Why we care....

Before I provide that update, I would like to add some context on why this means so much to us by telling you about Freya. The picture in this update is an oil painting that was commissioned of Freya who was a beloved dog at the shelter that died of an illness (not related to any issues here) before she could find her forever home. She was an amazing friend and was beloved by all the dog walkers, kennel attendants, and me (volunteer).  When Freya was ill and not eating, there was a group of us that bought and pureed chicken, shopped for baby food, and researched and purchased various syringes and tools to use for feeding her. This team sat on the floor of her kennel with her and fed her food via a syringe. And she was such a good dog during these times. We hoped that she could maintain her strength in the hopes of her getting better with some new medicine the shelter had secured. Unfortunately, it was her time. At least she did not go alone, and everyone was able to be with her when she passed. I had this painting done for my favorite dog walker who was very close with Freya. It was based on a picture she took during one of their games of football. She was a great dog and was a source of peace and joy. There are so many great animals that deserve homes, please adopt from a shelter if you are able. This is why it is important.   

On to the update:

This is an update regarding the complaints Change.org received regarding this petition in the spirit of transparency. I have responded in greater detail to Change.org to support our petition.  

I have tried to summarize the complaints and our response as concisely as possible.

Complaint: The petition organizer was never employed by the Humane Society, but the petition represents the perception of employees. 

Response: The Organizer was a volunteer who logged significant time at the shelter and had access to employees. Further, the organizer was not the sole contributor to this petition, and information was sourced from the appropriate people with first-hand knowledge. Lastly, our team applied journalistic standards and looked for corroboration across sources.

Complaint: The specific dog referenced in the petition was not euthanized and there is a documented bite incident on record.

Response: Great. This was acknowledged in the petition and an update to the petition. This was completely transparent and social media was also updated.  We are happy they were able to reverse a decision that was claimed to be FINAL and appreciate those who engaged in the social media campaign that contributed to this change. This petition focuses on the systemic issues and history of issues and goes beyond this one incident.  But we are absolutely thrilled that Sawyer was not killed. Thrilled! The fact that so many things are unclear and employees were forced to resign in protest reinforces the issue we seek to address. The people who left in protest are the same people that were willing to help Freya!  Losing them does not support the mission.  

Complaint: The petition references a public review that predates the current management.

Response: Yes, it does. Many of the directors charged with oversight have been in place for many years across operational management teams.  This petition targets the board for action and addresses the overall culture, policy, and governance as an opportunity and catalyst for change. The review highlights objective evidence of potential long-term cultural issues in the organization.  To be clear, this petition targets systemic changes and does not target individuals. Proper governance and compliance checks are needed to expose and address operational issues. This is clear in the petition as our stated target is for the Board lead in driving changes in governance and policy.

I hope this helps clarify and address concerns and hope this is a step closer to some discussions on solutions. We seek to demonstrate the kind of transparency we are asking of others.  

Thank you all for your support and indulging my stories.