Saturday, May 28, 2011

Like a Dog With a Bone

Toronto Humane Society Continues to be Haunted by Tim Trow

Adjective like a dog with a bone:(simile) Stubborn; persistent; relentless; dogged


"A call to bar Mr. Tim Trow from holding office at the THS" ... someone started a petition to try to keep Tim Trow from getting his clutches back on The Toronto Humane Society Link to site. (349 names so far)

On Craigslist, there is a call for a peaceful demonstration against Mr Trow.Tuesday, May 31 at 4:30pm:
"We support a Toronto Humane Society (THS) that is cruelty free. We support a THS that operates legally and honestly with full transparency. A THS that helps all animals and has a working relationship with other rescue groups and organizations. We support a THS that is moving forward in the world of animal rescue. We support a THS that does NOT have board members who were previously under investigation for animal cruelty. Tim Trow and the former board of directors were all under investigation for animal cruelty in 2009, You can read some of the court documents and sworn affidavits from previous Vets and employees here: http://saynototrow.webs.com/   You can also read the technicalities that lead to the charges being dropped in the links on that site. As some of you may know, Trow and a slate of his supporters are running for election to the Board of Directors. The LAST thing in the world that the Toronto Humane Society needs is any involvement from Trow. Please take a minute to look through the website to find out why. We will participate in a peaceful demonstration outside the Toronto Humane Society at 11 Rivers Street on May 31, 2011 at 4:30PM, prior to the AGM which starts at 6pm. We will gather to demonstrate that we DO NOT support Tim Trow or any of his supporters running for the Board, and will be showing our support for the current Board and celebrating all the positive changes they have made since being elected one year ago. The animals of the Toronto Humane Society need you again. We invite all interested Torontonians to take part and show your support for a positive and united future for the Toronto Humane Society that does not involve the leadership of Tim Trow."

The Toronto Humane Society, which appears has fallen to a membership low of about 1800 from the 3300 of pre-Trow days, and has seen donations tank due to the antics of Mr Trow and subsequent very bad press (Globe Investigation Killing them with kindness by Kate Hammer May 29, 2009 Link ), found itself with a completely new, non-Trow board last year after a judicial order for new elections. The new board has been meeting frequently and has worked hard on restoring the organization from the ground up.

Disclaimer: I am running for the one of the five vacant positions, and have been recommended by the current board to its membership. There are four  EIGHT! Trow supporters and Mr Trow himself who are trying to make a comeback as the old slate. There are others running as well. The board consists of 15 people, with 5 positions planned to come up every year as 3 year terms expire. * Update: here is a link to everyone and everything about the AGM. 18 people running now.

What is startling is the frenzy of activity going on. Mr Trow's own site  http://timtrow.ca/ has been running since he was ejected from office and he makes whatever allegations seem to suit his purpose, including throwing whatever dirt he can find at the new board's efforts, often enlisting old guard friends like Peter Worthington of The Sun ( LINK ) and various anonymous blogs and Facebook friend pages.

Suprising too, is the number of animal welfare blogs that continue to condemn his negative antics:
http://supportanimals.wordpress.com/  (used to be anonymous, public, recently marked private, but when I read it made all sorts of unsubstantiated claims)
http://socialmange.blogspot.com/  (Tim Trow has been making frequent mass mailings to the society's membership, even submitting his own revised, preferential - and confusing! proxy form)
http://animalfarm-selkie.blogspot.com/
http://saynototrow.webs.com/ Tells us that:
"As you may know, Tim Trow and his supporters are running for the board of directors at the Toronto Humane Society. They are running as a slate called the 'Animals First Team.' Members include;Tim Trow, Bob Hambly, Margaret Ann Johnson, Tony Marner, Ian McConachie, Antoine Musiol, Carol Lupovich, Wilfred 'Bud' Walters. They are hoping for a takeover of the current board, removing the current President, Vice-President and Chair." The site also posts pictures (WARNING: graphic detail, disturbing!) of what was found during the investigations last year link

I am sure I missed some blogs, but I continue to be astonished by Mr Trow's self-delusional belief he is somehow good for the animals. The man is a lawyer (his site says: "Legal counsel for 28 years with the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario" which means he probably not only has friends in high places, but also is skilled with presenting his views in a believable way, no matter the situation. In one of his many letters to persuade members with his version of the truth, he says: "The animals need you and me like never before". Really ???

I hope media and the citizenry and everyone who really cares about animals pays very close attention to this dangerous man.

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* Update: On a lighter note, here is a video link to a confused dog "Dog's Own Leg Tries To Steal Bone" .... sometimes you just have to laugh.
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* Update: No media even bothered to cover a very successfull weekend open house at Toronto Humane Society, nor did they do anything with last week's be kind to animals week and awards ceremony May25 (Included Simcoe, an 18-hand, eight-year-old Toronto Police Mount and MC Gord Martineau)..... I guess Toronto papers are only interested in bad news... if it bleeds, it leads.... sigh

* Update: At least local community paper noticed someone Link
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* Update: A couple of more mini news bits and blogs...
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/05/29/urban-scrawl-humane-society-needs-involvement-now-more-than-ever/
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/05/30/two-groups-battle-for-humane-society-board/
"The election will pit former president Tim Trow and four of his allies against a board-endorsed slate of five candidates, including two members running for re-election and one long-time volunteer....A total of 18 candidates are running for the five available seats."

Way to go with simplistic reporting National Post! Yes, Tim Trow and 4 others are running for the 5 available seats, but in a last minute move, Mr. Trow has 3 more on his slate (ie 8 not 5) and hopes to make a motion to turf the top 3 anti-Trow loyalists so he can grab majority on the 15 member board.

One has always to remember Mr Trow is a lawyer, a profession Readers' Digest survey lists as way down the list as most trusted professions, just above car mechanics.



* Update: Sorry, I seem to have neglected an important reference to what the Tim Trow fuss is all about... here is a LINK to the OSPCA Ontario website where anyone can view the official court documents, affidavits, photos etc of just what the police/ospca investigations found, as well as explanation of why our justice system failed to prosecute.