Ashley Behrens’ leadership has been marked by troubling irregularities, harmful decision-making, and a pattern of disregard for the safety and well-being of animals, staff, and volunteers.

Standard shelter protocols — including intake evaluations, behavioral assessments, medical re-evaluations, and established handling procedures — are not being consistently followed. Policies and procedures meant to protect both people and animals are not being enforced.

As a result, staff members and volunteers have been placed in unsafe situations, and injuries have occurred. When incidents happen, the failures in process and supervision are not addressed — instead, the dogs are often blamed and ultimately pay with their lives.

Dogs are being warehoused for extended periods without clear plans for placement, fostering, training, or rehabilitation. Critical decisions about animal outcomes are being made without proper evaluation processes or collaborative team input, disregarding established professional sheltering and animal behavior best practices.

This includes instances where dogs have reportedly been labeled aggressive or unsafe without appropriate assessments, significantly limiting their chances for rescue or adoption.

What the Community Is Demanding

• Immediate removal of Ashley Behrens from the role of Acting Director

• Appointment of an experienced, compassionate, and qualified shelter director

• Leadership that prioritizes safety, transparency, proper evaluations, and collaboration with rescues and the public

• Enforcement of clear safety protocols to protect staff, volunteers, and the animals in their care

They cannot tell their story. They cannot ask for help. 
We must be their voice — because they are counting on us to save them.