Cats of Eastern Ontario: Advocates call for transparency and oversight in cat rescue investigation

Human rights activists are calling on the province for greater transparency and oversight an investigation into a cat rescue in eastern Ontario is underway accused of abuse, neglect and falsification of medical records.

Sandy Lawson and Jackie Gauthier are co-founders of Speak Up For Paws, a non-profit animal advocacy and education organization in Ottawa and the surrounding area.

“With COVID, a lot of cats have been put down, and with the increase in vetting prices, in general, more and more cats are being put down than ever before,” Lawson said.

Lawson says more cats means more rescues to help fill the gaps. But because provincial laws don’t regulate who can run a rescue organization, that means anyone can start one and apply as a registered charity.

“There’s no one there to say, ‘You can’t open an emergency service, you can open an emergency service, we’ll come to your house and check,'” Gauthier said.

“Some people just start rescuing without a vet, without knowing, to me they just become part of the problem.”

With little provincial oversight, Lawson says that opens the door to new challenges. Pointing to Eastern Ontario Cats (EOC), a rescue in the Elgin community, is currently under investigation.

“No one is checking you. So, if cats die in cages, no one will check you. Therefore, there is no responsibility. No one is knocking on your door, Lawson said.

“We have certain rules. Not much. We do have laws and the Criminal Code of Canada, but, you know, everybody’s shifting the blame to each other,” Gauthier said.

Gauthier says she and another rescuer went into the EOC founder’s home and took six cats after it was alleged the property had been vacated and the cats left inside. At least one has since died.

“Animal control never showed up and it went on for five days and the fact that we were charged with rescuing these cats, it really should have been their job. They had to go,” Gauthier said.

“We have confirmation that the cat died of panleukopenia. We’ve notified AWS (Animal Welfare Services) and they’re just letting them spread the disease, which is frustrating because more cats will die.”

After CTV News made the allegations public last weekThe EOC has shut down their website, removed their phone number, and no longer receive emails.

CTV News made several attempts to contact the EOC for comment, but did not receive a response.

Pictures of Eastern Ontario cats. (Photo courtesy of Jackie Gauthier)

Jennifer Gondermann is an EOC foster and filed a complaint with Animal Services in September.

She says the cats in her care were not receiving proper medical care, but she was forced to withdraw her complaint.

“Because the cat was in my care and the EOC was not providing veterinary care, it now meant that I was responsible and I didn’t want it to look like I was neglecting the cats,” Gondermann said.

Of the more than 22,000 investigations launched by Animal Welfare Services last year, only one percent resulted in charges. Animal Services and the Ontario Provincial Police are investigating the EOC, but no action has been taken against the rescue at this time.

“They have the Canadian Criminal Code to protect these animals,” Gauthier said. “Now, because of the situation that happened with the EOC, other rescuers are stepping in. It should be in the hands of animal welfare or the OPP, they should step in.”

Gauthier says former volunteers and other rescuers are now working to find cats from the EOC that they say are either dead or missing.

According to the province, animal welfare officers use a range of enforcement and enforcement tools, including communication and education, as well as issuing orders and removing animals.

“Not all investigations lead to charges because in most cases other legal remedies are available that are appropriate to the situation,” said Brent Ross, a spokesman for the Department of the Solicitor General.

“This can include training owners, providing food, water or shelter, and issuing orders. Animal welfare inspectors will re-inspect the property to make sure the animals are no longer suffering and the owner is complying with care standards and any orders issued. .”

Both Gauthier and Lawson say there needs to be more transparency and oversight from the province when it comes to complaints and investigations.

“Animal Protection is not going to get you a result,” Gauthier said. “They’ll pretty much take your complaint and that’s the end of it.”

“Ontario Animal Protection’s call center is unable to provide updated information on calls or investigations. Authorities may contact you if they require additional information,” the website says.

“They need to share with the public what they’re doing, take responsibility,” Gauthier said.

Due to an active investigation, both the animal welfare department and the police say they cannot comment on the matter with the EOC.