The Niagara SPCA is under pressure yet again, as three board members have resigned alleging bad practices and a lack of transparency. 

Kathy Paradowski is frustrated. She's the former board member for the Niagara County SPCA and was a whistleblower in 2012, when staff members were accused of euthanizing animals by the hundreds in a few months.

"We have a shelter for a reason and that shelter isn't giving the community any help," Paradowski said. “When they reach out to the shelter for help, they are turned away. They are told to stop helping cats.” 

Since September 2018, at least seven board members have resigned, citing they can no longer be connected to the shelter. 

Donna Shephard and Jennifer Pitarresi have also given their resignation. Pitarresi was a board member for seven years and served as president.

“A dog had been euthanized in its kennel, which is against policy, and left there to die on the cold concrete floor,” she said.

Her concerns grew as complaints from the community and animal rescue groups were on the rise as far back as January.

The former executive director, Amy Lewis, who was working as a consultant at the Niagara SPCA also left, no longer wanting to be working with the current executive director, Timothy Brennan.

Brennan didn't have a background with animals, but did have work history in development. 

“The things that (Amy) was trying to raise was not coming to the board,” Pitarresi said. “That was problematic. It should have (been). Transparency is very important to a non-profit and especially a shelter.”

Bryan Barish, a long-serving board member who was on the euthanasia committee, also resigned last Wednesday.

He stated that the 93 percent save rate touted by the shelter was incorrect because euthanizations at this "no-kill shelter" were not being reported. 

"I found that there was several breeches in the euthanasia policy, where they had put animals down without going through our committee,” Barish said. “There were 70 dogs or animals that they euthanized that they didn't report.”

Around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 11, the Niagara SPCA posted on Facebook saying in part:

"The Niagara SPCA was notified last week that three of its board members were resigning. This is certainly unfortunate, and we thank them for their service over the years. Over the next few months, the organization will work towards adding collaborative members to the board AND enhancing policies proposed by a newly formed quality assurance committee..."

Three hours later, that post was deleted.

Brennan did not immediately respond to an interview request.