This was probably predictable: Proposed Los Angeles Animal Services chief draws criticism
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Daily Breeze reporter Donna Littlejohn has shared her homes with a succession of wonderful, funny, and occasionally difficult canines -- Muffin, Fritz, Ellie, Mercy, Pilgrim and now Cowboy, an Australian shepherd-border collie, and Tess, a border collie. From strong-willed terriers to weirdly obsessed Australian shepherds, they've invaded her world with boundless energy, wet noses, muddy paws and soggy tennis balls. But they've really brought so much more than that -- like laughter and joy, some unexpected life lessons, and more than a few tears along the way.
E-mail Donna at donna.littlejohn@dailybreeze.com.
Josh Grossberg grew up with the usual array of animals: goldfish, dogs, hamsters, parakeets and turtles. He now owns the loudest dog in the South Bay(Video: Rocket the Dog) and is the least popular person on his block. He spends his free time in dog parks, pet shops and always has an extra plastic bag in his pocket just in case. He also has a cat.
E-mail Josh at josh.grossberg@dailybreeze.com.
(Kent, WA) Seattle Humane Society (SHS) employees, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to fear of retribution from SHS management, report in the last 18 months SHS has transferred in over 120 Skagit/Everett dogs and 90 American Eskimos from Kennewick, in addition to, over 100 transfers from Kern County, CA. The last 12 Eskimos remain at the shelter 5 months later without enrichment and no interest from rescue due to the fact they are so stressed they try to bite repeatedly rendering them unsafe to handle. Staff report severe overcrowding of the shelter with transferred dogs, lead to injury from fights, illness and high risk of disease spreading to the existing animal population.
Earlier today, Sgt. David Morris, Guild Executive Board member and Lead Cruelty Investigator for KCACC said, “I have serious concerns about our dogs and cats well being if King County turns over control of sheltering to the Humane Society. It is painfully evident they are not properly staffed or equipped to take on a project of this magnitude.”
SHS employees report overcrowding in isolation areas is a real problem due to disease prevention not being a concern of management. Staff has issue with improper housing and ventilation where sick animals are housed especially when the shelter is over capacity. SHS just recently recovered from a bad strain of Calici Virus affecting at least 22 cats. Improper quarantine and willful disregard for Veterinary protocol combined with adverse recommendations from management is of grave concern to SHS staff.
The fact SHS management continuously transfers animals from outside King County, as well as, from hoarder’s, plagues the shelter with disease and should be known to the public. SHS management is continually subjecting the shelter population to preventable disease. In addition, staff is concerned the public does not receive full disclosure of theses conditions during the adoption process or prior to placing animals in foster.
The SHS with around 70 staff has had over 60 employees turnover in the last 18 months, this is over 75%! Staff fears this high rate of attrition is not just the nature of the job, but from a complete lack of attention to training, employee retention and morale by management leading to a lack of continuity in care for the animals. .
AND YOU THINK BOKS WAS BAD, THIS ONE IS WORSE.
Ummm...which critics?
If you boil it down, the job is undoable as it stands. There's no money, too much dead weight in the ranks, political skullduggery and much, much more.
As this department and the city's handling of it stand. There is NOBODY who will be successful here.
The whole system is set up wrong.