When it comes to critters, Maryann Ouellet strives to be a delegate for animal rights and animal rescue.
With a full plate and a big heart, Maryann is the manager of the Kitimat Humane Society, a member of the Kitimat Rotary Club, and involved with the Emergency Support Services in town.
Born in Kimberley B.C., Maryann moved here at a young age when her dad was hired at Alcan. She started her career with the SPCA over 26 years ago and hasn’t looked back since. “I’ve always loved animals as a child and I seem to have a special bond with them”.
Growing up, Maryann thought when she graduated school she would go work for the RCMP’s canine unit. “That’s where I really wanted to be, out there with the dogs and doing the police work.” However, finding a great sense of pride in helping animals, she launched herself into a volunteer program with the SPCA, where she got the opportunity to help care for animals in need. “I’ve always been drawn to animals and actually get a lot of inner peace helping them,” she said.
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Eventually, when an assistant manager position opened up at the SPCA, she took that. This transitioned into full-time management where the opportunity to become a special constable was given to her. “It’s very rewarding and I love what I do,” she said. “It’s a lot of work and a lot of hours but I can honestly say it’s very rewarding and when you’re helping these animals and helping families keep them.”
Absolutely heartbroken by her first case Maryann has promised herself to educate others around her regarding animal rights. “My first case was brought to me by the RCMP where a dog was left on a logging chain in a backyard and was starving to death,” she said. “It was horrendous, the dog couldn’t even stand, she looked like a dinosaur at a museum with a cloth over her ribcage.”
Furious with the owner’s treatment towards the animal, Maryann personally took the dog on, brought her home and for months gave her multiple tiny feedings. “It took me six almost seven months to get that dog healthy.”
Taking her first case to Crown Counsel, Maryann was determined to bring the owner to justice. However, counsel threw out the case because they thought there wasn’t enough sufficient evidence to give the owner a conviction.
Heavily affected by the lack of justice for the dog, Maryann was inspired to keep pushing and offering more education to the public. “This case made me determined that more changes needed to happen. I might not be able to make a big dent in things, but I hoped I made small dents in areas like improving education and making sure proper procedures are in place, […] there’s still a lot of work to be done but I’m not going to give up.”
Maryann learnt about special counsels and laws regarding animal rights through her early years at the SPCA. However, the shelter separated from the SPCA in 2005 and started the Kitimat Humane Society. “We formed our own society so we could maintain the same practices locally but also help other animals around the north,” said Ouellet. “We continued down that path and we’ve been independent since then.”
To help obtain the experience Maryann needed for her profession, she praised the many connections she’s made along the way. “I’ve taken some courses on my own and the BSPCA was a big learning tool, but any experience I maintained after we parted ways has been either my own personal training, the justice institute, or working with different RCMP officers,” she said. “I also have a friend that’s retired from the Vancouver Police Department and he’s been very helpful.”
Maryann continues to work as manager of the Kitimat Humane Society where she continues to educate others about animal cruelty and help animals in need. She hopes that people continue to educate themselves about animal rights and emphasized the support the Kitimat Humane Society offers to all.
“If there’s ever any need for assistance, will go beyond trying to help people, there’s no reason for your animal to sit there. Whether it’s medical needs, groomers, to someone taking care of it, that’s why we’re here. We want to play a big role in the community in any way we can.”