GAWS loses $250K

GEELONG’S new animal welfare society board has posted a $250,000 loss, according to its annual report.
The figure was a blowout of more than $240,000 on the final year of the previous board.
Nineteen directors left Geelong Animal Welfare Society (GAWS) in the past financial year following a bitter animal activists’ campaign to introduce a no-kill policy.
The campaign included illegal video footage of GAWS staff euthanasing animals and alleged death threats against members.
The new board is continuing to seek expulsion of members for unspecified breaches of society rules. Media has been banned from attending hearings and the board refuses to comment.
The annual report said the society had no significant changes to its state of affairs during the financial year.
President Joyce Doherty said in the report that “an air of life and optimism now pervades the society and the results are indisputable’’.
The annual report showed a significant cut in the number of dogs put down, as much as 40 per cent, but cat deaths remained mostly unchanged.
Executive director Belinda Russo said in the annual report that, “saving lives comes at a cost’’.
The society’s “new focus moving forward’’ was to ensure its new programs were “financially sustainable for the long-term”, she said.
The annual report refused to outline future GAWS plans for fear of an adverse response.
“Likely developments in the operations of the society and the expected results of those operations in future financial years have not been included in this report as the inclusion of such information is likely to result in unreasonable prejudice to the society,” the report said.
Security staff were posted at the annual meeting and attempted to turn away at least one life member.