The Coconino Humane Association has been my sanctuary and a pillar in our community for over 70 years. Recently, during a city council meeting, the unsettling news of a potential merger with High Country Humane was brought to light. Several board members of the Coconino Humane Association (CHA) have been engaging in secretive meetings with representatives of the city and county contracted shelter to promote a merger. This decision has been made without the consent or knowledge of the donors, volunteers, and even the dedicated staff of CHA, the very backbone of this organization.

It is deeply unscrupulous for these board members to move forward with discussions that could dissolve a 70-year-old institution without consulting those who have tirelessly supported its mission. The lack of transparency and disregard for community opinion is unacceptable. CHA has been serving Coconino County with commitment and love for decades, providing essential care and support for countless animals in need.

Merging with another shelter without a thorough, public examination threatens to overshadow an institution that has gained community trust over generations. High Country Humane has had difficulty handling the number of animals coming in from each contract. Each organization has its unique challenges and methods that may not align post-merger, which could compromise the quality of care provided to the animals.

Moreover, the merging talks are creating unnecessary unrest among the staff, volunteers, and supporters who feel blindsided by these undisclosed discussions. Instead of merging, a sensible solution would be to split city and county contracts between the two shelters to address overcrowding and resource distribution equitably. This would empower both shelters, allowing them to continue serving the community and the animals without losing their identity.

Join me in demanding transparency and urging the board of the Coconino Humane Association to halt these merger talks immediately.   If the board does not wish to help CHA, then I encourage them to resign so that we may be able to get members that have the best interest of the organization on their agenda and will assist in helping to gain support.  Having a board that refuses to raise money, nor allows other community members on the board is in itself detrimental to the organization. Let us stand together to protect the legacy of CHA and ensure that both shelters can best serve the animals and people of Coconino County.

Please sign this petition to stop the merger discussions and insist on splitting the contracts to boost both shelter operations and preserve their unique legacies.