Hundreds sign petition calling on remaining Chilliwack Animal Safe Haven execs to resign

CHILLIWACK — Shortly after the resignation of three new executive members of Chilliwack Animal Safe Haven, residents are now seeing a petition launched and a rally called, urging the remaining six members and the interim executive director to step down.

On Friday, March 6, the animal shelter issued a statement saying Ayelet Cohen, Chris Kamachi and Rebeka Breder have now all resigned from the Board of Directors to “allow the organization to move forward” collaboratively with the community.

Only three hours later, Chilliwack resident and business figure Amber Price launched a petition recognizing their resignations as “a very welcome move” that seems “too little, too late”.

“Over the past few days, the interim President and Executive Director have been vehemently defending these individuals’ roles in the organization on Social Media, and even allowed Eyal Lichtmann to post an unsavoury/unprofessional rant on their official website,” she wrote.

Lichtmann, CEO of the Regional Animal Protection Society (RAPS), had been working as an organizational consultant to help Safe Haven grow its operations, but resigned on March 1 for reasons similar to those of the other three.

The shelter then addressed reports alleging that RAPS was “taking over” Safe Haven – a detail noted in Price’s petition.

“This is simply not true and never has been. The Chilliwack Animal Safe Haven remains an independent organization governed by its own Board of Directors,” the shelter added. “In spite of repeatedly dismissing this rumour, a GoFundMe program was started unnecessarily. Ideally, these funds could have gone to the cats in our care.”

Differing takes on agency

Safe Haven is still working with RAPS veterinarians, Haven Veterinary Services, and local veterinary clinics to continue caring for its cats, but in her latest rally call, Price lists the Richmond-based agency’s involvement as extending beyond veterinary teamwork, writing:

“A shadow continues to lurk, and the remaining six board members all complied with

– Allowing wrongful staff dismissals to be carried out by their President

– Threats, accusations and surveillance of staff on medical leave

– Allowing Eyal Lichtmann’s unprofessional rant to be published on the Safe Haven website (where it still remains)

– Condoning membership interference by not demanding that RAPS remove their membership drive from their website

– Allowing the number of cats in the shelter to fall to under 1/3 of the Safe Haven’s capacity

– Allowing senior staff to engage in unprofessional dialogue on social media platforms

– Severing longstanding relationships with local veterinarians in favour of RAPS

– Putting the Safe Haven at risk of a land grab/takeover.”

The shelter noted that the free veterinary care, as well as dental extractions and cleanings at 75 per cent of typical costs from RAPS, has allowed the group to stretch donor dollars further.

Finances have been a key factor in the organization’s recent decisions, with Cohen initially being appointed based on her fundraising and relationship-management record, and the shelter seeking more volunteers to help provide care while reducing operational costs.

Safe Haven still maintains that it is a no-kill shelter, and cats are not euthanized due to high needs or associated costs.

The petition has 379 signatures at the time of writing.

Price is organizing a rally today and tomorrow, from noon to 2 p.m., at Five Corners to raise awareness ahead of the upcoming general meeting vote on March 23.