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New group hires ex-SPCA staff
Humane Society replaces SPCA, rehires staff in guard-dog brouhaha

Frank Luba
The Province

Tuesday, December 14, 2004

They fought the SPCA -- and the SPCA lost.

Two women that worked for the Delta SPCA got in trouble with their bosses earlier this year for opposing the euthanizing of a former guard dog named Cheech.

Just 10 months old at the time, Cheech was on death row when he was dognapped in June and moved to a location that remains secret.

The two women at the centre of the Cheech storm, Amanda Muir and Kirsten McConnell, now have been hired by the Delta Humane Society -- which won the contract to operate the municipality's animal shelter in the wake of the turmoil over the SPCA.

Muir, who was laid off by the Delta SPCA, is the new public-relations officer. McConnell, who was transferred by the SPCA to Abbotsford and then quit, will work as an animal-control officer.

Both had been accused of the dognapping, something denied by Amber Cottle of the Delta Humane Society.

"That's what people think and it's totally wrong," said Cottle. "They didn't do that.

"That's why charges were never laid, because they didn't do it," added Cottle, a dog trainer whose offer to train Cheech, a Labrador-Rottweiler cross, was rejected by the SPCA.

"They [Muir and McConnell] were just upset about the issue. Somebody else actually did it [spiriting away Cheech]."

As a result of the controversy, the municipality put out a bid in October for new operators, which the society won.

Unlike the SPCA, which is a province-wide organization, the Delta Humane Society will focus on Delta alone.

"The money that's donated to the Delta Humane Society will stay with the Delta Humane Society," said Cottle. "It does not go to any other shelter in the province.

"The good thing is it's run by Delta citizens and residents for Delta. It's a community-based organization. It's all for the community."

Neither Muir nor McConnell were available for comment yesterday but Cottle had high praise for the pair, calling them "very good hires."

"They're very passionate, committed individuals," said Cottle.

Muir also made headlines a year before the dognapping when she was savagely mauled by a different Rottweiler while transporting the dog to the vet. Both her arms were broken and she has had seven surgeries on her left arm and will be left with permanent damage.

Cheech is living with a family in an undisclosed location.

His saga can be found on the internet animal news website The Watchdog.