By Shweta Satyan
The Ottawa Humane Society is conducting a review in response to a public outcry after it euthanized a stray, but many animal lovers feel the review is narrow in scope.
In July, the organization’s behaviour assessment policies led to an abandoned dog being euthanized. Kevin Skerrett and Simone Powell, who found the dog and took it to the Humane Society, had been ready to adopt it. According to Powell, the dog failed a controversial behaviour assessment test and was euthanized.
“We have concerns they are euthanizing animals that in other shelters wouldn’t be euthanized for behavioural problems,” she says.
Along with other concerned people, she started the online Reform the Ottawa Humane Society campaign. The website has received more than 2000 hits. Public pressure forced the shelter to announce a review.
Beth Greenhorn is a member of the Humane Society and now also part of the campaign to reform it. The controversy has had an impact on her participation in the Humane Society.
She says she was a regular participant at the organization’s walk-a-thons and has been a monthly contributor for the last five years. This year’s walk-a-thon happened on September 10.
“But after everything that has happened, in good conscience I could not participate in this year’s walk-a-thon,” she says.
Two weeks ago, Greenhorn found a cat she says she thought was abandoned.
“I registered her with the Humane Society, but I refused to drop her off at the shelter,” she says of Stella, the latest addition to her pets which include a dog and a cat.
She says her first reaction to the controversy was to stop monthly contributions, but says she later realized it gave her more of a voice in the organization.
The Humane Society’s website says members have the privilege of voting at their annual general meeting.
Greenhorn says the next annual meeting is in June, but says she hopes an emergency meeting will take place soon.
“If there is an emergency meeting I will be able to attend,” she says.
“For that reason, I will continue making the payments.”
She says she is pleased the shelter is taking complaints from animal lovers seriously.
But for many animal lovers, the announced review is still problematic.
“We are doing the review because our community wants it,” says Humane Society communications manager, Tara Jackson.
According to a Humane Society press release, the review includes going over procedures used to assess and predict behaviour, checking the suitability of adopters of animals with special needs and working on how the shelter communicates its assessment policies to the public.
“I don’t feel it’s a fully adequate response,” says Powell.
She says she wants the review to be led by an experienced independent investigator.
She says the campaigners want the shelter to look into rehabilitating animals suffering from chronic behavioural problems instead of euthanizing them.
She says she fears the review might not be objective as it is being directed by the Humane Society’s board of directors.
Jackson says although the review is being directed by the board, an impartial consultant will be hired. She says there is no fixed deadline for the report at this time.
She says the shelter received some calls from people raising concern over their decision to donate.
She says the shelter hopes to convince them to continue supporting it.
“Ultimately we receive no government help, we rely on people’s donations,” she says.
Powell says the shelter is publicly funded and so the review must involve public input.
“They must be upfront and honest with the public,” she says. “Our aim is to make this a better Humane Society.”