Hay River SPCA criticized over use of donations
The organization collected $10,996 from the public last spring
The Hay River SPCA is being accused of mishandling donations from the public.
It raised just under $11,000 last spring through the Super A grocery store, but some who donated say they thought the money was intended for a program that subsidized the cost of spaying and neutering pets. That is no longer being offered.
Heather Foubert, president of the SPCA, says she has received threats due to what she says is a misunderstanding over the donations.
She says the money was not attached to any particular program.
"Funds were not raised specifically for that program; it was always paid from the funds that the town provided in our allowance, and not from donations," says Foubert.
In past years the money has been solicited directly to fund the spay and neuter program, but this year Foubert says it was intended for another purpose. Social media posts remaining from this year's campaign do not mention the spay and neuter program.
"I made it known at that time that we were hoping to save up towards a new shelter, as we were rapidly outgrowing the old one," she says.
The Hay River SPCA no longer runs the animal shelter. It was turned over to the town in August after months of sparring with town council.
Foubert says the SPCA has other plans for the money, though she would not specify what exactly it plans to do. In a reply to a public Facebook thread about the issue, she said the SPCA is working on plans for "an independent facility," suggesting that the plan did not die with the loss of the animal shelter.