Apr
4

Newmarket SPCA: Is THIS Who We Want Running the Facility? Really?

Jim Sykes left behind a defecit of $400,000.00 after leaving the Hamilton SPCA in 2009.

Last week we began a discussion of the Newmarket SPCA shelter. We told you there was more to come, we told you we would tell you things the OSPCA doesn’t want you to know. Whatever comments OSPCA minions may make in this forum, I want you all to remember ONE thing. If I can’t back it up with fact I don’t print it. Every single subject that I write on is researched. All the information contained in posts concerning the Newmarket SPCA shelter is a matter of public record, all I have done here is put it together so the picture it paints is clear. That having been said, let’s discuss Jim Sykes, the Chief Operating Officer of the Newmarket SPCA shelter.

He is one of the few upper management staff at the shelter that actually has a background in animal care, but when we examine that background we begin to question why he was hired for his present position. On paper Sykes might seem qualified, but his track record during former employment with the Hamilton SPCA should have been enough to ensure he not be considered for his present position.

Sykes was employed at the Hamilton shelter from 2004 – 2009. He was the President and CEO of that facility. While he served in that position Sykes was instrumental in bringing dogs into Hamilton from Louisiana. They became known as the Katrina Dogs. While the Hamilton facility kept the bulk of the dogs, some were farmed out to other OSPCA facilities. The dogs were sold for $470.00 each. It is now known that those dogs carried heartworm. Reported heartworm cases have increased dramatically, and are now affecting Ontario wildlife.

In 2008 the Board of directors of the Hamilton SPCA under the leadership of Jim Sykes, attempted an amalgamation with a group called TEAD (The Equestrian Association for the Disabled.) TEAD employees were being paid with Hailton SPCA money. Jim Sykes was the chairman of the TEAD board of directors. The situation lead to litigation. Jim Sykes left the Hamilton SPCA in September of 2009 to begin his newly appointed position at the Newmarket facility in October of 2009. Sykes left the Hamilton facility $400,000.00 in the red! In 2010, the new board of directors requested an in-depth audit into the finances of the Hamilton facility.

Given this knowledge, why is Sykes still in a management position at an OSPCA facility? Your guess is as good as mine! When your only claim to fame is failure, why on earth would anyone hire you and give you a chance to repeat your past mistakes? It would never happen in the business sector, someone who had left the legacy of almost half a million dollars debt would never be considered for a management position again, but…it’s ONLY tax payers money, and they are ONLY animals! (Sarcasm)

Is this what citizens of Newmarket. Ontario want for their animal shelter? Somehow I doubt it!

Until Tomorrow Remember

BE THE CHANGE YOU SEEK!

Janette

April 4, 2011 // Posts by Viktor // 3 Comments //

3 Comments to “Newmarket SPCA: Is THIS Who We Want Running the Facility? Really?”

April 4, 2011 at 10:53 am
Diane Symons says:

These are things that go on and these are the problems why our animals suffer…it is called $

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- April 4, 2011 at 7:37 pm
  Lynn says:
  
  That’s exactly right Diane. $$$$$ and greed that’s the bottom line
  
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November 5, 2011 at 3:57 pm
Sam says:

Where do you people manage to find these “sources”? You claim to never post anything without doing research to back-up your comments! Wow you must have a very conveluted idea of what a RELIABLE source is…or did you just read what the newspapers say and believe everything you read? I can assure you that not one comment you make is valid, and it appears you take pieces of information and post it without including the reliable information that shows what you are saying is wrong. As a voting member at the HBSPCA before, throughout, and after Jim Sykes’ career at the organization I can provide information that shows just how educated you are.

First of all:

“In 2008 the Board of directors of the Hamilton SPCA under the leadership of Jim Sykes, attempted an amalgamation with a group called TEAD (The Equestrian Association for the Disabled.) TEAD employees were being paid with Hailton SPCA money. Jim Sykes was the chairman of the TEAD board of directors. The situation lead to litigation.”

You talk as if Jim Sykes made the decision to amalgamate the two organizations. Yes he was the chairman of the board of TEAD, so he did bring up the IDEA of amalgamation, however he had no authority in the decision making process. The idea is first brought to the SPCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS who decides whether they agree that the idea matches with the long term goal of the organization. If the majority of the board agrees then a meeting is called to the SPCA membership to VOTE on the decision to amalgamate. When this vote occurred the SPCA membership voted FOR the amalgamation as they felt that the two organizations shared a mutual vision of “people helping animals, animals helping people.” Also, the SPCA money used to pay TEAD staff was recorded and kept track of as a LOAN that would be paid back when donations were received by TEAD’s upcoming charity events. Litigation requests occurred as the board of directors changed slightly after Sykes resigned and they needed a better understanding.

Second of all:

“Jim Sykes left the Hamilton SPCA in September of 2009 to begin his newly appointed position at the Newmarket facility in October of 2009. Sykes left the Hamilton facility $400,000.00 in the red! In 2010, the new board of directors requested an in-depth audit into the finances of the Hamilton facility.”

When Jim Sykes began his career at the SPCA we were near a $1 MILLION dollar deficit so I’d say bringing that down to a mere $400,000.00 is an extremely successful CEO. On top of that,if you had done your research, you would understand that the new boards quote of $400, 000 included money spent organizing charity events (galas, etc) that were occurring AFTER Sykes left and so that money would be replaced. And oops, again you managed to leave out that they were JUST completing construction on the HBSPCA’s in-house vet clinic that would save them hundreds of thousands of dollars spent each year on vet bills for spay and neuters.

Of course you seem to be very good at omitting all of the positives, like the numerous awards Sykes won NATIONALLY for his work in animal WELFARE and the vast number of programs that he implemented at the HBSPCA that are now used all over CANADA. Programs that have drastically increased adoption rates, decreased return rates, and increased donations and awareness. This is obvious with the fact that the new very CORRUPT board of directors ended or cut back many of these programs just to turn Hamilton back into a “pound” and lose hundreds of donors.

Also, where is the focus on the current board chair, that manipulates its members by falifying and creating deceptive votes. Michael Mogavero is the current chair who the membership is currently rallying to have FORCED out of the organization due to his conflict of interest. A vet owner contracted by the city of Hamilton to perform all of their euthanasias is the chairman of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals? A man who has falsified member votes to secure his position on the board? A chairmen who falsifies documents in order to achieve member support? This is all on the table of things to discuss at the next member meeting and somehow you find yourselves bashing a man who has fought for animal welfare for years and has helped save the lives of many animals? Something you should know… the staff, volunteers, and members of the HBSPCA wish everyday that Jim Sykes would return to fix the mess that the current CEO brainwashed by this CORRUPT board has created.

And finally, one last comment- “taxpayers money” – if you had a clue how charities work you would know that taxes do not contribute to the HB/OSPCA – it is 100% donation based – so you have a choice what you support – the people who hire executives have alot more knowledge than you do, they work in the field and they have all the information. If the crap you were saying was the full information, someone like Jim Sykes would not be rehired.

Get your facts straight! Learn to do real research! Or, more importantly, if you don’t understand the information, don’t comment!

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