Demand the HSCC Board Reconsider the Hiring of Doug Rae as Executive Director
Demand the HSCC Board Reconsider the Hiring of Doug Rae as Executive Director
The Issue
To: The Board of Directors, Humane Society of Catawba County
We, the undersigned — animal lovers, community members, donors, volunteers, and advocates of the Humane Society of Catawba County (HSCC) — are calling on the Board of Directors to pause and reconsider the hiring of Doug Rae as Executive Director.
This is not a petition of hatred or personal attack. It is a petition of accountability. And accountability starts with honesty.
WE JUST WENT THROUGH THIS.
Last summer, our community came together to demand the removal of Executive Director Jane Bowers following a formal third-party investigation into toxic leadership and animal welfare concerns. The board acted, and we were promised a new beginning — one built on integrity, compassion, and transparency.
That promise is now in serious question.
A PATTERN OF SILENCE AND DEFLECTION — STARTING FROM DAY ONE.
When the Board of Directors announced Doug Rae's hiring, they posted it publicly — and then deleted it entirely, without explanation.
No acknowledgment. No clarification. No apology. It simply disappeared.
Days later, a new post appeared announcing public Q&A sessions on March 13 and March 14 — again, with no explanation of why the original announcement was removed. The board has never addressed this publicly.
This is not a small thing. When an organization removes an official announcement without explanation, the community deserves to know why. Did the board receive immediate pushback they weren't prepared for? Did they realize the hire would be controversial? Did something change? We don't know — because they haven't told us.
Transparency cannot be selective. You cannot ask the community to approach this "with openness and goodwill" while quietly deleting posts and hoping no one notices.
"DON'T BELIEVE THE NEWS ARTICLES."
Perhaps more troubling than the deleted post is what has happened since. Multiple community members have reported that board members and the interim Executive Director have been personally telling people not to believe the news articles about Doug Rae's past.
Let that sink in.
The news articles in question are not rumors. They are not social media gossip. They are:
-A televised investigative report from WTHR documenting Rae's firing from Indianapolis Animal Care and Control
-A WRTV Call 6 Investigates report detailing allegations against Rae in Colorado — including the use of expired euthanasia medications, dogs with bite histories placed in homes with children, and a surprise inspection by the Colorado Department of Agriculture that confirmed the violations
Rae's own public admission: "It's my fault. I said to my board, this is 100 percent my fault. I should have been all over it and I wasn't."
-Formal, on-record accusations from Fremont County Commissioners alleging Rae weaponized animals in a contract dispute, attacked the board on social media, and refused to meet with the county sheriff
Board members and leadership asking community members to dismiss documented investigative journalism and a candidate's own words is not damage control. It is gaslighting. It is the same kind of opacity that led to the problems with the previous administration.
If the board's response to legitimate public concern is "don't believe what you read," that is itself a red flag.
THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT SHELTER ANIMALS.
Many people in our community may not realize that the Humane Society of Catawba County is not just an animal shelter. HSCC operates a public spay and neuter clinic and offers veterinary services including vaccines to the pets of our community.
That means Doug Rae — a man with documented state inspection violations including the use of expired euthanasia medications, confirmed by the Colorado Department of Agriculture — would have direct oversight and executive authority over the medical care being provided to your pets.
Your dog that comes in to be spayed. Your cat that comes in for vaccines. Your neighbor's animals. Your family's animals.
The same leadership failures that led to animal suffering in Colorado — expired medications, inadequate oversight, violations confirmed by a surprise state inspection — would now be presiding over a clinic that serves the broader public, not just animals surrendered to the shelter.
This is personal. This affects every pet owner in Catawba County.
If the board's own vetting did not fully account for Rae's documented history of medical oversight failures, that is not just an organizational problem. It is a public safety concern.
THE BOARD'S OWN STATEMENT DESERVES SCRUTINY.
In their Q&A announcement, the Board stated Rae was "recently recognized for his exemplary leadership and commitment to high standards at Fremont by the Colorado Department of Agriculture."
We searched for this recognition. Public records from the Colorado Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Animal Protection show that their inaugural BAP Exemplary Service Award went to Teller County Regional Animal Shelter — not the Humane Society of Fremont County. We call on the board to publicly clarify and provide documentation of exactly what award or recognition they are referencing. The community should not have to take this claim on faith.
THE DOCUMENTED RECORD CANNOT BE IGNORED.
Doug Rae's tenure in Colorado has been cited by the board as a success — but the record tells a more complicated story. Former employees under both Doug Rae and Jane Bowers have alleged a strikingly similar practice: instructing staff to delete animals from shelter records when they died or were euthanized, artificially inflating save rate numbers rather than reflecting the true outcomes for animals in their care. The fact that the same allegation has surfaced independently under both leaders is not a coincidence the board can afford to ignore. The community deserves an independent, transparent review of HSCC's own data and records before this hire is finalized.
