Another former Toronto Humane Society (THS) employee has been arrested and charged in connection with an animal cruelty investigation at the organization's River Street headquarters.
On Sunday, March 13, former THS supervisor Vijay Kumar, accompanied by his lawyer, turned himself in to Kevin Strooband, the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) officer handling the investigation.Kumar, who is facing two charges of animal cruelty, was processed at 52 Division and released later on that day. He has an April 27 court date."Our first priority is the ongoing safety of the animals," Strooband said in a release."We continue to find it necessary to lay charges of this nature because of what we've uncovered during the course of the investigation since last June (2009)."THS Spokesperson Ian McConachie declined to comment on the latest arrest.He did say at this point the THS is focusing its energies on continuing to provide top quality animal care, while working through any legal issues stemming from the ongoing investigation.In early November 2009, several THS staff members and board members of the Toronto Humane Society were barred from the premises. At that time, five senior THS staffers were arrested and charged with animal cruelty among other things. All of the accused were later released on bail.The society's board of directors was also charged with five (non-criminal) counts of animal cruelty under the Ontario SPCA Act, 2009.In January, senior THS agent Tre (Trevor) Smith was arrested and charged with two counts of impersonating a peace officer and one count of perjury. He is accused of continuing to investigate animal cruelty cases despite being suspended last June. Smith had signed an affidavit back in October citing he was complying with the suspension.Mark Beauchamp, a former Newmarket-based animal cruelty investigator, was also charged with obstructing a peace officer after he allegedly tipped off THS staff that the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) planned on raiding the River Street shelter last November.An Ontario Superior Court judge ruled on Dec. 22 that all THS employees not facing criminal charges would be permitted to come back to work.The OSPCA, a registered charity whose work includes animal cruelty investigation, care, sheltering, fostering and wildlife programs for abused or injured animals, is currently handling animal-related care at the shelter including adoptions, while the THS is taking care of the administrative side and charitable operations until the legal issues are resolved. McConachie said the THS also has a roster of staff members and veterinarians to assist the OSPCA with caring for the 300 or so animals currently housed at the River Street shelter.Last month, the society announced the appointment of its new executive director, Garth Jerome. A microbiologist, Jerome joined the THS just more than two years ago.The THS' longtime president Tim Trow stepped down from the board of directors in late January. Bob Hambley is now filling his role.Once normal operations resume at the shelter, the organization intends to appoint a long-term advisory committee of animal care experts to advise the board and the new executive director.At this time, the OSPCA has temporarily suspended the THS animal fostering program. No new animal admissions have been permitted at the shelter since Nov. 26. Due to the reduced number of animals there, the society is currently not in need of any more volunteers. New applications will be accepted as the need arises.