Rabbit Advocacy Animal Matters

Welland ends effort to save injured wildlife  

October 4, 2013 St. Catherine’s Star  

WELLAND  -  A humane death is now all that can be done for wild animals in the care of Welland and District Humane Society. Responding to complaints from neighbouring residents, the City of Welland recently ordered Ministry of Natural Resources licensed wildlife rehabilitator Mary-Catharine Kuruziak to stop operating her at her Wright St. home off Ontario Rd.

The humane society had relied on her to take care of injured, orphaned or displaced critters, said humane society executive director John Greer. The city sent Kuruziak a letter dated Aug. 27, saying her property does not have appropriate zoning to allow it to be used for the care of wild animals that are brought to her. 

But Kuruziak, who has volunteered her time and expertise to providing the service since 1984, said she has no government funding and can’t afford the city’s $2,700 fee to apply for the site-specific zoning amendment she needs to continue the service. “Why do I do this? Because there is a need,” Kuruziak said Thursday. “I’ve recognized that need for years now.”

She said working with injured animals such as raccoons to foxes is a labour of love, and she finds it extremely difficult that she’s now unable to save them. “It breaks my heart,” Kuruziak said, fighting back tears. “Killing native Welland and Niagara wildlife is something I cannot bring myself to do.”

At Tuesday’s city council meeting, Ward 6 Coun. Jim Larouche thanked city staff for resolving “a very difficult situation.” “The whole neighbourhood was being affected by the operations of this particular resident,” he said. “But through the co-operation of our staff, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the humane society, we were able to go in and assess the situation. The recommendations were that the property be cleaned up and no such operations be allowed in the future.”

Greer said the humane society was not involved in the city’s efforts to shutdown the wildlife centre, adding there has never been a need to investigate her property. “Mary was a huge resource,” Greer said.

Without Kuruziak, Greer said the agency now has no alternative but to kill wild animals in its care. Under provincial legislation, if wild animals are not brought to a wildlife rehabilitator within 24 hours of capture, he said, those animals must be euthanized.

“I think it’s very disturbing,” Greer said. “It puts us in a bad position. Our mandate is very clear.” He said the humane society is also taking a financial hit, paying to dispose of the wildlife carcasses. “There’s only one company that does that now, and they’re way out and it’s costing us a fortune,” Greer added, referring to a company in Atwood, Ont. “It’s a double hit for us.”

The MNR confirmed Friday that Kuruziak remains a licensed rehabilitator — the only one in the region qualified to take care of every kind of animal, with the exception of bears. Her property, which includes several now empty enclosures in the backyard, was recently inspected by the MNR and complies with the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, the ministry said.