Toronto Humane Society
- Thread starter dcbogey
- Start date
If the OSPCA is running the Hamilton SPCA, I have no trust in them to
protect animals from abuse.
I'm not a lawyer but calling the OSPCA a private organization, I think, is a bit of a stretch. As I read the Act the provincial government, through the Lieutenant Governor in Council and the Minster responsible for the Act, has more than a bit of control over the Agency. The OSPCA inspectors are also granted the same powers as a police officer by the act.
IMHO, not many private organizations operate under this level of government control.
Ever notice how many TV commercials show a dog and/or cat as part of the family. The feeding and caring of pet industry in North America is huge (maybe $20 billion). We should do a poll an this Board and I wouldn't be surprised if the majority of TERBIES are dog and/or cat people.
I agree with you to some degree. Hopefully this admittedly high profile situation will be a bit of a wake-up call for ALL SPCAs in the province.
We need to let the court decide if there guilty!!!! that's what our society is about, NOT the press. I have a lab and it's treated like a king, I also have 25 cattle
There definitely have been disputes. However, given all the past complaints about the Toronto human society, I would say that the OSPCA would not have been doing their job if they had not opposed many of the actions of the THS.
I believe that both the Hamilton SPCA and the Toronto human society have to be members (at least that is what I assume “branches and affiliates” would be). At least the authority both have to investigate animal abuse cases comes from the OSPCA. For a list of “members”, see http://www.ontariospca.ca/8-branch.shtml.
That being said, ”running” is likely not a good term to use. Clearly, they were not running the THS.
Given a dispute with the THS a few years ago, Toronto set up its own department to handle such investigations (which would seem to be in competition with the THS as they continued to have authority until the OSPCA suspended that authority pending the outcome of this investigation). However, in general, I suspect that the OSPCA would have more expertise than a government department and be more focused on animal welfare. Moreover, it is not that different than doctors and lawyers investigating themselves (OK it is a bit different in that the OSPCA affiliates also investigate the public, but I don’t think the difference is that great). Likewise, the catholic Children Aids society gets to investigate child abuse by Catholic members of the public. Moreover, using the OSPCA likely saves some tax dollars.
I was thinking the same thing. Kate Hammer (the reporter who broke the story) deserves a lot of credit
If anyone is interested in an update: "Mummified cat found in Humane Society ceiling" http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...und-in-humane-society-ceiling/article1379941/
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Although the Bar Association/Law Society has the right to discipline lawyers, they can't just come off the street and arrest me or lay criminal charges. Likewise for the Medical Association/Medical Society in the case of Physicians.
Perhaps there is greater government oversight of the OSPCA (although I consider actual supervision by the Lieutenant Governor in Council to be more theoretical than actual) but in many other jurisdictions there is very little government oversight of the SPCA for instance the ASPCA in the City of New York.
The governmental supervision seems to me more theoretical than actual. The ability of an agency which has no direct accountability to be able to lay criminal charges, continues to trouble me.
You have a point. However, if anything I would say that would give the Law society and Colleges of physicians and Surgeons even more power as all the OSPCA can do are lay charges and not impose penalties.
Also, I don’t see it really being any different than Children Aid Societies. Indeed even the history of the two organizations is similar. Do you have the same concerns with the powers of Children Aid Societies to investigate and lay charges?
My own feeling is that if either organization seems to be abusing their power, we should start looking at better alternatives. Although there have been problems with particular Children Aid societies, I have not heard of many with the OSPCA. Thus, I would say, if it is not broke, don’t fix it.
Dude, go get some counselling.
You are in need of some help through life if you are carrying around this much baggage.
Did you realize you compared one example of animal cruelty to three (!) examples of sexual misconduct? Sorry I don't get the connection.
Get help.
this is just despicable 
I have two cats who I love to death... they're my children and my best buds.... always there purring and loving me unconditionally. They're so cute and affectionate and vulnerable... I can't even think of losing them.... It's frightening to think that if something ever happened, they could wind up at the mercy of deplorable, cruel cowards like those charged. How could anyone allow this to happen?
This whole situation is very upsetting.
I have two cats who I love to death... they're my children and my best buds.... always there purring and loving me unconditionally. They're so cute and affectionate and vulnerable... I can't even think of losing them.... It's frightening to think that if something ever happened, they could wind up at the mercy of deplorable, cruel cowards like those charged. How could anyone allow this to happen?
This whole situation is very upsetting.
Change the entire Board and fire all management. This is the only way to clean house when things have gone this far.
unfortunatly this is all to easy to do-people do not go to most of these type of meetings
i do hope these assholes get hammered by the courts but i have a feeling they will just get a slap on the wrist
Hate to tell you this but animals are more valuable than people. We have long since stopped serving a useful purpose on this planet. We are not apex predators nor are we a valuable food source. Not "peta" bullshit just fact, if humans were to disappear the planet would actually benefit! Remember in the end you are nothing more than fertilizer......!
