- By Amanda Persico
- |
- Jun 03,
2011 - 2:13 PM
- |
0
- |
- Report
a Typo or Correction
No
ringworm outbreak: report
Vigil. Lynn Perrier leads a group of protesters as they walk alongside 102
grave markers on
An independent investigation has
determined there's no evidence of a ringworm outbreak that prompted the mass
euthanization of animals at the Newamrket OSPCA last
May.
The
review also uncovered just 57 animals were destroyed at the time of the alleged
outbreak, not the originally announced 99.
"We accept the report in it's entirety," OSPCA board
chairperson Rob Godfrey said of the review by former University of Guelph’s
Ontario Veterinary College Dean Alan Meek and former Ontario Superior Court
Chief Justice Patrick LeSage, who were not at today's media conference at which
the document was released.
"This is not
their report," he said. "This is us facing the music and not hiding behind two
smoking guns. For good people and bad people, sometimes mistakes are made. This
is one of those times.
"I'm not here to
dwell on yesterday, I'm here to better the organization for
tomorrow."
The report also outlines the
decision to depopulate the York Region shelter was a rushed
judgment.
"I didn't make that decision. Our
CEO (Kate MacDonald) did not make that decision," Mr. Godfrey said. "It was made
by our vet at the time. The decision certainly was rushed."
The veterinarian, as well as staff and volunteers who were
at the shelter last May were asked not to return, Mr. Godfrey
said.
A lack of adequate funding had
negative implications on the OSPCA's ability to provide service, according to
the report. It called for more government oversight of the organization's
investigations branch, more government funding and a separation of the
organization's charitable and policing roles.
The time for government intervention of this organization
is long past due, Lynn Perrier of Reform Advocates for Animal Welfare said.
"(Ontario Premier Dalton) McGuinty needs
to pull his head out of the sand and acknowledge the problems his government has
refused to address," she added
Since the
ringworm outbreak, Newmarket-Aurora MPP Frank Klees has called for the OSPCA to
come under the authority of the province’s Community Safety and Correctional
Services Ministry.
His motion to further
separate the animal agency's charitable and enforcement branches was defeated in
November.
When it comes to shelter
policies, the report recommends hiring a chief veterinarian officer responsible
for infection control, establishing an outbreak response team and conducting a
thorough review of the agency's documents and record keeping
process.
The report also listed several
recommendations in the area of prevention and treatment, including screening all
animals for skin lesions upon arrival at the shelter, doing routine Wood's lamp
tests, sending tests to an independent laboratory, animal isolation if there are
suspicions of ringworm and introduction of key shelter personnel and
specialists.
The report cost about
$500,000, Mr. Godfrey said.
"All the
number's are not in yet," he said. "That was the greatest episode of sticker
shock I've every had. But there will be no other report of this nature. This is
a model for other shelters. We should not put a price tag on the life of an
animal. This is money well spent."
If the
report could stop the future spread of infectious diseases or if it gives the
agency charge to push for temporary guardianship of animals, then the report has
done its job, Mr. Godfrey said.
TIME LINE
2010
February – one of the
first cases of ringworm is discovered at the shelter. The shelter
closes;
March –
Shelter reopens after ringworm infestation, only to be closed twice
after;
May 6 –
Testing of contamination returned negative;
May 10 – The shelter was set to
re-open, but testing showed the shelter was still contaminated, making this the
third case of ringworm in the shelter. Shelter management decides to euthanize
350 dogs, cats and other animals in the York Region shelter after an outbreak of
ringworm;
May 11 –
The euthanization of 350 animals was leaked to the public,
resulting in protests and demonstrations outside the shelter. Newmarket-Aurora
MPP Frank Klees called on the province to intervene and put a halt to the
euthanization because a ringworm outbreak until a comprehensive investigation is
completed and all other alternatives exhausted;
May 14 – At a press conference, it
was announced that 102 animals were euthanized, 96 animals were sent to foster
clinics for quarantined care, 91 cats and 23 dogs were still being tested for
ringworm and 15 animals were stolen from the shelter. The ringworm outbreak is
now presented as a public health risk;
May 28 – Expected date to announce
the investigations team;
June 3
– The
Aug. 9 – The OSPCA announced former
Nov. 18
– Mr. Klees’ motion is defeated 24 to 17 in the provincial
legislature;
2011
March 23 –
The shelter hosts an open house for the newly
renovated animal centre. The OSPCA York Region is no longer an animal shelter,
but an animal education centre The renovation cost about $250,000, which
includes a new hospital-grade floor, an education centre, workshop and training
space and a pet spa and grooming area;
April – The animal centre is open to the
public;
May – The
OSPCA receives the investigations report from Mr. Meek and Mr.
LeSage;
May 11
– One year anniversary of the mass animal
euthanization;
June 3
– Mr. Godfrey holds a press conference to announce the
findings of the investigation report.
Darryl R. Wolk,
MBA
Office of
Frank Klees, MPP Newmarket-Aurora
Queen's Park
Office Address: Room 447,
Queen's
Park Office:
416-325-7316
Constituency
Office: 905-750-0019
Cell:
647-267-3340
Website:
http://www.frankklees.com
Twitter:
@frankkleesmpp
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/Frank.Klees
LinkedIn:
http://ca.linkedin.com/in/frankklees
YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/frankkleesmpp