In matter of weeks Prince George's SPCA has lost two staff members, who resigned citing complaints of bullying, and the rest of its eight-member community council, also to resignation.
One staff member remains on stress leave.
Former branch manager Angela McLaren gave her notice March 20, followed days later by contract fundraiser Andrea Sowers on March 25.
"I have had to endure ongoing ridicule, humiliation, loss of dignity, my identity and the ultimate loss of my ability to safely work in a now toxic environment," wrote McLaren in the notice. She had been on stress leave for five weeks after four years on the job.
"Due to bullying and harassment my doctor didn't feel it was safe for me to return to the environment," said McLaren, who is 18 weeks pregnant.
About three weeks ago, the two made a complaint through WorkSafeBC. None of the allegations have been proven while BC SPCA and WorkSafeBC investigate.
Lorie Chortyk, BC SPCA spokeswoman said they have been cooperating with WorkSafeBC.
"There's definitely been a staffing issue between some individuals that we've been dealing with," said Chortyk, but couldn't say for how long, citing staff privacy. "We don't have evidence of harassment at this point but obviously we want to cooperate in any way and get to the bottom of this."
The provincial organization has sent up an interim manager to help with the North Cariboo District Branch, which Chortyk said is functioning as usual. The location has six full-time kennel attendants, one part-time and seven on casual.
Chortyk said complaints involving staff present an awkward situation when made public.
"In situations like this we obviously have to respect privacy of employees and not discuss their personnel files but people they have the ability to go out and say anything they want out there."
On March 10, the chair of the community council emailed the BC SPCA to advise that three quarters of the members were resigning due to the treatment of its branch manager.
McLaren said she has been having problems with some members of staff throughout her four years as manager, which she said the BC SPCA knew about.
"We were always encouraged not to do formal reports. A lot of it's been verbal over the phone, and I do have some emails," said McLaren, who could not provide copies of the emails as she was out of the country.
She said she had them printed, but was shut out of her email while on stress leave, so couldn't forward them.
"When there's three of us saying the same thing, then you have to recognize there's something definitely going on."
Sowers said while her direct supervisor at the provincial office was very helpful and supportive, she was also told not to make a formal complaint.
When asked if staff would ever be advised not to make a formal complaint, Chortyk said "Absolutely not. We have a very clear policies around respectful workplaces."
In her resignation letter, McLaren said what she considered bullying was treated as a personality conflict between staff.
Sowers, who started at the shelter in July after four years as a volunteer, described the workplace as stressful and intimidating.
"There's been silliness, name calling, just constant accusations of wrongdoing, all kinds of things," said Sowers, who was reluctant to speak for fear of its impact on her family. "I'm angry, I'm hurt, I'm scared."
Sowers said the annual fundraising gala in May, an event she'd been organizing, is now cancelled because none of the volunteers wanted to be involved. This year's target goal was $50,000.
"Once everybody found out what was going on, they don't want to support (it)."
Chortyk said the organization respects the volunteers decision to step away.
"I think in respect to the community council volunteers, I think when there's personalities involved, people have alliances or loyalties to certain people so we certainly understand that there could be reasons that people are taking that step," Chortyk said.
Norma Allison, one of the council members who resigned, said loyalty has nothing to do with it.
"I wouldn't say that it's based on how friendly I am with the manager," said Allison, who has volunteered at Prince George branch since 1973 and on-and-off as a council member for 10 years.
"It's because I don't believe she is getting the support that she requires in order to perform her duties," said Allison, who said she hasn't been witness to any of the alleged bullying but could see that McLaren was increasingly distressed.
"Since (McLaren's) been here, she's brought down the statistics of euthanasia, and animals being returned to the shelter from adoptive parents. She has done such good things with the animal related programs."
McLaren said in the last two years she helped to increase the live release for cats by 35 per cent, from starting point of 55 per cent to 95 per cent.
That increase has been a focus for the SPCA across the province, said Chortyk. The North Cariboo Branch now sits at 89 per cent, compared to the provincial average of 87 per cent.
Michael Fazakas, chair of the community council, sent the resignation email representing six of the eight council members.
"The lack of support from provincial office for its managers did not sit well with the majority of the community council members," said Fazakas, who was McLaren's friend previous to his time on council.
He said he was surprised that no one at the organization reached out to the community council for input following their resignation.
"Very lackluster response."
The AGM to vote in the new council members is Tuesday night, but McLaren said filling those spots might be a challenge as candidates must have renewed membership for 30 days prior to be voting on council.
Kathi Travers, who sat on the provincial board for nine years but left in June, said she brought the issue up several years ago.
"I'm outraged by it," said Travers of McLaren's situation, adding past managers have also had complaints. "Let's face it there's always three sides to every story, but this story I've been hearing too long."
But Chortyk said the board wasn't the right body to make the complaint; that all complaints should be through its human resources department.
Said Travers, "I don't think the board could have done much about it. I think the management should have done something about it."
Again Chortyk cited privacy rules preventing the BC SPCA discussing any allegations of previous complaints.
"There is no way we would not be dealing with it fully and quickly and I know that that's happening," she said.
