This is a personal plea that stems from witnessing the dire conditions and mishandling of animals at the Animal Care and Control Team of Philadelphia (ACCT Philly) under the current director, namely, the lawful death of healthy dogs. The discriminatory practices allowed under her leadership create an environment where the life expectancy of an animal can be drastically reduced, with some dogs given just days, while others have over a month. Some dogs never even make it onto the adoption portal for a chance at a second life, and this is just the tip of the iceberg.

There are reports of age misrepresentations, with dogs being listed as four years older than their actual age. Even when confronted with the truth, the director refuses to rectify the false information in the bios of these animals. Worse still, there have been instances where adoptions and rescue pulls have been blocked without any discernible reason, making her actions seem like a cruel game.

According to the Humane Society, each year, approximately 1.5 million shelter animals are euthanized. This figure is devastating on its own, but becomes even more so when the euthanasia of healthy, adoptable animals could be prevented. In a society that values animal welfare and fairness, there is no place for such disregard for life and no reason that a shelter, a place of refuge, should become a place of despair.

The director's departure is just the first step in ensuring a safer and warmer environment for these animals. Proper governance of ACCT Philly could be the determining factor that swings this shelter from a place of loss and despair to one of hope and second chances.

Join us in this call to action by signing this petition to demand the removal of the current ACCT Philly director. Let's stand together in making a difference for these innocent lives.