As Healdsburg Patch readers know, one of our most bitter and controversial topics in this community is the
-- not to mention a lawsuit -- have rocked the shelter, its staff, volunteers, donors and Healdsburg animal lovers en masse.
-- while demands for specific financials on how the money contributed has been spent are still pending.
In 2011, six board members resigned from the shelter's board of directors, Behind the scenes, many people are incensed about why so many board members left -- some pointing angry fingers at shelter management.
Although Healdsburg city government pays for animal control services at the shelter, it does not have authority over its operations. Therefore, the city cannot run oversight on what seems to be a - and also on the part of shelter management, who say they are well-intended and doing the best they can to run the operation for the good of our local dogs and cats.
What are your ideas to solve this crisis? Take the poll below, or add your own ideas in the comments (please, no personal attacks).
Our pets are waiting...
But you manage to do so thoughtfully and with diplomacy. There is so much to say here which cannot be said and it is frustrating. And yes, Carrie, one can pay attention to what is occurring nationally while still keeping an eye on what is happening locally--one does not negate the other.
I served as the Board Treasurer as well as the Project Manager for the Healdsburg Animal Shelter during the above period. During that time frame, separate internal accounting as well as separate bank accounts were maintained by HAS for operations and capital accounts. The Treasurer and Project Manager had no authority to sign checks on the capital account. All checks issued from the Capital Account were signed by an Executive Officer other than the Treasurer. Monthly financial reports were prepared by the HAS bookkeeper and distributed to the Executive Committee and the HAS Board of Directors. Monthly reconciliation of all HAS bank accounts was completed by an independent Certified Public Accountant (CPA) employed by HAS. Strict internal financial controls were in place to safeguard funds and separate duties relating to opening mail, approving payment of invoices, issuing checks, signing checks and reconciling of monthly statements. A year end consolidated financial statement and required nonprofit tax returns were prepared at year end 2009 and 2010. George Dutton
George Dutton
Love, The Quiet Man
The 911 operator actually had the unmitigated gall to hang up on me when I called to report this horror.
(FYI- when the shelters also say the animals are "sick" and are euthanizing them - it can be, and often is, as simple as Kennel cough - cause enough to euthanize) That is NOT happening at the healdsburg shelter. Euthanizing one dog this year is an unbelievable rate - unheard of, in fact. Many of the central valley shelters euthanize 80-90% of it's animals. Yes the Hburg shelter is old and not what we would like for our animals - I have seen far worse. I have seen shelters where they hose the runs down with the dogs in them in the middle of winter. I have seen them in the central valley with NO blankets, NO beds, exposed to all the elements and these dogs are FREEZING. This is NOT the healdsburg shelter. The people I work with at this shelter care about the animals and do their best. You might not approve of everything - but this is life. I just think everyone should realize there are way bigger fish to fry. So if you all can multitask - then get onboard and lets help shelters with 200-500 dogs coming in a week save some lives instead of the barrels they fill every week with dead animals.
When you say Julie only pulls the cute ones, for a fact I know this not to be true. She has taken in senior dogs that would otherwise have been euthed. She has taken in some dogs with one eye - some pits, deaf dogs and some others with some issues that she has been able to adopt out to the right homes. I know this personally because they are dogs I have been involved with in one way or another. Regardless, I cannot tell you how many adorable poodles, maltese - little fluffies are on the euth list every day that I see and cannot even get taken into the rescue groups I work with because they are so full. These dogs get euth'd daily. I tell you, I am sometimes surprised by the dogs she pulls - not just the fluffy adoptable ones, but the ones that need it the most. So this is just untrue. If she gets some cute fluffy ones - fantastic. The more we can pull and get adopted out quickly, the more she can take into the shelter from another one that was set to be euthanized.
In Julie's presentation at the public Board meeting she provided an explanation of the data in the brochure that was distributed and is posted on the HAS website. I've been having a difficult time understanding the comparisons made between 2010 and 2011 in the 'Fundraising Income' category. The brochure states that Fundraising Income increased from $57,000 to $261,000, or 358% in that timeframe. I've been reviewing a copy of your 2010 Tax Return (Form 990) and it raises interesting questions about the Fundraising Income data that you shared.. The Form 990 shows that the shelter enjoyed $241,784 (line 8) in 'grants and contributions' in 2010, of which $56,549 (Sch. G, Part II, Line 11) was from 'fundraising events'. Comparing the total from fundraising events ($57K) in 2010 to the $261,000 total fundraising figure in 2011 appears to be inappropriate. I believe the comparison should have been between 'grants and contributions' for both years or 'fundraising events' from both years? Rough calculations suggest that the increase in grants and contributions was closer to an 8% rather than the 358% that was touted. Can you please clarify this seeming discrepancy? I'm looking forward to comparing the Form 990 for 2011 to that of 2010. -end Since the financials were current as of 12/1, there shouldn't be any delay in the board responding to this question.
I'm still awaiting answers to two questions that I had previously submitted regarding data that would be simple for them to gather. -How many dogs were brought to the shelter from other shelters and rescues centers, and - I would like to know 'the exact number of directors' that was established by resolution of the board. What is the most current number authorized by resolution, the date of the resolution and the number previously authorized by resolution. I am awaiting answers.