hoping to have finished its search of the River Street premises well before now, but “that just wasn’t possible” because of the abysmal state of many animals in the building.
Though previously barred, THS employees will return to work on Dec. 29. It was still unclear when the public adoption process would resume.
Yesterday’s ruling comes as the OSPCA was to seek intervention of the Public Guardian and Trustee to “evaluate the situation and determine through court” if a new THS board should be elected, Mr. Shiller said. | Source: National Post - Dec 23, 2009
Update posted on Dec 23, 2009 - 5:22AM |
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