Home
World
Canada
- BC
- Calgary
- Edmonton
- Saskatchewan
- Manitoba
- Thunder Bay
- Sudbury
- Windsor
- Toronto
- Ottawa
- Montreal
- NB
- PEI
- NS
- NL
- North
Politics
Health
Arts & Entertainment
- Music
- Film
- Television
- Books
- Media
- Art & Design
- Theatre
Technology & Science
Money
Consumer Life
Diversions
Weather
Your Voice

New licensing option: POST all or part of this article on a web site, intranet or blog.

Humane Society officials charged with cruelty

Last Updated: Thursday, November 26, 2009 | 11:22 PM ET

CBC News

Tim Trow, president of the Toronto Humane Society, sits in the back of a police car after his arrest. (CBC)

Five senior Toronto Humane Society officials, including president Tim Trow, and the board of directors were charged with cruelty to animals after a raid Thursday.

Around 3 p.m., the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, with the help of Toronto police, raided the Toronto group's 11 River St. location.

A Toronto Humane Society spokesperson called the OSPCA's actions disgusting and politically motivated. There has been a long-running feud between the two animal-care organizations, he said.

The senior officials charged with animal cruelty include general manager Gary McCracken, head veterinarian, Dr. Steve Sheridan, supervisor Andy Bechtel and manager Romeo Bernadino. Charges against Trow, McCracken, Bechtel and Bernadino also include obstruction of a peace officer

Members of the society's board of directors were also charged with five counts of animal cruelty, a provincial offence under the Ontario SPCA Act

All five people were led out of the building in handcuffs and taken to the police department's 52 Division. It is expected they will make a court appearance Friday morning at Old City Hall.

Charges stem from an investigation that began in early June, looking into the care of four cats that were found to be in distress, the OSPCA alleges.

Left to die, group alleges

Christopher Avery, criminal lawyer for the OSPCA, alleges dozens of animals were neglected at the Toronto shelter, including dozens left to die in their cages without proper care and nutrition.

During the June raid, one officer recalled a cat whose skin came off in his hands when the officer lifted the cat up, the OSPCA alleges.

"There is absolutely no disease control or pathogen control in this building," Avery said, adding that the shelter "is absolutely disease-infested.'

"The animals are left to catch horrible diseases and die in their crates, based on the euthanasia policy and refusing to allow the veterinarians who work here to do their jobs."

The shelter will remain closed to the public while the OSPCA investigates further.

The roughly 1,000 animals in the shelter home will remain there, with investigators going through each cage to investigate the conditions of each animal. This could result in more charges, the OSPCA said.

Not everyone agrees with what happened, though.

A volunteer at the Toronto Humane Society shelter said animals there are looked after. She was visibly upset and worried about the animals inside.

With files from The Canadian Press

New licensing option: POST all or part of this article on a web site, intranet or blog.

Video

Toronto Headlines

TTC union chief blasts bosses, media and public: The leader of the union representing more than 9,000 TTC workers has come out swinging in defence of the membership.
Trenton colonel's charges spur cold case review: The 2001 slaying of a Nova Scotia woman at CFB Trenton in eastern Ontario is among the cases being re-examined after murder charges were laid against Col. Russell Williams.
4 arrested after shots fired in east Toronto: Toronto police have arrested four teens in an attempted armed robbery of another youth near Coxwell Avenue and Gerrard Street in the east end.
Giambrone to continue campaign despite affair allegations: TTC Chair Adam Giambrone will stay in the race for Toronto's mayoralty despite his admission that he has been involved in an "inappropriate relationship with a young woman."
B.C. Lions owner Braley buys Argonauts: Toronto Argonauts co-owners David Cynamon and Howard Sokolowski have completed an agreement to sell the franchise to B.C. Lions owner David Braley.

Canada Headlines

Health costs push Alberta budget deficit to $4.75B: Alberta's Progressive Conservative government is projecting a record $4.75-billion budget deficit and planning cuts in many departments while increasing health-care spending.
Trenton colonel's charges spur cold case review: The 2001 slaying of a Nova Scotia woman at CFB Trenton in eastern Ontario is among the cases being re-examined after murder charges were laid against Col. Russell Williams.
Neighbours stunned by arrest of Col. Williams: Ottawa resident Michael Gennis was stunned when he found out his new neighbour, Col. Russell Williams, had been charged with killing two women in eastern Ontario.
Olympic spirit will launch B.C. reforms: throne speech: The B.C. government says it will use the province's post-Olympics momentum to drive changes that include offering tax breaks to families with children, reforming education and lobbying Ottawa to amend "Byzantine bureaucratic practices."
Vancouver tap water vies with Olympic sponsor: Vancouver has started a campaign to encourage Olympic tourists to drink the region's tap water instead of buying bottled water, creating a potential conflict with one of the Games' biggest sponsors.

People who read this also read …

Top CBCNews.ca Headlines

Headlines

Trenton colonel's charges spur cold case review: The 2001 slaying of a Nova Scotia woman at CFB Trenton in eastern Ontario is among the cases being re-examined after murder charges were laid against Col. Russell Williams.
Health costs push Alberta budget deficit to $4.75B: Alberta's Progressive Conservative government is projecting a record $4.75-billion budget deficit and planning cuts in many departments while increasing health-care spending.
Ottawa to appeal injection site ruling: The federal government is asking the Supreme Court of Canada for leave to appeal a lower court ruling that sanctioned Vancouver's supervised drug injection site.
Haitian man pulled from rubble: A 28-year-old man has been pulled from rubble in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, claiming to have been trapped there since the massive earthquake on Jan. 12.
Tories need plan for isotope shortage: Ignatieff: Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff accused the Conservative government of having no plan of action to deal with a medical isotope shortage expected to worsen later this month.