Toronto Humane Society chief arrested

TORONTO, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- The head of the Toronto Humane Society and four of his staff have been arrested and charged with cruelty to animals, officials said.

Following an investigation by the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals that began in June, police arrested Tim Trow and staff members Thursday afternoon and closed the shelter to the public, the Toronto Star reported Friday.

Trow, known locally for his opposition to animal euthanasia, made no comment to reporters as he was led away. However, his office pet, a pit bull-Labrador cross lunged at police and had to be pepper sprayed, the report said.

Christopher Avery, a criminal lawyer representing the OSPCA, said the group had mountains of evidence animals were allowed to suffer and die in their cages because of Trow's alleged refusal to euthanize them.

Society spokesman Ian McConachie told the Star the center's treatment regime was no different than hospitals.

"Some animals are old, some are sick, but if you go to (a hospital) it's the same thing with people. Some get better, some pass away. We give them that opportunity," he said.

A guilty conviction for animal cruelty carries a maximum sentence of five years in jail, the report said.