OHS fighting suspension from OSPCA
Posted Jul 28, 2016 06:07:30 AM.
Last Updated Jul 28, 2016 06:10:04 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA – The Ottawa Humane Society is going to court in an attempt to get a suspension handed down by the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
A boardroom fight between the two organizations has left OHS without the ability to investigate animal cruelty cases, after the OSPCA handed down a suspension last week.
The Ontario society for the prevention of cruelty to animals has hand-cuffed the local operation — handing down the suspension last week.
According to OHS Executive Director Bruce Roney, this goes back to a 2015 annual general meeting when, as an affiliate, the OHS raised questions about “irregularities” within the OSPCA.
The OSPCA decided to suspend voting rights for affiliates, which is something Roney calls hugely concerning, so they raised the illegality of that move.
“Immediately at noon on Monday, we could no longer rescue dogs from cars; we could no longer further the investigations that are underway,” Roney told 1310 NEWS. “We couldn’t obtain warrant to enter premises to to rescue animals; we couldn’t remove animals from distress.”
The OSPCA is handling all animal cruelty cases, while the OHS is under suspension.
Roney stresses the suspension is not performance related; it’s a fight over rules between the provincial body and local affiliates.
