By Jessie Weisner

Former assistant manager says investigation has begun at SPCA

Feb 19, 2019 | 2:35 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — De Seaton , the former assistant manager of the Medicine Hat SPCA, says she’s been contacted by a company hired by the SPCA to conduct an investigation into recent allegations.

The events come after two weeks of allegations of a lack of transparency and public accountability within the organization.
On February 7 the SPCA Board of directors said they were in the process of hiring an outside independent consultant to review recent allegations.

“At this time I can advise I was recently contacted by Mr. John Haney who operates ThreeSixty Analyzing Incorporated out of St. Albert,” said Seaton in a statement.

According to Three Sixty Analysis Incorporated’s website, it provides an array of strategic services including assessing workplace culture and conducting workplace and field investigations.

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“I am told Mr. Haney, who I learned is a retired senior officer with the RCMP, will be handling this matter and will be acting as a third party to conduct an independent, unbiased investigation.”

Seaton says she’s willing to cooperate with the investigation in any way she can, and that she provided the company with a list of eleven additional people that would be willing to be involved.

“If this investigation will truly be independent I fully expect they will be contacted as well.”

It’s currently unknown how long the investigation will be, or what the companies mandate is. 

CHAT News contacted Three Sixty Analysis for more information, but was told they rely upon the businesses and organizations that retain their services to determine what information should be made public, and in this instance, suggested we contact the SPCA.

CHAT News contacted the SPCA Board of Directors and was told they hope to release a statement later today.

Seaton’s full statement reads:

Good afternoon. At this time I would like to give you an update on my situation relating to the complaints and concerns I have expressed relating to the Medicine Hat SPCA (MHSPCA). First, I would like to thank the many people who have contacted me, provided me with information, and more importantly, have and continue to support me.

At this time I can advise I was recently contacted by Mr. John Haney who operates ThreeSixty Analyzing Incorporated out of St. Albert. I understand this business is experienced in all aspects of first response and emergency management operations, including workplace and field investigations, and that they have been hired by MHSPCA. I am told Mr. Haney, who I learned is a retired senior officer with the RCMP, will be handling this matter and will be acting as a third party to conduct an independent, unbiased investigation.

Where I understand ThreeSixty will also be conducting a workplace survey I have advised Mr. Haney that I will cooperate in any way I can. Where I believe Mr. Haney was provided a list of individuals to be contacted for this survey by the MHSPCA, to ensure all proper parties are contacted and involved, I have provided him with a list and contact details of another eleven (11) people that I know are also willing to cooperate and be involved. If this investigation will truly be independent I fully expect they will be contacted as well.

The one thing that is unknown at this time is what exactly will ThreeSixty’s mandate be. I understand that mandate has not yet been finalized, and as of yesterday I provided information to Mr. Haney to specifically identify various issues and incidents I feel must be included if this investigation is to truly be transparent and unbiased. Once I am advised of what the final mandate will be I may then advise my position as to whether or not I believe all the issues of concern will be properly addressed.

As this matter directly relates to the care and well being of the animals who cannot speak for themselves, where I am willing to cooperate with a proper and transparent investigation, I will settle for nothing less.