Closed report recommends changes for Animal Services

By Dave Flaherty/The Oshawa Express

A staff report to a city committee seemingly recommends significant changes to the city’s Animal Services department.

The report, closed to the public eye for the time being, includes a recommendation that the city enter into an agreement with the Humane Society.

Commissioner of community services Ron Diskey says the report came out of a motion from the previous council to investigate a low-cost spay and neuter clinic in Oshawa.

However, Ward 5 regional councillor Brian Nicholson, sitting in on the committee meeting, claims he was blindsided by the report.

Nicholson said “no new information” on the matter had been provided to current councillors since they were sworn in, and the staff recommendation was dramatically different from the purpose of the original resolution.

“You can’t simply go off and go on your own investigation and your own process,” Nicholson told The Oshawa Express. “They actually went and negotiated a contract with an outside company. Council is not even aware of it, and was not asked their opinion on it.”

Noting he had received a flurry of emails from concerned citizens, Nicholson said the city must “tread very carefully” when dealing with animal service issues.

There are many individuals and organizations in the community that advocates on behalf of animals.

“They take it very defensively when someone tries to change the process,” Nicholson said, also calling for a public meeting on the issue.

Due to the report being closed, councillors could not address the specific terms of the proposed agreement, which caused some contention with committee chair Rick Kerr.

Ward 1 city councillor Rosemary McConkey, also sitting in on the meeting, said there was no business case to support the recommendation.

She asked for Humane Society representatives to be able to speak on the issue.

“Let’s shed a little more light on what is going on because there is so much in the dark,” McConkey said.

Several councillors voiced concerns about any transfer of services.

Ward 5 city councillor John Gray had apprehensions of dealing with the Humane Society, noting there have been issues in the past.

“I can’t support this transfer just because of who we are putting it to,” Gray said.

To him, Oshawa’s Animal Services department is currently held in higher esteem than the Humane Society of Durham Region, an opinion shared by Ward 1 regional councillor John Neal.

“Animals Services have always been up high in the rankings. It’s steeped in doing this kind of work,” he said.

Reflecting on the shift of transit services to the region in the mid-2000s, Neal said “we always get burnt in these situations. For whatever reason, we always do.”

Len Butticci, vice-president of the Humane Society’s board of directors, addressed the committee.

He said the issues Gray referred to happened under another administration.

“This is a completely different board of directors that runs the organization as a business,” Butticci said.

Ward 3 city councillor Bradley Marks believes there should be public consultation on any move forward.

But he also speculates it could make more economic sense for the city.

“Perhaps someone with the expertise can take carriage of the service, ultimately save some money,” Mark said.

Responding to a question from Neal, Butticci said the Humane Society would be available to address concerns the same way Animal Services is.

“If anyone around this table has an issue they need dealt with, [we] will be available,” he said.

However, Neal remained reluctant.

“Everybody better be aware if there are service gaps, we’ll be responsible as council,” he said.

Neal suggested having the report tabled but it lost on a tie vote.

Neal, Gray, and Ward 4 city councillor Derek Giberson were in favour, while Marks, Ward, Kerrand Mayor Dan Carter were opposed.

The committee eventually referred the issue back to staff to prepare a separate report for public consumption.