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Clinton News-Record, 1987-02-25, Page 3Annual meeting provides pointers for OHS members By David Emslie CLINTON - Members of ',the Huronia Branch of the Ontario Humane Society (OHS) received an education in a few dif- ferent areas when their annual meeting was held here on February 19. The first subject they wer•e.tutored in was rabies. Dr. Peter Wiley of the Clinton- Seaforth Veterinary Services was present at the meeting to discuss the deadly virus. "Rabies are on everybody's minds these days. It has reached epidemic proportions around here," Dr. Wiley began. "Canada is probably the worst country for rabies; the climate is right." He added that rabies is like the cold, and if an an animal were to die of the virus in the winter, the disease could stay in the animal until spring. The virus began it's march across Canada in Alaska, he explained, and spreads 100 to 200 miles every year. . According to Dr. Wiley, the climate, add- ed to a high concentration of wildlife, people and pets in this area are all causes for the high number of rabies cases in this area. Comparatively, a country such as Africa has very little rabies even though they have a lot of wildlife. This is again because of climate because if the virus is exposed to the sun it will last only two or three hours. "The rabies virus has a little scheme worked out; it can make animals vicious and give them the urge to bite. It's a great system for passing on the virus," Dr. Wiley noted, adding the disease is usually passed on through bites. Although many animals do become violent when afflicted with rabies, this is not the rule as there is a strain of the virus that makes an animal become slow and lethargic before it gets convulsions and dies. The virus travels through the nerve cells in an animal's body until it reaches the brain. Because of this method of travel, it can be many months before a rabid animal shows signs of the disease. "If a cow was nipped on the tip, of the tail by a rabid fox, it could be six to nine months before it showed signs," said Dr. Wiley. "If animals do show signs, they'll be dead within 10 days time, but it's usually five to seven days." He said cats are aoout the worst animals when hit with the virus. "Typically, a cat with rabies will hide in a ditch or on the side of the road, and when someone comes by they'll bite and scratch them, then take off." To control rabies, Dr. Wiley said there are two things to do. The first is to prevent ex- posure by keeping dogs around the house and not letting cats out at night. The second is to make sure pets are vaccinated every year. Although some vaccines are said to last two or three years, he said vaccinations should be done yearly. To meet one of these goals, Huron County veterinarians, in co-operation with the Huron County Health unit have established Huron County Rabies Prevention Week. At participating clinics rabies shots will be pro- vided to all pets for $6 per animal on March 4 and March 7. "If you have a dog or cat. it should be vac- cinated," I)r. Wiley stressed. Although he has been vaccinated against rabies, he said he still feels uneasy when having to deal with an animal that might have rabies. "It's quite a scary disease, really. i always get shivers up my backbone when I'm handling that type of animal," he said. As there is a new strain of rabies in the )United States that affects an animal that hadn't previously been afflicted with rabies. raccoons, Dr. Wiley was asked whether he thought the conditions in Huron County would worsen. "Yes, if it gets into 'coons, it's going to get worse yet," he concluded. Finances Following Dr. Wiley's presentation, Rick Koury. inspector for the Ontario Humane Society (OHS) took the floor. -.After carrying out elections for this year's board of directors and executive, Mr. Koury, who works out of the head office of the OHS in New Market, discussed financial matters with the members. More specifically, he discussed why the yearend had changed as well as why audits were carried out on the branch books. One of the main reasons audits were tak- ing place, he said, was because the amount of money 'In the society's shelter accounts had gone from nothing in 1981 to $500,000 in 1986. "The reason we wanted the books audited was because the auditors were saying, 'Wait a minute, you're getting reports from your branches, but' they're not audited'. The auditors said this was fine before, but we didn't have half a million in shelter funds then," Mr. Koury explained. "The long and short of it is, the auditors said we now want the branch books formally audited." '1'he year end was changed, he said, because the books were previously reaching the auditors around February, which is their prime time with income taxes. As it is their prime time, the work was taking longer to get back to the OHS. There is also a better chance the auditors will donate their work if it is not handled at this busy time, he added. After covering these two areas, Mr. Koury went onto the