Harvey & Vera write the humane society out of their wills

Harvey and Vera Hobbs have been giving to the Sault Ste. Marie Humane Society for the past 10 or 15 years.

If anything had happened to Harvey and Vera before tonight, 25 percent of their estate would have gone to the local animal welfare group.

If anything happens to them after tomorrow, the humane society won't see one thin dime.

Harvey and Vera are very upset at what happened to them at the society's annual general meeting, currently underway at the Knights of Columbus hall.

First thing tomorrow morning, they'll be at their lawyer's office to get their wills changed.

They can't understand why an institution like the Sault Ste. Marie Humane Society would close its annual meeting to the public and refuse to allow them to purchase memberships at the door.

They figure there are more worthy charities to give to than ones that won't act in a transparent and accountable manner.

And Harvey and Vera aren't the only ones who are scratching their heads over the way the humane society's board has been carrying on lately.

"Secrecy? That is something that was never attributed to the society in years past, but it appears things have changed," wrote Doug Millroy, editor emeritus of the Sault Star, in a column in Saturday's paper.

It used to be that the humane society held membership meetings once a month, not just annually.

And everyone was welcome, Millroy recalls.

Only those with paid-up memberships were allowed to vote and speak at tonight's annual meeting.

The society's bylaws define a member in good standing as someone whose membership was paid up at least three months ago.

"Somehow it seems strange to me that an organization that is so eager and so willing to accept donations from the public appears to be so unwilling to let that public know what goes on behind its seemingly closed doors, allowing any knowledge of the workings of the society to filter through only to those willing to ante up the $15 required to get into the annual meeting, the only meeting members who aren't directors get to attend," Millroy wrote.

Harvey, Vera and others without a membership were shown the door tonight.

Humane Society President Ted Osesky didn't return SooToday.com's calls today, so we're unable to report all sides of what tonight's meeting is about.

Millroy says former president Margaret Peterson was seeking changes to some of the bylaws.

For example, one that makes the society's officers vulnerable "to removal from office by resolution of the board at any time with or without cause."

And another that forces directors to practise "the strictest confidentiality on animal welfare issues."

SooToday.com was also barred access to tonight's meeting.

Anyone who was there who wishes to discuss what happened can reach us by e-mailing [email protected] or phoning 941-0664.