"We all know for years the Ministry has ignored letters, telephone calls, emails, petitions, protests and demonstrations calling on them to investigate the behaviour of OSPCA."

A formal complaint with the Ontario Ombudsman's office has been filed against the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services for "dereliction of duty regarding their refusal to investigate actions of the OSPCA".

The action was taken by animal advocate Lynn Perrier of Toronto, and comes on the heels of a highly publicized hearing locally with the Animal Care Review Board after the OSPCA seized 71 dogs from a rescue farm in Trout Creek in June. The North Bay District Humane Society has since presented Randy and Rebecca Ashworth with a bill for over $380,000 for vet care and boarding.

See related story: Hearing starts on OSPCA dog seizure

"We all know for years the Ministry has ignored letters, telephone calls, emails, petitions, protests and demonstrations calling on them to investigate the behaviour of OSPCA and their failure to protect animals in this province," says Perrier. "

The complaint includes 29 pages of examples by OSPCA of what Perrier describes as "demonstrating their lack of regard for the conditions of animals as well as their abuse of power. Issues such as Marineland, the Shrine Circus, puppy mills, the dog returned to its abuser, animals chained outside in frigid weather, Bowmanville Zoo have all been brought to their attention and comprise some of the examples included. What has happened to the Ashworths at their hands is criminal. This represents only a small number of cases that gave the Ministry justification to intervene yet they refused to do so."



When parliament resumes this month Perrier says she's looking forward to the support of NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo and PC MPP Jack MacLaren.



"The government works for us. It is time they paid attention to what we want. What we want, where animals are concerned, is better representation than demonstrated by the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services during the provincial Liberal governance."



Perrier has also filed a complaint against the Animal Care Review Board for their "blatant bias and injustice demonstrated throughout the Ashworth hearing".

A media spokesperson for the Ministry, Courtney Battintone told BayToday that, "It's possible they (Ombudsmen's office) are still looking into it. We also have an arm's length relationship with the OSPCA.

"Bottom line, we really wouldn't have any comment on her complaint at this point."

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Here is Perrier's unedited complete complaint.

This is a formal complaint against the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services for dereliction of duty in their handling of complaints pertaining to actions by the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Over a span of years the Ministry has continually ignored requests to investigate serious issues involving the OSPCA. Response from the Ministry office, if acknowledged, often comes in the form of a letter stating the Liberal government takes animal welfare seriously and if further information is required please contact OSPCA directly.

Attached letters, from the following, display the same response has been used for years regarding various concerns by the public: Premier Dalton McGuinty - 2010/2011 Minister James Bradley - 2011 Minister Madleine Meilleur 2012 Premier Kathleen Wynne - 2015 Minister Yasir Naqvi 2015.

Thousands of concerned citizens from across the province have asked the Ministry, through letters, emails, telephone calls, petitions, protests and demonstrations, to investigate the OSPCA which is perceived as a rogue organization the government has lost control of and whose agents act with impunity. OSPCA receives millions of dollars from the provincial government, yet fail to do the job they were mandated to do. Animals continue to suffer and are left unprotected.

Abuse of power runs rampant through OSPCA. They operate without transparency or accountability. Stories of their intimidation, harassment and bullying continually come to light. Their record of targeting vulnerable animal and pet owners, unjustly seizing animals and extorting money by offering to sell them back for outrageous fees covering board and unnecessary veterinarian care, is legendary.

Their actions often result in abuse by them of the very animals they are mandated to protect.

Still the government of Ontario and more specifically the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services turns a blind eye. Actions by OSPCA are reflected in the present case of Randy & Rebecca Ashworth of Trout Creek Ontario who have been saving dogs for over 20 years. They have a registered kennel and are a respected, registered rescue.

In July 2015, OSPCA unjustly seized 71 dogs from their 12 acre property.

An invoice dated January 8, 2016 from OSPCA, bills the Ashworths $380,225.18. After killing their dog Elsa, the charges cover the remaining 70 dogs.

OSPCA continue to hold the dogs in spite of proof they were clean, well taken care of, and had ongoing veterinarian care. Letters about this are ignored by the Ministry. Charges increase $1709.01 daily and will continue while awaiting the outcome of an ACRB hearing. A kangaroo court which has shown favoritism for OSPCA throughout the hearing, making the outcome predictable.

Not unlike others before them, the Ashworths fear they will lose their home. They can't win this fight because the entire system is tailored so the OSPCA wins no matter the circumstances.

Intervention by the Ministry is justified in the many documented examples of OSPCA's failure to protect neglected or abused animals brought to the attention of the Ministry including Marineland, the Shrine Circus, puppy mills and road side zoos. I am enclosing supporting photos and details of neglect demonstrating widespread inaction on the part of OSPCA.

Examples also include, but are not limited to, the following: * May 2010 the Newmarket OSPCA began killing 350 animals for a "virulent strain of ringworm". Newmarket MPP Frank Klees demanded the killing be stopped. The killing was halted but not before 102 animals had been killed. A subsequent investigation by Justice Patrick LeSage and Dr. Allan Meek proved no ringworm existed and the killings were unjustified. No steps were ever taken by the Ministry to hold those responsible, accountable for their actions. *In December 2015 a recorded incident involving a tiger being abused at the Bowmanville Zoo was submitted to OSPCA. They refused to take steps to protect the animal. Once again the Ministry ignored pleas from masses of Ontarians to step in after the video went viral. *December 2015 a dog being beaten by its owner, with a record of animal abuse, was rescued by police in Espanola, ON. Sudbury OSPCA refused to take the dog. Police were forced to return him to his abuser.

It is the duty of the government of Ontario to protect not only its citizens but animals as well. The OSPCA requires, in the very least, dismissal of management, restructuring and legislated changes to the OSPCA Act. We demand better representation than demonstrated by the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services during the provincial Liberal governance On behalf of animals and the citizens of Ontario who care about them, I request the Office of the Ontario Ombudsman take immediate action to investigate the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services and resolve this most serious situation.

Respectfully, Lynn Perrier

David Turnbull joins MPP Frank Klees in his 2010 call to make significant changes to the OSPCA. Courtesy Youtube.