MauryTHINKS

I have been following articles in The Daily Herald regarding the situation with the animal shelter and am compelled to respond after reading Glen Hasse’s statements in today’s (June 11) paper. Mr. Hasse states that he was shocked to find out that the shelter was over budget and found out only last week. He also attributes the shortage to “a lack of oversight because of a dispute caused by a group of citizens he would not name.”

He states that the city and county aren’t at loggerheads and that the county is at loggerheads with this group of anonymous citizens.

Is Mr. Hasse unaware that the county budget director did an audit of the shelter last summer and assured the county commission that everything was in order except for a few minor problems? The minor problems included the shelter staff operating an unauthorized gift shop and using city and county funds to purchase hundreds of dollars of craft and scrapbooking supplies. The problems included the shelter director purchasing lunch for inmates working at the shelter when the Sheriff’s Department provides lunch and surely has funds allocated for this expense in their budget. The minor problems included the shelter director paying for day labor that was not included as a part of the budgeted payroll or paid through the payroll system. It doesn’t take a math whiz to know that if you spend money on items that aren’t in the budget, the money has to come from somewhere or you’ve overspent.

The city representatives to the Animal Control Board repeatedly requested that the board meet last summer but the chairman of the board, who represented the county, refused to call meetings. The city was assured that everything was fine at the shelter and meetings weren’t necessary. The county formed an investigative committee to look into the shelter operation last year, and they also assured everyone that things were fine at the shelter. This committee was presented with copies of checks and receipts detailing money spent on craft supplies, day labor and inmate lunches as well as the purchase of birthday cakes, birthday cards and scented candles. Rather than question these expenses, their concern was where the information came from. The finance director for the city of Columbia knew there was a problem in February and told the county budget director. Why didn’t the county budget director already know there was a problem? Why did the county budget committee only find out about it last week?

There is mention of a drop in donations that contributed to the budget overage. Letters were provided to the Animal Control Board and the county investigative committee from citizens as well as a local veterinary clinic detailing their concerns about the shelter and how the staff had treated them. The committee was told there would be a drop in donations because these weren’t the only people who had experienced problems in dealing with shelter staff and would no longer support the shelter. So why the surprise now at the drop in the donation of supplies and money?

I would like to provide a little information about this group of citizens that Mr. Hasse wouldn’t name. Members of this group have been on the board of the Maury County Animal Shelter Association (MCASA) and have produced the following fundraisers in recent years: three Fur Balls, two Possum Parties, Songwriter’s Round on the River, a Pet Fair and have sold decorated horseshoes to raise money for the shelter and spay/neuter programs. Members of this group are currently working with a non-profit group and have spayed /neutered over 130 animals in Maury County over a recent three-month period with money from grants and donations. A member of this group is part of the TN Animal Resource Center that is hosting a neuter/spay conference at CSCC this month. A member of this group has her own rescue and is connected to other rescue groups in Middle Tennessee and the country and works tirelessly to get animals adopted rather than euthanized. A member of this group went to adoptions at Thompson Station and sat in the heat of summer and cold winter wind to adopt as many as 25 animals in one day.

I would like for Mr. Hasse to explain how this group of citizens caused a lack of oversight at the shelter? Was this group in charge of the Animal Control Board? Did this group refuse to hold meetings of the Animal Control Board? Does this group have the ability to vote at City Council or County Commission meetings?

No, this group wants the shelter to live up to the vision that built it and be as self-supporting as possible. This group wants a national organization that has evaluated shelters nationwide to evaluate this shelter so that it runs as efficiently and professionally as possible. This group wants MCASA to provide funds and volunteers at the shelter to take the burden off the taxpayer rather than having Boy Scouts handle adoption and neuter/spay programs as was suggested by members of the County Commission. This group wants more animals adopted and less euthanized. This group would like to see the city of Columbia oversee the animal shelter and make it a place that is seen as helping both people and animals rather than as a shameful place dealing with the results of irresponsible pet owners.

Everything I have seen and heard demonstrates that the city of Columbia should oversee the operation of the shelter to bring volunteers, donors and MCASA back into the fold and take some of the burden off taxpayers. There is no reason to “go to the mat” on this when looking at past performance and using common sense provides the solution to the current “loggerhead.”

Penny Langley,

Former Animal Control Board member
former Columbia City Councilwoman
former board member and officer of MCASA,