http://www.torontosun.com/news/toron.../14213226.html

New humane society keepers in charge

By JENNY YUEN, Toronto Sun

Last Updated: June 1, 2010 12:49pm




The new executive of the Toronto Humane Society has taken control and held a press conference outside the closed shelter Tuesday. From left to right, Marcie Laking, vice president; Michael Downey, president and Ian Wintrip, treasurer. (JENNY YUEN/Toronto Sun)

The new president of Toronto Humane Society says there will be more accountability in animal welfare at the shelter moving forward.

While the doors of the THS remains closed indefinitely, president Michael Downey told reporters outside the shelter's River St. location Tuesday that it is his No. 1 priority.

"First priority is to do the due diligence so we can open this great institution and the second is how fast we can implement our platform moving forward," he said. "Raising funds will be an important objective."

The 15 positions of the board of directors went to members of the Faces of Change team, a group who sought to reform the THS. Part of its platform is a strong focus on quality of life for animals and more accountability in financial matters.

The executives were announced Tuesday — United Way campaign chairman Linda MacKinnon is now the Humane Society's chairman; animal shelter volunteer Marcie Laking is the new vice-president and chartered accountant Ian Wintrip is the society's new treasurer.

"The great potential (for the THS) is to have the resources available so we're looking after animals in the right way to give them the biggest chances to be adopted," said Downey, 52, who is also the president of Tennis Canada and Molson's Ontario/Western Canada region. "I may be the president and CEO of Tennis Canada, but I've always had a love of animals. My father taught me that. When I was elected, my father who passed away 30 years ago would be very proud of his son because I want to give back to this institution."

Most of the society's old board were hit with animal cruelty charges. The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) filed 38 charges last Thursday against 14 former directors. The latest charges allege 38 animals were found to be in distress when the OSPCA executed its search warrant on the THS on Nov. 26, 2009.

Downey said they will continue to work with the OSPCA.

"The OSPCA is a regulatory body, we obviously have to work with them in that regard, but the Toronto Humane Society is an independent institution. It will stay as independent institution," he said.

While Downey didn't dig into the board's platform, he said that it has a strong euthanization policy.

"It says we want to give every animal the chance to live and it's a last resort not to have that — and that's a very important part of our platform," he said.