I introduced Hugh Coghill, the acting Chief Inspector of the OSPCA.  He's been employed in animal welfare for almost 30 years, mostly in Ontario.  His permanent position is as Senior Inspector for the Central Region, which includes Midland.  He's looking forward to dropping the Chief role and focusing back here and stop driving the 400 to head office in Newmarket.
 
The Ontario SPCA began as a volunteer agency, in 1873, that was concerned with both animals and children.  It took 49 years for the government to create legislation that created two agencies - the OSPCA and the Children's Aid.  The mission is to facilitate and provide for Province wide leadership on matters relating to the prevention of cruelty to animals and the promotion of animal welfare.
The OSPCA has 22  directly operated branches and 31 affiliated societies which, between them, field over 200 agents and inspectors.
The primary aim of the OSPCA is education and awareness.  Policing and charges are a last resort.
Hugh was leader of an emergency airlift to Kashechewan. After the people had been evacuated his team flew up to catch 120 dogs, 10 cats, a turtle and some tropical fish and transport them to Sudbury and Timmins, from where they were distributed to other agencies.
Tens of thousands of unwanted and abandoned pets rely on the SPCA for a second chance.  In 2005 over 8,400 were adopted from the Ontario branches.
The Midland Branch is unique, with its Wildlife Centre, which works to promote and encourage the protection of wildlife habitats, to raise public understanding and awareness and to lead by example.
The Midland SPCA building was destroyed by fire in August 2006.  Many animals were lost to smoke inhalation but 17 cats, 6 puppies, 1 dog and two of the permanent house cats were saved.  It was a wonderful old building with a lot of character, but not very efficient, and new plans are being drawn up.  New buildings now don't resort to the rows of cages but provide private spaces for animals.
The Provincial office has committed to rebuilding the local branch and, with almost $200,000.00 of donations and slightly more in insurance, they are well on the way.  There will have to be fund raising and final costs are not known yet.

Doug thanked Hugh for his presentation - giving us the background detail behind the news and said we are all looking forward to the new construction.