Montgomery County SPCA, Pa. amid backlash Facing scrutiny by the attorney general

Pennsylvania’s attorney general has launched an audit of the Montgomery County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, deepening scrutiny of the wealthy shelter amid a leadership change and ongoing reforms.

A spokeswoman for Attorney General Michelle A. Henry declined to confirm the existence of an investigation. But staff said they became aware of the inspection earlier this month, and SPCA board president April Lownes-Hostler confirmed the shelter was cooperating with the state attorney’s office.

“We have been in communication with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office and plan to fully cooperate with the request for information,” Lownes-Hostler said. “While we cannot comment further, it is long-standing MCSPCA policy to voluntarily cooperate and share information with all of our regulators, and we continue to do so throughout this transition period.”

Audit is the most important government action to follow Inquirer investigation The case has uncovered signs of mismanagement, dangerous conditions and animal abuse at the state’s wealthiest animal sanctuary. Since that report was published in September, the SPCA board has called for a number of changes amid outcry from animal welfare advocates and shelters in the area.

” READ MORE: 7 things you need to know about our investigation into the wealthy but rundown Montco SPCA

Longtime executive director Carmen Ronio, 79, resigned from his post In early October, the shelter’s 52-year run came to an end. At the time, the board announced it was establishing a “Management Oversight Committee” to provide greater oversight to shelter managers; Many of these managers had been the subject of staff complaints regarding leadership practices and allegations of animal mistreatment.

On October 14, Lownes-Hostler announced that Tracie Graham would assume the role of interim executive director while the board began a national search to find a permanent replacement for Ronio.

Graham, 50, had been the shelter manager at the nonprofit’s Perkiomenville branch since 2012. Before that, she worked at other nonprofit and open-door animal shelters and earned numerous animal welfare certifications, according to an announcement letter sent to staff.

“He knew our staff and operations well and was always passionate about our mission,” the board president wrote in his letter inviting staff to submit ideas on how to improve the shelter during the transition.

” READ MORE: Montco SPCA general manager retires after reviewing wealthy shelter’s operation

Graham also comes from a family of animal welfare advocates; One of them asked questions about the shelter’s supervision. Graham’s daughter, Terry Gilligan, is a dog warden in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Dog wardens are state employees of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Dog Law Enforcement Bureauthe agency that issues kennel licenses, conducts inspections, and provides one of the few oversight mechanisms for animal rescues in the state. Dog wardens have received numerous complaints this year about conditions and practices at the Montco SPCA; Several of these were forwarded to Gilligan, according to people who spoke with him.

Lownes-Hostler said she wasn’t worried the bureau would go easy on the SPCA because of the mother-daughter relationship.

“We believe that the Bureau and the Department of Agriculture will take appropriate steps to ensure that the process remains impartial, and we understand that measures are already in place to address any real or perceived conflicts of interest,” he said in an email.

A Department of Agriculture spokesman said Gilligan disclosed the familial relationship when he was hired two years ago. While on the job, he “referred complaints and questions about (Montco SPCA) shelters to his supervisor for other dog wardens to handle.”//According to public inspection records, Gilligan did not conduct a formal inspection of any of the shelters. Three SPCA shelters in Montco.

Located within the Office of the Chief Public Prosecutor a chapter Organization that investigates nonprofits and other charities to ensure funds are used legally. A spokesman said the office could investigate matters ranging from fraud to abuse to regulatory compliance issues.

Although details about the attorney general’s audit remain scant, the Montco SPCA reported assets of over $67 million at the end of 2023; This is a huge sum compared to the meager coffers available at most animal rescue operations. Yet The Inquirer found that shelter leaders spend just $3 million a year on operations at its three locations in Conshohocken, Abington and Perkiomenville.

Volunteers and staff said that despite its wealth, conditions in the kennels injured the dogs. Compared to other regional shelters, foster care and adoption programs were virtually non-existent. The euthanasia rate in Montco was the highest in the region, according to the Inquirer’s analysis.

” READ MORE: Euthanasia, understaffing and broken kennels are common at Montco’s ultra-rich SPCA

Lownes-Hostler also informed staff that the shelter has accepted an offer from the Pennsylvania SPCA to provide on-site management assistance next month.

“PSPCA staff have decades of experience and will conduct an objective evaluation to provide the Board with an unbiased evaluation of our practices, policies and procedures,” the letter said.

“We truly appreciate your work during this difficult time,” the letter continued. “We are confident that we will emerge stronger and more committed to our mission than ever before.”