Last week newly elected CHS Board Chairman Chris White confidently stated to The Hartford Courant that "We believe we will be completely vindicated by the attorney general."
This week CT Attorney General Richard Blumenthal released an INTERIM report that came closer to vilifying than vindicating Mr. White, the Board of Directors, CHS Management, ex-CHS President Richard Johnston and the entire way The CT Humane Society has been conducting itself as far as animal care, employee, volunteer, and donor relations, as well as financial management. Of special note in the report was Blumenthal's concerns about the conflict of interest of Board members profiting from work done for the charity, including the $30,000 worth of advertising that Mr. White's publications received from CHS.
To view the AG's Report click to George Gombossy's article, Blumenthal Blasts Conn Humane Society Board Practices, Says Hurt Animals and Staff at ctwatchdog.com
Also check out Debra Bogstie's follow up article to the two part series she did on NBC-30 News at AG Urges Changes at Connecticut Humane Society
Personally, I find the fact that the AG felt strongly enough about what was going on at CHS to issue an interim report speaks volumes. To me it says that Richard Blumenthal cares more about the animals, employees, volunteers and reputation of the CT Humane Society than either management or the Board of Directors.
The AG seems to understand that the only way that this charity will continue to be viable is if responsibility is taken for past bad acts AND wide-sweeping changes are made to the Board, management, administration, as well as animal care, volunteer and employee relations.
My question is why Chris White, who has been a board member for 15 years, DOESN’T get that? Does he think that telling the Hartford Courant that “many of the allegations made about the society were not true, or exaggerated”, and denying any financial malfeasance will make me start donating or volunteering again?
I’ve said it before and I will say it until White, the rest of the Board and the current management and administrators of CHS follow their friend and business partner Richard Johnston and resign. Not a dime of my money (or my friend’s and family’s money) to CHS until I see responsibility taken, apologies made and real, permanent change actually take place.
To read the entire group of articles that George Gombossy has written about this, please click over to his CT Humane Society Special Report.
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