Cease Support Of OSPCA Sponsors

May 10th the OSPCA announced the building would be indefinitely closed to the public. May 12th the OSPCA confirmed 350 animals and six people were suffering from a virulent type of ringworm. May 13th the OSPCA confirmed euthanasia of ringworm infected animals had been halted at 99. May 14th it was confirmed that an additional 3 animals who “posed a physical threat to other animals and people” were euthanized.

OSPCA Media releases confirm the following:

OSPCA York Region shelter located at the provincial headquarters in Newmarket is “closed to the public until further notice” (May 10, 2010)

“An independent investigator to examine the ringworm outbreak at the Ontario SPCA's York Region Shelter will be appointed by Friday May 28, 2010.” (May 14, 2010)
350 animals and 6 people are infected with a “virulent strain of ringworm” (May 12, 2010)

99 animals are “humanely euthanized” due to ringworm (May 13, 2010)

3 dogs are “humanely euthanized” as they “posed a physical threat to other animals and people” (May 14, 2010)

23 dogs are temporarily relocated for “up to a month” for further testing. (May 13, 2010)

91 cats are temporarily relocated for “up to a month” for further testing. (May 13, 2010)

15 animals “have been stolen” (May 13, 2010)

15 animals “not affected by the outbreak are in isolation in a portable structure on the site” May 13, 2010

96 animals are “fostered out to other accredited agencies, clinics, shelters and institutions capable of caring for them in isolation from other animals”. (May 13, 2010)

There has been no update on the condition of the “ringworm infected” 23 dogs and 91 cats temporarily relocated into the community for “further testing”. There has been no update on the condition of the 96 “ringworm infected” animals fostered out to “accredited agencies” as well, 8 animals remain unaccounted for in OSPCA Media releases.

Provincial Chair Rob Godfrey stated May 14, 2010, “Myself, Kate MacDonald, our Chief Executive; by law we’re not allowed to interfere with veterinary decisions”. This directly contradicts Section 14.2 the Ontario SPCA Act which states animals are destroyed BY the OSPCA if a veterinarian has advised the OSPCA in writing that the destruction of the animal “is the most humane course of action”.

Following the confirmed theft of Ketamine and T61 from the Perth branch of the Ontario SPCA members of the public are questioning not only the OSPCA’s “humane euthanasia” policies but also the fact that senior OSPCA executives continue to publicly deny responsibility for the decision to euthanize all animals at the York Region shelter.

What is the condition of the 15 animals housed in a portable on site. Recently, people have been seen moving animals into and out of the Newmarket facility. Other than advising the ringworm infestation is a serious matter of public safety, and the building is “closed to the public until further notice, the OSPCA has not seen fit to update the community.

May 28th has come and gone. That was the date by which the OSPCA was to have appointed it’s “independent investigator”.