In 2019, volunteers and former employees accused Rae of warehousing dogs in ways that caused unnecessary suffering, using expired euthanizing medications, allowing dogs with bite histories to go to homes with children, and poorly managing dogs suffering from prolonged kennel stays. A surprise inspection by the Colorado Department of Agriculture confirmed these accusations, uncovering more than a half dozen violations. Rae publicly admitted: "It's my fault. I said to my board, this is 100 percent my fault. I should have been all over it and I wasn't."
Fremont County Commissioners publicly accused Rae of weaponizing animals in a contract dispute, attacking the Board of County Commissioners on social media, and refusing to meet with the county sheriff despite multiple requests — behavior they described as uncivil and no longer capable of being settled on a civil basis.
Before Colorado, Rae was fired from his position directing Indianapolis Animal Care and Control, where he was described as a polarizing figure who faced criticism for his policies, his treatment of animal welfare groups, the public, and his own employees.
With more than 50 candidates applying for this role, the board chose the most controversial one in the pool — and then deleted the announcement when people started asking questions.
THE BOARD MUST ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS — AT THE MARCH 13 AND 14 MEETINGS.
The board has scheduled public Q&A sessions on March 13 (2–3 p.m.) and March 14 (10 a.m.–12 p.m.) at the shelter. We encourage every signer of this petition to attend in person and ask:
Why was the original hiring announcement deleted, and why has the board never explained its removal?
Why are board members and the interim Executive Director telling community members not to believe news articles that are based on documented investigations, state inspections, and the candidate's own words?
Were the 2019 Colorado Department of Agriculture violations — and Rae's public admission of fault — reviewed as part of the vetting process?
Were the Fremont County Commissioners' formal accusations — including the social media attacks, refusal to meet with the county sheriff, and contract dispute conduct — part of the board's due diligence?
What specific award from the Colorado Department of Agriculture is referenced in the board's statement — and can documentation be provided publicly?
With more than 50 candidates, what criteria led to selecting the most controversial applicant?
Were HSCC staff, volunteers, and major donors consulted before this decision was finalized?
WE ARE ASKING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO:
✅ Explain publicly why the original hiring announcement was deleted and never addressed
✅ Stop discouraging community members from engaging with documented journalism and public records
✅ Clarify and document the Colorado Department of Agriculture recognition referenced in their statement
✅ Confirm that Rae's full employment history — including state inspection violations and the Indianapolis firing — was part of the vetting process
✅ Reconsider this hire in light of the pattern of behavior — both Rae's history and the board's own conduct since the announcement
THE ANIMALS ARE COUNTING ON US. 🐾
They cannot sign this petition. They cannot show up to a board meeting. They cannot post on social media or demand answers. They cannot advocate for themselves when leadership fails them.
We can. And right now, we are their only voice.
Every dog waiting in a kennel, every cat curled up in a crate, every animal that comes through the doors of the Humane Society of Catawba County — and every pet brought in for spay, neuter, or vaccines — is depending on the humans around them to make decisions rooted in compassion, honesty, and accountability. They deserve leadership with a clean record. They deserve a board that is transparent with its community. They deserve better than what we have seen this past week.
We came together last summer and we made a difference. We can do it again.
Here is how you can help RIGHT NOW:
✍️ SIGN this petition — every single signature sends a message to the board that this community is paying attention
📲 SHARE this petition — post it to Facebook, text it to your neighbors, share it in every local group you are part of. The more signatures we gather before March 13th, the louder our voice will be in that room
📅 SHOW UP — attend the public Q&A sessions on March 13 (2–3 p.m.) and March 14 (10 a.m.–12 p.m.) at the shelter. Bring your questions. Bring your neighbors. Bring your passion.
📸 DOCUMENT everything — if you attend, take notes. Share what you hear. This community deserves a full and honest account of what is said in those meetings.
The board asked us to approach this "with openness and goodwill." We are. We are showing up, asking questions, and demanding the transparency that the animals — and this community — have always deserved.
Sign. Share. Show up. The animals need us. 🐾
RELEVANT NEWS ARTICLES:
"Catawba County Humane Society Ousts Executive Director" — WBTV, June 5, 2025
"Animal Care and Control Director Doug Rae Fired" — WTHR
"Ex-Indy Animal Shelter Director Facing New Allegations in Colorado" — WRTV Call 6 Investigates
"Fremont County Commissioners: Humane Society Director Weaponizing Cute Animals in Contract Dispute" — Canon City Daily Record, January 19, 2024
344
The Issue
To: The Board of Directors, Humane Society of Catawba County
We, the undersigned — animal lovers, community members, donors, volunteers, and advocates of the Humane Society of Catawba County (HSCC) — are calling on the Board of Directors to pause and reconsider the hiring of Doug Rae as Executive Director.
