Police have been brought in to conduct an investigation of unspecified irregularities at the Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan. It’s the latest development following the resignation of former Director Jill Svoboda and several staff members. The Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan Board of Directors released a statement Friday, saying members went to the organization’s shelter following Svoboda’s resignation and found it “surprisingly difficult” to locate adoption documents, digital data, usernames and passwords for a variety of services, and other records. It says they also “observed irregularities that concerned us enough to contact law enforcement, which is now engaged in an investigation” while digging through computer records. The board adds “everything is secure at present. We caution those who use social media as their news source to refrain from relying upon rumors. The animals entrusted to us are doing well.”
Below is the board’s full statement, as given to Moody on the Market:
“On February 23rd 2021, the Humane Society’s Executive Director abruptly resigned with little more than an hour’s notice. Board members arrived at the shelter the morning after the Executive Director’s surprise resignation, and learned for the first time that other key staff members had resigned as well. Unfortunately for the Humane Society’s day-to-day operations, many things like adoption documents, digital data, usernames and passwords for a variety of services, and other important records have been surprisingly difficult to locate. While trying to locate information on computer systems, we observed irregularities that concerned us enough to contact law enforcement, which is now engaged in an investigation. We intend to refrain from commenting on the status of that investigation until it is completed. The Board responded quickly in a difficult situation, including continuing to prepare for a pending annual audit.
We would like to say to donors and volunteers, everything is secure at present. We caution those who use social media as their news source to refrain from relying upon rumors. The animals entrusted to us are doing well. Our animals are not being sent to a kill shelter. Please be patient and let the process work in an organized manner. We will do our best to keep you informed of important developments. With the help of our dedicated kennel techs we’re continuing to love and care for the animals entrusted to us.”
