We, animal advocates, urge the Board Members of Pets Alive Inc. to make a decision on the fate of the Elmsford property. The request for proposal period ended on October 10th, 2015. There has been no word from Pets Alive on when a decision will be made or if there will be one at all. We urge the Pets Alive board to make a decision in a timely manner (by the end of November) on what will happen to the property at 100 Warehouse Lane South, Elmsford, NY. If no decision is made, we urge the Town of Greenburgh to take back the deed so that a no-kill shelter can continue in Elmsford.

We strongly and respectfully request that the Town of Greenburgh reevaluate the imperative and tragic situation of 100 Warehouse Lane South, Elmsford, NY and use its legal rights and powers to take back the deed from Pets Alive Inc. to allow another organization to restore (with engineer and town approval) this property and building to what the community of Westchester original INTENDED and SUPPORTED it to be: A true no-kill animal shelter.

Attn: Greenburgh Town Officials
        Mr. Paul Feiner (Town Supervisor)
        Mr. Timothy Lewis (Town Attorney)
        Mr. Ken Jones (Town Councilman)
        Mr. Kevin Morgan (Town Councilman)
        Mr. Francis Sheehan (Town Councilman)
        Ms. Diana Juettner (Town Councilwoman)
        Ms. Judith Beville (Town Clerk)
        Ms. Delores Scott Brathwaite (Town Judge)
        Ms. Arlene Gordon-Oliver (Town Judge)
        Mr. Walter Rivera (Town Judge)
Greenburgh Town Hall
177 Hillside Avenue
Greenburgh, NY 10607

Attn: Pets Alive Inc. Board Members
        Dr. Joseph D'Abbraccio (Acting President and Chairman of the Board)
        Nicholas Brilis (Secretary)
        Melissa Johnson (Treasurer)
363 Derby Road
Middletown, NY 10940

BACKGROUND:
When Pets Alive, Inc. took over the operation of Central Westchester Humane Society (CWHS) in 2010, the separate legal existence and purpose of CWHS continued. Indeed, by continuing CWHS as a separate entity, and by adopting the d/b/a “Pets Alive Westchester,” Pets Alive was able to maintain CWHS’s position and reputation as an admirable charitable organization serving and financially supported by the Westchester community. It is troubling that funds which have been raised from the Westchester community ostensibly to support a critically needed no-kill facility in Westchester are now apparently being diverted to support Pets Alive’s operations in Middletown. Moreover, by keeping CWHS in existence, the Board/Pets Alive seeks to continue to obtain funds that were intended for the support of a facility in Westchester, such as donations made through bequests in wills for the benefit of CWHS/Pets Alive Westchester.

Pets Alive, Inc. and CWHS, despite being separate entities, share the same Board of Directors. We believe that the members of the Board of CWHS and Pets Alive have a conflict of interest, and have breached their duty of loyalty and fiduciary responsibilities to CWHS with their recent actions.

Also concerning is the fact that the Board of Pets Alive has had almost an entire new makeup of directors within the last year. The decision to close the Westchester location was announced in July, one member left that same month, the Board President was forced to resign in August, and another member has just been removed recently from the Pets Alive website. This leaves three remaining directors (the minimum allowed as stated in their Bylaws and also as set forth by New York State law). Also, Pets Alive first CEO announced her new title in April 2014 and by April 2015 the Board had changed her title to CFO. In addition, Pets Alive is on its fourth Executive Director in just over 2 years. The instability of the board and upper management does not supply a healthy, knowledgeable platform for making such critical and difficult decisions for one location, much less 2 separate entities.

THE ANIMALS:
There is much concern for the housing and health of all of the animals now residing at Pets Alive Inc., with the influx of additional animals. Despite the consolidation of funds from CWHS, d/b/a Pets Alive Westchester, to the Middletown location and the months since the closure announcement, PA remains unprepared for this increase. Due to overcrowding numbers (numbers they have always been aware of), Pets Alive Inc. is just now running a campaign to obtain more weather-appropriate shelters. While we are relieved that no animal will be subjected to the harsh, winter elements, we wonder why this was not considered before, how long this process will now take, and what are the arrangements for housing while these "micro-kennels" are bought, land prepared/approved by Middletown inspectors, and structures built?

Also of concern is the status of the “brick house” which is the cat house at the Middletown location (also currently housing the overflow of dogs in designated areas). In the winter of 2012 Pets Alive said in a newsletter “Goodbye… farewell to the brick house”. Due to years of water damage and improper maintenance, “serious electrical issues and fire hazards” were created. In a Pets Alive blog dated March 21, 2014, the Executive Director stated “we are also faced with the tough decision to rebuild our beloved Cat House. As a result we have had to limit our cat intakes as well as we prepare for construction”. On September 19, 2015, a Pets Alive Facebook post stated there was smoke coming from the basement of the brick house, and while the Fire Department said there was no fire, power and water was turned off for a few days. This is worrisome for not only the animals, but also, the staff, volunteers and adopters as well. Why did Pets Alive bid adieu to the cat house and announce its re-build nearly 3 years ago, then again over a year ago, yet the structure still stands? Where are the funds that were raised for the house to be re-done…

THE SILENCE IS DEAFENING:
IN CONCLUSION, the unique no-kill legacy of CWHS has been around since 1931. The property and building that is located at 100 Warehouse Lane South, Elmsford, NY, was built in 1995 and was gifted to CWHS to be used as a no-kill shelter. In 2010, Pets Alive Inc. took over the land/building and continued operating it as a shelter. In July 2015, Pets Alive made the blindsiding announcement that they would be closing this Westchester location on September 15, 2015 and would be consolidating everything (assets and animals) to their smaller, less profitable, Middletown, NY location.

Over the past three months, the Westchester community has come together in an attempt to save the much needed and much loved Westchester shelter, signing almost 400 letters insisting on a “true” no-kill shelter in Westchester County. During this time, Pets Alive Inc. has made no effort to work with the community. Volunteers have reached out via email, organizations have requested face-to-face meetings with the Pets Alive Board, and an engineering review of the building structure has been requested…. yet still nothing. Not only has the building remained empty with no official announcement or any sign of movement, but the Pets Alive Board has all but disappeared off the grid in answering any questions or concerns.

Again, we stand together as a united community in our request for action. We hope that the Town understands the seriousness and urgency of this matter. Pets Alive Inc. appears to not have the professional capacity at this point to make a much needed decision about the fate of the Westchester shelter. This property continues to remain empty with no known plan of action, while homeless and abandoned animals’ lives are being lost EVERY DAY!

YOU can change this for Westchester! 

 Respectfully yours,

 Animal Advocates