The Toronto Humane Society’s president, chief veterinarian and three others face criminal charges for animal cruelty. Animals were allegedly denied food, water and proper veterinary treatment.
Toronto police and agents from the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals raided the building at 3:00 Thursday afternoon, which resulted in five men being handcuffed and escorted out of the building. The OSPCA’s lawyer described the shelter as “disease-infested.”
“These are animals who are just left to die in their cages,” stated Christopher Avery, a lawyer for the OSPCA. “They’re found dozens at a time, dead in [a] cage, every morning in this building. Dying from cancer, suffocating based on phlegm, these are animals who are starving to death, literally.”
During the search of the building OSPCA investigators found a dead cat in the ceiling of the Toronto Humane Society offices. The cat was found in a live trap, meant as a humane method of catching an animal, but it had apparently never been checked. ‘‘It sent chills down my spine,’’ said Kevin Strooband, an investigator for the OSPCA. Strooband did not know how long the cat would have been left in the trap, but assumes it would have suffered greatly until it finally starved to death.
Ian McConachie, a spokesman from the Toronto Humane Society insists the charges were without merit. “The animals are under excellent veterinary care, they receive all medicines, all treatments, all procedures necessary to make them better,” he said. “... Animals are not neglected, animals receive food, water, clean bedding and litter boxes every day and the dogs receive three walks every day.”
Mr. Trow, Dr. Sheridan, general manager Gary McCracken and senior staff members Romeo Bernadino and Andy Bechtel all face a maximum of five years in prison and tens of thousands of dollars in fines, if they are found guilty. They are charged with five counts of animal cruelty under the Ontario SPCA Act, along with all of the volunteer members of the charity’s board of directors.
OSPCA lawyer Christopher Avery said that obstruction charges lay against Mr. Trow, Mr. McCracken, Mr. Betchel and Mr. Bernadino stemmed from a June 2 inspection, during which animals were allegedly hidden from investigators. “We received information that [on June 2] approximately two dozen animals were moved around the shelter and kept out of the eyesight of the SPCA because of the condition they were in,” he said. “There’s also a number of animals euthanized. In other words, the shelter management took active steps to ensure that [OSPCA] Officer [Kevin] Strooband was not able to properly conduct his inspection.”
Mr. Trow, Mr. McCracken, Mr. Betchel and Mr. Bernadino were all charged with cruelty to animals, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, and obstruction of a peace officer. Dr. Sheridan was charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence and cruelty to animals. All five men were released on bail late Thursday night and are expected to appear in court in January.
A team of veterinarians have started inspecting the animals to ensure they are healthy and well cared for. The River Street shelter will be closed to the public until the investigation into the shelter is complete. Four animals were euthanized after discovering their conditions and around 1,100 animals are still inside and under the care of veterinarians, and will be put up for adoption Tuesday when the shelter reopens.
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2009/11/27