Do Not Let This Die Too

The Animal Holocaust started a few days ago, and since has created a media firestorm. Now the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is storm(troop)ing back.

In the OSPCA’s first address to the media in the past couple days, as it avoided all calls and communication earlier, its chairman, Rob Godfrey said, "Yeah, the good news is that there's not gonna be mass euthanasia."

At the time of publishing, 99 animals had already been euthanized by the OSPCA’s Newmarket shelter, due to a highly treatable ringworm infection.

NINETY-NINE is NOT mass murder, Mr. Godfrey?

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Well, perhaps 99 is not a big number to the executives at the OSPCA who are used to six-number salaries. But still, the organization really seems to have great difficulty grasping numbers.

For instance, the initial announcement of the extermination of 350 animals, made by the OSPCA itself, was apparently a miscommunication.

"It got communicated to the public that 350 animals would be euthanized is unfortunate and it's also incorrect," said Godfrey.

So, the OSPCA erroneously said “350” dogs, cats, and other animals would be killed – due to a version of athlete’s foot – and did not realize it was a mistake until more than TWO days later?

To be clear, the OSPCA made an error in communication that it did NOT correct, DESPITE public outcry and protest for almost three days.

A few days ago, the shelter planned to dispose needlessly of 350 animals.

Rescues and community members stepped up, offering to care for and house the animals at their own cost. It was to no avail.

The society that protects against cruelty towards animals, found death to be a better option.

But, now that the entire community is completely outraged, donations – and maybe more importantly – jobs are at stake, the OSPCA discovers it made a boo-boo.

Today, it says that while 99 animals have already been killed, 96 others have been fostered to other agencies.

The remaining 140 animals will be monitored for the next month. Those 140 are not out of the killing woods yet.

Interesting, while Godfrey explained this in the OSPCA’s press conference today, he also noted that, “Extra security was called in to guard the Newmarket shelter after 15 animals were stolen.”

Taking animals to protect them from impending senseless deaths is not stealing. It is life-saving.

Taking the lives of 99 animals (and potentially more) because of an itchy infection is stealing.

Life-stealing.

Otherwise known as murder in the Criminal Code of Canada.

The Code addresses such things as causing intentional and unnecessary pain and suffering to an animal, willfully neglecting an animal or killing an owned animal without a lawful excuse for doing so.

Unfortunately, the OSPCA seems to be the law. It polices cruelty to animals, and answers to no one about its own cruel actions. Even with calls for help, the provincial government still has not stepped in.

"It's very painful for those who have to watch from the sidelines, but I think we have to have confidence in our experts," says Premier Dalton McGuinty.

“I think” we have to have confidence, doesn’t sound very confident, does it?

And by the way, the "experts" say you shouldn't kill people or animals infected with ringworm. You should simply give them antibiotics, and keep them clean.

Regardless, this has been a huge debacle on the part of the OSPCA, its CEO Kate MacDonald, and its Newmarket shelter.

There were many options that could have been exercised.

The organization could have used the media for public awareness and outreach. There may have even been a corporation looking to help. Good publicity and a tax break would have been well worth the investment to save priceless lives.

Instead, the OSPCA autonomously and surreptitiously decides to exterminate its charges, because of a serious, but treatable ringworm outbreak. Then it decides to arrest offers for help and ignore the media and the community. And finally, it declares its “good news” that only 99 dogs and cats were killed. (And maybe more to come.)

This has been a tragedy on many levels. Worse, this has been preventable on every level.

The Newmarket OSPCA should be dismantled.

The management of the OSPCA should be overhauled.

Yes, there are OSPCA’s that do good work. But this cannot happen again. Let the $6 million or so in donations that went to Newmarket’s shelter go to another rescue or a new organization. One that won’t remind us, even remotely, of the six million of the other Holocaust.

Do not let this story die like the animals of its Holocaust.

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