subject of provincial funding. He explained that in 1982 the government did an assessment of the OHS and said if they rnet certain criteria, such as hiring; a chief inspector and providing better train- ing, they should receive $500,000 from the provincial government. "We have received, and still receive, since 1977, $85,000. We did a calculation bas- ed on 1977 dollars, and that $85,000 is now worth $45,500 spending dollars," he said. This lack of funds caused the society to start winding down animal protection ser- vices in March of 1986. After 'suspending their agents working in this field,' they in- formed the solicitor general. He told them the police would pick up the slack. This, however, did not solve the problem as when the police were faced with a cruelty to animal case, they found they didn't have money in their budget to cover it. He cited an incident where to free a few horses, a pony, two dogs and some geese it cost a police department $3,000 to $4,000 because of veterinary costs and snow blow- ing costs to get at the animals. "They suddenly realized the costs," he said. "We got together with them in May of 1986 and told them that seven days a week and 24 hours a day we'd have an inspector on call. We said we'll provide telephone back-up and physical assistance where possible," ex- plained Mr. Koury. A financial review carried out with the government revealed some startling figures. "$1,079.000 a scar is being spent in Ontario right now on animal protection services,•. Mr. Koury pointed out. He added that the study had a good side. "This exercise we had with the govern- ment was a very, very fruitful one. if nothing else is showed the government that we're doing a good job in very bad circumstances." Toronto Society Mr. Koury began his presentation on this subject by explaining exactly why the Toronto Humane Society is now running into problems. In 1986 they had their annual meeting, and a proxy vote was held. This election resulted in, effectively, four people running the organization• one of whom was from Washington. CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987—Page 3 Rick Koury (right), inspector for the Ontario Humane Society was on hand at Huronia Branch's Annual Meeting on February 19 to discuss a few important issues with the members and help with the elections. Seated are the executive, made up of (left) Heather McDougall as vice-president, Joyce Van Riesen as secretary, Pat Jamieson as president and Jean Fox as tre'as'urer. Also announced After a falling out with the other members, the Washington member left. •"There are now three people running the Toronto society of 3,000 members," he pointed out, adding that these three could sell off all of the society's holdings, because they are all signers. This resulted in some problems for the OHS, as Mr. Koury stated, "The general public has the misconception that the Toron- to and Ontario Humane Society are the same thing." The problems continued with misinforma- tion on pound seizures, where animals are taken from a pound as soon as they are seiz- ed for scientific experimentation. Mr. Koury explained that the OHS couldn't be involved in such activities for a few different reasons. "In Ontario there is no such thing as pound seizures; it can't happen in Ontario. If a dog is picked up, it is kept for three days minimum, and at the end of this period, it can be sold, adopted or given away. We never have and never will surrender animals for research. We operate shelters, we don't give up animals for research." Further problems the Toronto Society have faced lie in the fact that members of their executive are admitted animal ac- tivists. 'Through their not wanting to be af- filiated with this society, the OHS had run into some problems. "We know legacies have been cancelled. People have called to say we were in their will, but they were taking us out because we were fighting with Toronto," he said. Another area the OHS has faced some con- troversy in was in the farming community. Mr. Koury explained that many people think of a humane society as a group that takes care of pets. kle pointe; oui that hedoesn't need to know what a special kind of cattle or goat is to know, "every animal on earth needs fond, shelter, water and care, if they are not given these, it is illegal; I know that." Fundraiser ()ne big fund raising effort discussed was an 11 hour telethon. This telethon will run on March 22 on the Rogers ('able Network. and on some MacLean -Hunter stations. In conclusion. Mr. Koury stated, "I'm hopeful the government will come around with funding." He said their first priority will be in animal protection services. First they would like to reinstate the 45 agents that had to be let go, and then hire a chief inspector N E EITIS! Final Winter CIearanc� • Don't Miss Out On These Savings! SKI SUITS Mien's and Ladies' SKI JACKETS toner+', and Ladies' ACTIVEWEAR by G:Ga adidas JUtliv�' yr ALL... 2 PRICE or LESS ALL F9OTWEAR % IP OFF Seas Our New... 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