There are no grounds to substantiate recent allegations made against the Owen Sound Animal Shelter and its operators.
That is what Owen Sound City Council were told last night.
The Sun Times reported last week that several former employees and volunteers at the shelter have claimed to have witnessed numerous episodes where animals suffered needlessly and were euthanized at what is ostensibly a no-kill facility.
Operators Todd and Renee Robins have denied the claims.
But those and other allegations prompted council to ask on Friday for a staff report outlining how the allegations should be addressed.
That report — prepared by Director of Corporate Services Glen Henry — came before council on Monday.
It says officials with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs have been to the shelter three times in the past 13 months — most recently on Monday — and the operators have been in compliance each time regarding animal care.
The only question OMAFRA had with the operators pertained to record keeping, but that concern has been adequately addressed according to the report.
The Ministry does have concerns with the facility itself, specifically floors, walls and drains — but those are issues for which the city is responsible, not the operators.
City staff did an internal review regarding allegations of misappropriation of money at the shelter — but Henrys report says there is no evidence of any wrongdoing.
Anyone who has any evidence of misappropriation should call the city police.
Henry adds the city will work with agencies like OMAFRA and the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to ensure everything is continuing to operate as it should at the shelter.
Members of council will tour the shelter to see it for themselves.
It was also suggested that a representative of the OSPCA tour the building as well, either with council or separately.
Councillors seemed satisfied with Henry’s report.
Councillor Peter Lemon says he believes if there was a problem at the shelter, the OSPCA would have known about it and would have closed the facility.
Councillor Bill Twaddle asked if the OMAFRA reports could be made public in order to satisfy those who remain concerned about the allegations.
It was pointed out the operators are compelled by their service agreement to report to council every six months, and Twaddle suggested those reports be made public as well.