Did Rollie Die in Vain?
Last year's callous, unnecessary killing of Rollie, the tiny pet dog, at the city animal shelter justifiably ignited community outrage. This one event resulted in a $41,000 settlement to Rollie's owner for the wrongful death of her dog, paid, of course, by Carson's residents and business owners. The terminated animal shelter manager, under whose watch Rollie died, is suing city taxpayers for wrongful discharge from her position.
What's subsequently changed? Rollie's killer still works at the shelter. The 2010, 98-page Humane Society of the United States shelter audit contained a complete template for constructive changes, which have been largely ignored. Volunteer animal protection organizations in our community had to scrape together $6,000 for the audit, as the city was completely disinterested in finding out what needed fixing. The city won't even spend minimal money to epoxy seal concrete dog runs, thereby preventing disease outbreaks.
In addition to a long list of other unresolved problems, an April 26th break in occurred with no details released to the public.
No monitored fire or burglar alarms exist for the +100 hours a week shelter animals are left unattended by humans and stranded in their cages. Would we treat foster home children, institutionalized seniors or the mentally ill, or imprisoned humans with such carelessness?
The new animal shelter, which realistically won't be ready for many years, does nothing to help existing shelter animals, who face illness, abuse, neglect and stress each and every day. The animal services manager recently stated "City officials (unidentified) decided there will be no funded changes to the existing shelter."
We employ external consultants for the most trivial projects, prioritize narrowing and decorating city streets and erecting new, duplicate gymnasiums, but imprisoned animals can just suffer. Aren't these inappropriate civic priorities?
Perhaps most shocking, there is no initiative by the fourth animal services manager in a row (or her superiors)toward implementing a meaningful spay/neuter program for domesticated and feral dogs and cats. Stopping the overwhelming flow of unwanted puppies and kittens at the source is essential for progress, public health and safety, as well as animal protection. Sadly, not one of the last four managers has had any training or work experience in the specialized field of animal sheltering.
Carson can't build a shelter big enough to handle the enormous numbers of unwanted dogs and cats. Many millions are killed each year nationwide.
A new shelter building won't resolve management malfeasance and sub-standard operating practices, which still plaque the city's shelter a decade after multiple, serious problems first surfaced.
Do enough Carsonites still care about what Rollie's death represents--long-term and ongoing gross negligence by city officials in funding, staffing, operating and fixing the shelter's many problems?
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