What you hope the petition will accomplish

We, the tax payers and/or residents of Saratoga County, petition to implement and continue existing and recently discontinued programs to improve conditions for the animals, customers, employees and volunteers of our Saratoga County Animal Shelter and continue progress to improve same. And, to insure that the new Shelter Supervisor is selected as a result of a meaningful search for the most experienced, professional candidate with a progressive, humane sheltering philosophy.

Reason for starting the petition

Since the forced resignation of the last Shelter Supervisor conditions have deteriorated significantly for animals and people at our Shelter.
And the important position of Shelter Supervisor was not sufficiently publicized to insure the highest quality candidates.

• Animals are left in kennels unattended from 12-16 hours
• Conditions have become dirtier than at any time in the past over the last couple of months
• Program decisions are being made by people without appropriate basis, expertise & background leading to limits on instrumental programs & even elimination

• Hours have been shortened creating stress and negative impacts on the animals, staff and volunteers
• Abuse of County Staffing Positions & Union Protection have lead to mistreatment of fellow staff - leading to resignations of multiple vital part time staff
• Volunteers are stressed and mistreated by some staff - leading to quality volunteers to leaving or shying away from the shelter
• Concerned citizens have been expressing questions, concerns & complaints to County Supervisors and officials with insufficient or no responses.

What action wanted from County

I demand that the County respond meaningfully to complaints and concerns from residents, abide by the Saratoga County Animal Shelter mission statement, take immediate action to reinstate recently discontinued or negatively altered programs and insure that the selection for Shelter Supervisor result from a meaningful search for a progressive, experienced professional.