The Chilliwack Animal Safe Haven Society (CASH), a Fraser Valley nonprofit and no-kill cat shelter, has had a tumultuous year so far. 

Three board members and a consultant have stepped down after pushback from supporters, who say the board members don’t live in Chilliwack and were selected without the backing of its wider membership.

On Friday, the society released a statement to “clarify online rumours that have been damaging to the organization,” and announced the resignations of board members Ayelet Cohen Weil, Chris Kamachi, and Rebeka Breder a little more than a month after their appointment. Their resignation happened days after newly appointed consultant Eyal Litchmann stepped down.

“Due to misunderstandings surrounding the recent appointments of three board members, it was mutually agreed that stepping down is in the best interest of the Society to allow the organization to move forward with clarity and unity,” said Chilliwack Animal Safe Haven.

One of the (so far unfounded) accusations being thrown at the animal sanctuary is that the Richmond-based Regional Animal Protection Society (RAPS) is quietly taking over CASH operations. 

The gossip heated up when a GoFundMe page was set up by CASH supporters to raise money for legal action against an alleged RAPS takeover. The fundraiser creators believe RAPS—another animal nonprofit—want the five-acre land parcel, valued at $2.5 million, where CASH is located. There is currently no proof that this accusation is true. The GoFundMe has raised more than $14,000 of its $15,000 goal since going live a week ago. 

CASH representatives say the rumours are “simply not true and never [have] been.” While the two animal nonprofits have a formal partnership, CASH insists that they remain separate entities and RAPS can’t acquire their property.

“The Chilliwack Animal Safe Haven remains an independent organization governed by its own Board of Directors,” the society said. “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.”

The board members who stepped down were all formerly involved with RAPS, with Cohen Weil and Breder having acted as board members for the Richmond organization. But CASH says their expertise was what landed them a board position after the Chilliwack organization struggled to find experienced members willing to serve in a volunteer capacity.

The board says it is permitted to fill vacancies under the Societies Act and its own bylaws without membership approval.

An extraordinary general meeting for CASH members has been scheduled for March 23.