Special Report Part 1

SPCA: A Shelter in Crisis

15-Feb-2008

A CTV News special investigation into the Montreal SPCA has led to a probe by Laval police into the controversial animal shelter.
We began our investigation in late 2006.
Our series raises serious questions about the SPCA's management, its direction and its future.

EUTHANASIA CONCERNS video
According to confidential documents obtained by CTV News, the Montreal SPCA has intentionally killed dogs to fill an order for the veterinary school in St-Hyacinthe.
The school used at least a dozen SPCA dog carcasses for experiments, but the practice has since been discontinued.
The SPCA board eventually dismissed the shelter manager, offering a settlement of $15,000 and saying it no longer condones the practice of supplying vet schools with carcasses.

DEBT CRISIS video
CTV News has obtained new information about a financial crisis at the controversial Montreal SPCA.
Sources tell CTV News the SPCA is more than $1 million in debt.
A U.S. firm has since assumed that debt.
Last August, more than a dozen staff were laid off in Montreal to cut costs.
Critics say the layoffs are a sign of mismanagement.
Barnoti's big bonuses
An analysis by CTV News shows questionable spending at the Montreal organization.
According to confidential documents, SPCA director Pierre Barnoti was given three bonuses of $25,000 each in 2004, 2005 and 2006 for "amazing progress."
At the same time, current and ex-employees complain about no money for computers or staff training.
We reported earlier that Barnoti has declared $128,000 in travel expenses in the last few years.
And although Barnoti won't confirm it, CTV News also reported last year that Barnoti's annual salary is $120,000 plus perks such as a car subsidy and personal insurance.
Response
The SPCA maintains that its care of animals has not been affected by the financial problems.
Barnoti refused to comment on the latest revelations.
But the company's law firm says "all financial and operational issues have always been ... dealt with in a timely and competent fashion by the SPCA's directors."

WHO OWNS THE WEBSITE? video
The Montreal SPCA's fundraising website, spca.com, is raising major questions.
It's run by an organization called SPCA International but even after a lot of digging, Todd Van der Heyden and CTV Los Angeles Bureau Chief Tom Walters weren't able to detemine with any certainty who runs the site and whether potential international donors are even told they're contributing money to a local Montreal shelter.
The American SPCA is now investigating the L.A.-based site.

KILL RATE DISCREPANCIES video
The Montreal SPCA's Laval shelter is raising the alarm about unusually high kill rates.
Veterinarian Lech Leskiewicz says his handwritten records show 537 animals were put down in Laval last July.
But according to figures CTV News obtained from the city of Laval, the SPCA claimed it only euthanized 331 animals -- a 61% discrepancy.
If the SPCA's numbers are wrong, that would violate its animal-control contract with Laval.
The SPCA declined to comment, but it has previously said its euthanasia rates have not increased.
Record-keeping
It might be hard to confirm the accuracy of the Montreal SPCA's official euthanasia rates, because it still works on a paper system.
One former SPCA insider says poor record keeping once led the SPCA to mistakenly put down two dogs.
Chilling effect
Critics also point to a "culture of fear" where anyone who complains is forced out.
Former volunteer Anne Walsh says she was told to leave the SPCA soon after she presented a 50-name petition outlining concerns about management.

WHISTLEBLOWER CANNED
The SPCA fired a veterinarian who told CTV News about the high euthanization rates at the Laval shelter where he had worked.
Dr. Lech Leskiewicz was dismissed on Thursday, Feb. 14 -- the same day that he appeared in the report.
He said he was not surprised.
"It's either you're with us or against us," he told Todd van der Heyden the day of his dismissal.
When asked if he had been pushed out, he replied: "yes -- yes."
Dr. Leskiewicz says he was given no formal reason for his dismissal.
Leskiewicz worked for the Montreal SPCA for 15 years.

BOARD BLASTED video
Laval police have opened an investigation into the activities of the Montreal SPCA.
It follows the special series of reports aired in February by CTV News, specifically allegations that the shelter is under-reporting euthanasia rates.
Critics of the Montreal SPCA say the government needs look a little closer at the organization's activities.
The SPCA's board of directors is in charge but the board has been under fire for years by critics who say it is not doing its job.
Veterinarian Lech Leskiewicz, who was fired after telling CTV News about the SPCA's euthanasia policies, has many concerns with the board.
"These are businesspeople, lawyers, bankers, notaries, whatsoever," he said just after his firing.
"What do they know about animals?"
Leskiewicz says no board member has visited the animal shelter in Laval.
Several other insiders, including a former board member, told CTV that director Pierre Barnoti's allies make up a majority on the board and tend not to be critical of the organization.
Response
Barnoti has refused to be interviewed for the latest SPCA series.
The group has also filed two complaints against CTV with the Quebec Press Council. It lost its first case, the second is still pending.