In-fighting stirs up Derry Humane Society

DERRY — There's a bit of a cat fight going on within the ranks of The Greater Derry Humane Society.

The head of the foster cat program has been ousted and she's asking the attorney general to look into the society's financial records.

"It's a mess," said Barbara McCarthy, president of the Greater Derry Humane Society.

But McCarthy claims the "mess" falls on the shoulders of Megan Puzzo, the former head of the cat foster care program and a current board member.

"We started getting a few complaints about how the cat program was being handled," McCarthy said.

She said Puzzo was "very unorganized." There were no clear records of where cats were being fostered or even what foster homes were active, she said.

But Puzzo, a longtime volunteer, said she did a good job. And she has some questions about the society's management and financial records.

McCarthy recently removed Puzzo and another volunteer from the foster cat program. Before that, Puzzo said, McCarthy had given her full control. That included making appointments for cats to go to veterinarian and handling all other business associated with that program.

"We worked well, we had about 10 foster homes," Puzzo said. "We made a lot of wonderful friends."

She said about 70 cats were adopted last year under her care. She also fosters cats herself.

"We educated everyone. There are loads of cats out there and we got them adopted," she said. "We pushed and pushed."

Now, Puzzo said, she thinks she has been punished because she pushed McCarthy to show her the group's financial records.

Puzzo, one of 15 board members, said McCarthy refused to show her the records — and she found that strange.

She also said the society owes her $900 for a veterinarian bill. All she wants now, she said, is the money owed her and to know the cats are being cared for properly.

Puzzo said she tried many times to contact McCarthy to work things out, but never got a response.

Now she's asking the state for help. She said she received a response from the attorney general's office, indicating they may look into the group's financial records.

"It's getting out of hand, but I just wanted to help the cats," Puzzo said. "I know in my heart I have done nothing wrong."

McCarthy, too, said she just wants to help the cats.

"We have nothing to hide," she said. "This is so petty. This is not the way to help animals."

Now, she said, it's now a scramble to get the program back on track.

McCarthy admitted she should have kept closer watch of the foster cat program and its management.

"It was a mistake, we should have pushed it a lot harder a lot sooner," she said.

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Want to help?

Anyone interested in fostering cats or dogs can contact the Greater Derry Humane Society at 434-1512 or visit derryhumanesociety.com.