Getting back to troubles inside the OSPCA, last year, the organization was virtually bankrupt. The McGuinty government rode to the rescue and gave a one-time $1.8 million grant. Mike Zimmerman from Kwinter's department was assigned as a go-between at the OSPCA, presumably to ensure that money wasn't misused.

The resignation of the eight board members was led by the OSPCA's treasurer, Garnet Lasby, past chairman of the Hamilton SPCA and an affiliate of the Ontario society. Lasby is a chartered accountant and a longtime activist for animals.

Others who resigned with him include Bonnie Deekon, executive director of the Cambridge and District Humane Society (also an affiliate); Kim Millan of Oakville, director-at-large of the OSPCA; Lindsey Hall, longtime supporter of humane animal treatment and a director-at-large; Michaela Sandhu, vice-chairman of the OSPCA and longtime animal worker; Carl Noble, veteran firefighter and an eight-year OSPCA board member; Wayne Sullivan, board member of the Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society and the OSPCA; Florence Odding, an animal worker for 20 years and OSPCA board member.

Lasby, Deekon and others feel strongly that government, not the humane society, should be in charge of enforcing laws to protect animals and to prosecute offenders.

"The OSPCA should be involved in welfare of animals and education, not in criminal investigations and prosecutions," Lasby said. "That should be a government role, but they won't change the OSPCA Act unless there's public pressure."

Tim Trow has repeatedly urged -- to no effect -- that the act be changed to strengthen cruelty investigations. As the criminal code stands now, the maximum penalty for cruelty to animals is six months in jail, $2,000 in fines and a two-year ban on owning an animal. The most modest changes sought by legislation is a five-year sentence, an unlimited fine and a lifetime ban on owning an animal.

Personally, I think punishment for extreme cruelty against a human being or an animal should be the same.

As for the OSPCA's charges against the THS, Lasby calls them "insane" and an example of why the government should be in charge of investigations.

Deekon says it should be obvious to anyone who examines the situation that "government should step in and control inspections, investigations and
prosecutions for abuse and cruelty." She says the OSPCA's abuse accusations against the THS should have been a "formal statement based on facts rather than on innuendo without substance." Under the current act little will change. Internal problems at the OSPCA have been there for years and will likely continue. 'Makes no difference'