The following SRAC letter was disseminated by email on December 2, 2002.
SRAC CALLS FOR THE RESIGNATION OF LARRY HAWK AND JOHN M.B. O'CONNOR FROM CACC'S BOARD, CITING CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, COLLUSION AND INDIFFERENCE TO THE WELFARE OF SHELTER ANIMALS
Larry Hawk is a veterinarian and the president of the ASPCA (salary $301,000).
John M.B. O'Connor is a wealthy partner at JP Morgan Partners and sits on the ASPCA board.
Both men also sit on the newly composed board of the CACC.
SRAC has had lengthy communications with both men and has found that neither brings the honesty, compassion and integrity that is needed to clean up the CACC mess. The conflicts of interest are obvious. Both have stated to SRAC that neither intends to fundraise for CACC (while the ASPCA rakes in millions with national fundraising campaigns), and both have shown a callous indifference to the serious and genuine internal problems that plague CACC due to incompetent and dishonest management.
Dr. Hawk told SRAC that he saw no need for the newly-formed Mayor's Alliance for Animals, which will bring in millions of dollars from the California-based Maddie's Fund to support rescue adoptions and spaying/neutering. But when Dr. Hawk's position was publicly revealed by SRAC, he denied it. This breach of honesty was followed by an unconscionable display of arrogance and carelessness.
Recently, SRAC was contacted by several CACC employees, including two veterinarians, who tell a number of disturbing and shocking stories of recent conduct by CACC employees and managers that is not only improper but may in fact be criminal. They include:
- unlicensed vet techs performing euthanasias
- controlled drugs being ordered by staff instead of vets
- records being improperly confiscated
- records being altered
- the majority of animals not being photographed on intake
- dogs being stolen by employees
- a DOH bite holding case disappeared prior to its 10 days rabies observation period
- orders by managers to cover up mistakes (including the above not being reported to DOH)
When we directed these whistleblowers to contact Dr. Hawk, they did -- and he never returned their calls. Instead, Dr. Hawk states the he passed on our concerns to CACC management-- who of course declares the claims are untrue (and then laid off two of the employees claiming staff cuts for budget reduction). SRAC then complained to Dr. Hawk about his conduct, threatening a lawsuit, upon which we received the following message from Dr. Hawk's colleague, John O'Connor:
"It seems we are spending an inordinate amount of time being distracted by Mr Kaskel. If he chooses to initiate some formal proceedings we should handle appropriately. Otherwise it seems a distraction for either the Board or Staff to spend any time with him."
To add insult to injury, these two are steering the executive search committee to find CACC's next Executive Director. Will they be allowed to install another underqualified patsy to now be compatible with the ASPCA's goals of remaining (as Dr. Hawk put it) "the 500 pound gorilla of the humane community"?
It is obvious that these two men have shown their true colors and they fall short of what New Yorkers deserve as public custodians of the lost, stray and injured animals. PLEASE CONTACT THEM AND INSIST THEY RESIGN NOW.
Dr. Larry Hawk
tel: 212-876-7700x4603
fax: 212-876-9571
e-mail: larryh@aspca.org
John M.B. O'Connor
tel: 212-899-3700
fax: 917-464-8503
e-mail: joc@JPMorganPartners.com
Your communications to them and to Mayor Bloomberg c/o the Deputy Mayor
Marc Shaw
tel: 212-788-3137
fax: 212-788-3127
e-mail: mshaw@cityhall.nyc.gov
will make a difference to the shelter animals who suffer and die due to these uncaring, morally bankrupt individuals.
Please take the time to demand justice for those without a voice. Thank you.
-Gary Kaskel, co-chair, SRAC
(212) 876-0090