This is not a petition of hatred or personal attack. It is a petition of accountability. And accountability starts with honesty.
WE JUST WENT THROUGH THIS.
Last summer, our community came together to demand the removal of Executive Director Jane Bowers following a formal third-party investigation into toxic leadership and animal welfare concerns. The board acted, and we were promised a new beginning — one built on integrity, compassion, and transparency.
That promise is now in serious question.
A PATTERN OF SILENCE AND DEFLECTION — STARTING FROM DAY ONE.
When the Board of Directors announced Doug Rae's hiring, they posted it publicly — and then deleted it entirely, without explanation.
No acknowledgment. No clarification. No apology. It simply disappeared.
Days later, a new post appeared announcing public Q&A sessions on March 13 and March 14 — again, with no explanation of why the original announcement was removed. The board has never addressed this publicly.
This is not a small thing. When an organization removes an official announcement without explanation, the community deserves to know why. Did the board receive immediate pushback they weren't prepared for? Did they realize the hire would be controversial? Did something change? We don't know — because they haven't told us.
Transparency cannot be selective. You cannot ask the community to approach this "with openness and goodwill" while quietly deleting posts and hoping no one notices.
"DON'T BELIEVE THE NEWS ARTICLES."
Perhaps more troubling than the deleted post is what has happened since. Multiple community members have reported that board members and the interim Executive Director have been personally telling people not to believe the news articles about Doug Rae's past.
Let that sink in.
The news articles in question are not rumors. They are not social media gossip. They are:
-A televised investigative report from WTHR documenting Rae's firing from Indianapolis Animal Care and Control
-A WRTV Call 6 Investigates report detailing allegations against Rae in Colorado — including the use of expired euthanasia medications, dogs with bite histories placed in homes with children, and a surprise inspection by the Colorado Department of Agriculture that confirmed the violations
Rae's own public admission: "It's my fault. I said to my board, this is 100 percent my fault. I should have been all over it and I wasn't."
-Formal, on-record accusations from Fremont County Commissioners alleging Rae weaponized animals in a contract dispute, attacked the board on social media, and refused to meet with the county sheriff
Board members and leadership asking community members to dismiss documented investigative journalism and a candidate's own words is not damage control. It is gaslighting. It is the same kind of opacity that led to the problems with the previous administration.
If the board's response to legitimate public concern is "don't believe what you read," that is itself a red flag.
THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT SHELTER ANIMALS.
Many people in our community may not realize that the Humane Society of Catawba County is not just an animal shelter. HSCC operates a public spay and neuter clinic and offers veterinary services including vaccines to the pets of our community.
That means Doug Rae — a man with documented state inspection violations including the use of expired euthanasia medications, confirmed by the Colorado Department of Agriculture — would have direct oversight and executive authority over the medical care being provided to your pets.
Your dog that comes in to be spayed. Your cat that comes in for vaccines. Your neighbor's animals. Your family's animals.
The same leadership failures that led to animal suffering in Colorado — expired medications, inadequate oversight, violations confirmed by a surprise state inspection — would now be presiding over a clinic that serves the broader public, not just animals surrendered to the shelter.
This is personal. This affects every pet owner in Catawba County.
If the board's own vetting did not fully account for Rae's documented history of medical oversight failures, that is not just an organizational problem. It is a public safety concern.
THE BOARD'S OWN STATEMENT DESERVES SCRUTINY.
In their Q&A announcement, the Board stated Rae was "recently recognized for his exemplary leadership and commitment to high standards at Fremont by the Colorado Department of Agriculture."
We searched for this recognition. Public records from the Colorado Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Animal Protection show that their inaugural BAP Exemplary Service Award went to Teller County Regional Animal Shelter — not the Humane Society of Fremont County. We call on the board to publicly clarify and provide documentation of exactly what award or recognition they are referencing. The community should not have to take this claim on faith.
THE DOCUMENTED RECORD CANNOT BE IGNORED.
Doug Rae's tenure in Colorado has been cited by the board as a success — but the record tells a more complicated story. Former employees under both Doug Rae and Jane Bowers have alleged a strikingly similar practice: instructing staff to delete animals from shelter records when they died or were euthanized, artificially inflating save rate numbers rather than reflecting the true outcomes for animals in their care. The fact that the same allegation has surfaced independently under both leaders is not a coincidence the board can afford to ignore. The community deserves an independent, transparent review of HSCC's own data and records before this hire is finalized.
