Saturday, January 30, 2010

Cracks appearing in Fortress THS?

You can read the decision of Mr. Justice David M. Brown of the Ontario Superior Court about Toronto Humane Society on CanLII.

I have questions.

1. Brenda Hind is listed as a director. Last time the public record was checked, Dec 06/09, she wasn't shown on the public record for THS as a director. Is she, or isn't she?

2. Robert Hambley is named as the President. Is he also still also the Secretary and Treasurer of THS?

3. THS claims that its only source of revenue is donations. What about the Global pet store in the THS building? Doesn't that store pay rent and a portion of its sales to THS in exchange for the location? Or does THS own it? Or does Global donate to THS in exchange for the location? What's the deal there?

4. Apparently THS counsel wrote, "The Board has named alternative parties in accordance with its succession plans....". When did these succession plans get laid? At the AGM September 30, 2009 Tim Trow said there were no succession plans.

5. Why are the identities of the chosen successors being kept secret? The THS counsel's response implies that these chosen successors are current employees of THS. Why the secrecy?

Still reading...

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

You've just got to read this.

Check out One Bark At A Time, and the latest Toronto Humane Society foray into public relations and communications.

Thank you, Mr. McConachie, for confirming that Toronto Humane Society spends donor dollars following blogs.

The last outstanding communication from Ian McConachie was when he was asked about Casper, the cat who died in the ceiling trap. Accordingly to the National Post, MacConachie said “It should have been checked on a regular basis, I don’t know who was in charge of that or if that was a trap that was just forgotten about up there”.

If you want to see these great photos, check out Examiner.com which has a slideshow of the photos. I may stick a Pet Harbor gadget on this site to display the photos, just to piss off THS.

In case you've been under a rock...check out Kate Hammer's article in the January 27th Globe and Mail on the THS debacle. Tim Trow's resignation kinda sort pales for me in light of the court-ordered review of the THS finances. Can't wait to read the report.

Also, check out Daniel Dale's article in the January 28th Toronto Star. I will be righteously pissed if the current regime spends THS money contesting an election. The money for any more legal pissing contests had better come from the directors' own pockets.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Will the lights go out at Toronto Humane?

The Globe & Mail has an article that the OSPCA has been ordered to stay in the shelter until Tuesday, when the application to have the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee take over THS can be heard. The article states "Affidavits submitted with the application allege that the THS has lost its accreditation as a veterinary facility and that its bills are so past due that Toronto Hydro has said it will cut power to shelter when the OSPCA leaves."

No power means no lights, no heat, no hot water, no medical equipment.

No veterinarians means no medical care.

At last report, THS spent almost half a million dollars on lawyers. Did it not occur to them to pay the electricity bill? Did the unnamed lawyer in the Globe & Mail article who said that THS is in good financial standing get paid first?

I hope and pray that the judge hearing the application rules that the entire board of directors AND all officers must be thrown out, and that the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee is to take over Toronto Humane Society.

It's past time for karma to bite some people on the ass.
Hard.

Addendum: Someone was spreading a nasty rumour that the OSPCA was going to euthanize a large number of dogs and cats. Here's the OSPCA response to a friend's enquiry:

No we are not planning on euthanizing any large number of cats (or dogs for that matter). This is nothing but a rumour. We will continue to provide the animals care, fostering many cats and (just reported to me tonight) have found homes for 175 since adoptions re-opened.

Please feel free to contact me, should you have any further questions.

All the best,
Alison Cross
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Ontario SPCA, Provincial Office