A promised statement by the North Bay District Humane Society on its role in yesterday's Leather Trend break-in to save a cat with a tin can stuck on its head, hasn't shed much light on the situation.
See: Main St. break-in saves kittens
OSPCA officer Nicole Driscoll, who responded to the initial call to Leather Trend on Main St. told BayToday that, "The investigation is ongoing and the organization will continue to follow up with the family members and friends of the business owner."
When asked if a member of the Society had entered the building yesterday to check on the cats, Driscoll re-read the statement,
When asked if the cats had been removed or were being cared for Driscoll responded, "My comment will remain the same" then re-read the statement.
The Humane Society has come under fire for its inaction after calls by citizens wanting the organization to exercise its power to enter the store to help the cats were ignored. Instead, a note was left on the door asking the owner to call ASAP.
The store owner, Rob Szalas is presently in the North Bay jail and the store is closed.
A frustrated bystander broke the glass door with a hammer and removed the can from the cat's head. Then, food and water were inserted in the hole in the door.
One commenter wrote, "Rather than take the law into our own hands, we ought to be able to rely on an agency in North Bay which has the authority to take appropriate action."
Meanwhile, Szalas' daughter, Mandy Kailey (Amanda Szalas) disputes the assertion the cats were abandoned.
She wrote on the BayToday comment section, "I feed those cats twice a day before I even eat. I go to my dad's store everyday and make sure those cats are fed before I am. This is nonsense. I make sure these cats are happy and always fed. If you think they aren't taken care of what's the point of breaking the window and not even taking them out. They are happy and healthy. Thank you for being conserened. You need to mind ur own business and worry about your own problems."
BayToday reached out to Kailey for additional comment but received no response.
City police are investigating.