In 2019, volunteers and former employees accused Rae of warehousing dogs in ways that caused unnecessary suffering, using expired euthanizing medications, allowing dogs with bite histories to go to homes with children, and poorly managing dogs suffering from prolonged kennel stays. A surprise inspection by the Colorado Department of Agriculture confirmed these accusations, uncovering more than a half dozen violations. Rae publicly admitted: "It's my fault. I said to my board, this is 100 percent my fault. I should have been all over it and I wasn't."
Fremont County Commissioners publicly accused Rae of weaponizing animals in a contract dispute, attacking the Board of County Commissioners on social media, and refusing to meet with the county sheriff despite multiple requests — behavior they described as uncivil and no longer capable of being settled on a civil basis.
Before Colorado, Rae was fired from his position directing Indianapolis Animal Care and Control, where he was described as a polarizing figure who faced criticism for his policies, his treatment of animal welfare groups, the public, and his own employees.
With more than 50 candidates applying for this role, the board chose the most controversial one in the pool — and then deleted the announcement when people started asking questions.
THE BOARD MUST ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS — AT THE MARCH 13 AND 14 MEETINGS.
The board has scheduled public Q&A sessions on March 13 (2–3 p.m.) and March 14 (10 a.m.–12 p.m.) at the shelter. We encourage every signer of this petition to attend in person and ask:
Why was the original hiring announcement deleted, and why has the board never explained its removal?
Why are board members and the interim Executive Director telling community members not to believe news articles that are based on documented investigations, state inspections, and the candidate's own words?
Were the 2019 Colorado Department of Agriculture violations — and Rae's public admission of fault — reviewed as part of the vetting process?
Were the Fremont County Commissioners' formal accusations — including the social media attacks, refusal to meet with the county sheriff, and contract dispute conduct — part of the board's due diligence?
What specific award from the Colorado Department of Agriculture is referenced in the board's statement — and can documentation be provided publicly?
With more than 50 candidates, what criteria led to selecting the most controversial applicant?
Were HSCC staff, volunteers, and major donors consulted before this decision was finalized?
WE ARE ASKING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO:
✅ Explain publicly why the original hiring announcement was deleted and never addressed
✅ Stop discouraging community members from engaging with documented journalism and public records
✅ Clarify and document the Colorado Department of Agriculture recognition referenced in their statement
✅ Confirm that Rae's full employment history — including state inspection violations and the Indianapolis firing — was part of the vetting process
✅ Reconsider this hire in light of the pattern of behavior — both Rae's history and the board's own conduct since the announcement
THE ANIMALS ARE COUNTING ON US. 🐾
They cannot sign this petition. They cannot show up to a board meeting. They cannot post on social media or demand answers. They cannot advocate for themselves when leadership fails them.
We can. And right now, we are their only voice.
Every dog waiting in a kennel, every cat curled up in a crate, every animal that comes through the doors of the Humane Society of Catawba County — and every pet brought in for spay, neuter, or vaccines — is depending on the humans around them to make decisions rooted in compassion, honesty, and accountability. They deserve leadership with a clean record. They deserve a board that is transparent with its community. They deserve better than what we have seen this past week.
We came together last summer and we made a difference. We can do it again.
Here is how you can help RIGHT NOW:
✍️ SIGN this petition — every single signature sends a message to the board that this community is paying attention
📲 SHARE this petition — post it to Facebook, text it to your neighbors, share it in every local group you are part of. The more signatures we gather before March 13th, the louder our voice will be in that room
📅 SHOW UP — attend the public Q&A sessions on March 13 (2–3 p.m.) and March 14 (10 a.m.–12 p.m.) at the shelter. Bring your questions. Bring your neighbors. Bring your passion.
📸 DOCUMENT everything — if you attend, take notes. Share what you hear. This community deserves a full and honest account of what is said in those meetings.
The board asked us to approach this "with openness and goodwill." We are. We are showing up, asking questions, and demanding the transparency that the animals — and this community — have always deserved.
Sign. Share. Show up. The animals need us. 🐾
RELEVANT NEWS ARTICLES:
"Catawba County Humane Society Ousts Executive Director" — WBTV, June 5, 2025
"Animal Care and Control Director Doug Rae Fired" — WTHR
"Ex-Indy Animal Shelter Director Facing New Allegations in Colorado" — WRTV Call 6 Investigates
"Fremont County Commissioners: Humane Society Director Weaponizing Cute Animals in Contract Dispute" — Canon City Daily Record, January 19, 2024
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Petition created on March 11, 2026