Casper sat matted, filthy, teeth rotting in a concrete kennel for almost a year. He had no heat during the winter months and was never allowed to run free. He had no free access to the out-of-doors. He was an inmate at the West Volusia Humane Society until I descended on that place with seven concerned citizens attempting to adopt dozens of forgotten dogs, cats, birds, and rabbits. But first let's start at the beginning.....Since 2007 I'd heard rumors of "warehousing" animals at the WVHS rather than implementing an aggressive adoption program but I had never put much stock in rumors. Why would a shelter want to keep animals indefinately rather than adopt them out? That made no sense! I'd also heard accusations and horror stories about the WVHS but I hadn't gone for a visit. Just more rumors. I'd been a life member since 1999 after reading in the Beacon that the "shelter" had gone "No Kill!" But I didn't find out until this year just why it had become a no kill facility. Oh how trusting we often are....
During part of 2006 and 2007 I placed ads in the Pennysaver at my own expense: "Adopt a Pet. Save a Life. Call the West Volusia Humane Society. 386. 735.2450." After some months I called the humane society to ask if my ads were paying off, if more animals were being adopted? The flat reply from a male voice, "Uh, yeah."
After that uninterested and unprofessional answer I drove out to see the place. And what I observed the summer of '07 made my eyes fill with tears. Stench. Animals lying in their urine and feces. Flies. No air conditioning. No outdoor runs. Misery and suspicion. Animals with sores. Animals with no means to run free, half crazed because of containment. It was so revolting that I left crying, vowing never to return. At that point I was plain stupid to not realize that something really could be done to save those innocent and suffering creatures.
Six months later I garnered enough courage to revisit the shelter. Nothing had changed. And amazingly the same dogs were there that I'd seen on my last visit. Adoption of animals? Nah...... "Hmmm, what's really happening at the 'humane shelter' that claims it cares for animals?"
A new year dawned, 2008, and with it my resolve to investigate the WVHS. Word spread among animal lovers regarding my public curiosity and my opinion of a place that I had financially supported - a place I found revolting, inexcusable, and intolerable! Former volunteers and employees called or emailed complaints. Was somethng peculiar happening there? And if so what?
As a life member I had a right to know exactly what was happening. Even the IRS agreed!
12 comments:
Going to try this again as I am so adamant about this area. I tried repeatedly to adopt a bird from the W.V. Humane Society & was told the birds were not available for adoption but were used for educational tours given to area children/schools. My concern is that there is a convicted sex abuser employed by the Society & how could area children be allowed to come in such close proximity to a sex offender if indeed these birds are used for that purpose? Many excuses can be made for his employ there i.e. served his time/work release program/no longer considered a threat etc.. A convicted sex offender is a threat regardless of time spent and/or time served! Any one that wishes to "anonymously" refute this concern may do so but that only proves to be people like those there that are in fear of the so called Director (who has no business being there period) or the woman that was caught stealing drugs, I believe her name begins with the letter K. or people that don't care about children’s safety. As a mother and grandmother, I care and none of my family will go near the place not only because they've been repeatedly told they have no dogs or cats available for adoption but because they are in fear of coming in contact w/this sex offender! You say "Save Our Pets" What about our children?
The place is an absolute dump and the animals are crazed from lack of human contact and exercise. Something bad is going on at WVHS. How that Gloria woman has had so much power in the past I have no idea.I have tried to adopt dogs there a few times over the years and have always been told that there was a "waiting list" on that particular dog. However the same dogs have been there for years.They recently installed lattis boards in front of all the outside runs so now not only do the dogs not get to go outside, they can't even see outside. When is the insanity and inhumane treatment going to stop? Kudos to you Maggi Hall. Gloria has met her match. It's about time sombody stood up to that trash for the sake of the animals.
So where is this poor pitiful little Casper now?
She was saved!!!! That comes later in the story though.
I have sat back and watched the truth of West Volusia Humane Society unfold. I listen to the farce of lies come on out Karen Clark’s mouth yesterday at the Volusia County Council meeting. I have to give Maggi Hall credit, at least she speaks with truth to back up her statements, this I have checked out myself to see just who is creditable. Karen Clark states animal control is at the shelter every day??? Oh, wait, that means Gloria Thomas’s (WVHS’ director) husband, Gary (Deland Animal Control) visits every day. Conflict of interest to say the least for a character witness. AND if Volusia County Animal Control is going out there every day, why is that? Why are our tax dollars being wasted running out to the shelter every day? Why, because Volusia County Animal Control is NOT going out to the shelter every day, this was verified. Again, Karen Clark misleads the council as she has many times in the pass.
It is very clear, WVHS has a lot to hide. Why, any legitimate organization will gladly open their books, not just to a life time member, but as a non-profit organization recognized as a 501(c)3 non- profit, it is required to open your books to anyone who request, not just a member within 72 hours. Maggi, my suggestion is to send a certified letter if you have not (which I am sure you have) to the shelter requesting to view the books, if refused by the WVHS, then report it to the IRS as this is a violation. Everyone should request this, it is your right.
I know for a fact WVHS rarely adopts animals. This can be verified via Guidestar.com 2007 tax return states only 3,870 received for adoptions. I am sure you can do the math, what their adoption fee is and divide that into 3,870 to determine how many adoptions were done. They DO NOT give animals away for free. There has been many people in this county trying to adopt from the WVHS only to be stalled, given all kinds of excuses as to why the animal can not be adopted. These are people who are very qualified to adopt an animal and been refused. There is something seriously wrong here. 2007, WVHS took in $209,589.00. Only 10% of this income actually went to the animals. Oh Karen, before you call this a lie, I welcome anyone to visit guidestar.com, you will have to register and see the actual tax return for yourself to see this is a true statement. Gloria also collects herself a handsome salary of 31,225.00. And her cell phone, car repairs, insurance and so on all paid out of this. I am sure every director of a non-profit would love to have their personal bills paid for too, but they are honest and don’t. Only 10, 607.00 went for the vet bills and 100.00 for spay or neuters, oh wait on page 8 of the tax return it states 825.00 for spay & neuter out of the 209,589.00 income. Perhaps the IRS did not catch WVHS high paid accountant’s contradiction on the spay & neuter cost. Again, all can be verified.
Karen Clark stood before the council yesterday and stated the WVHS is the only shelter in the state that is a true NO KILL, oh Karen, once again, you are misleading the council. Anyone can call the Halifax Humane Society and verify animals being sent from WVHS. This is done by WVHS so they can “claim” they are a no kill, but reality, they are a kill shelter, they just let Halifax Humane Society have the dirty hands. Again, all can be verified for the truth.
I will give credit to Carl Persis as he spoke yesterday at the meeting letting everyone know, Joie Alexander choice of Allen Weigel was a man who was against the spay & neuter ordinance. Allen Weigel is nothing more on the board of animal control to self serving as he is a “breeder” as the ordinance would be money out of his pocket. As Maggi Hall mention, this is a conflict of interest. I also heard Joie Alexander state putting Allen Weigel on the board, we will have a fresh person on the board. WHAT??? Joie, you need to look who has been on the board of A/C, Allen has been on the board for years and years and years. I believe the council has a real conflict of interest concerning the A/C board. I also feel Andy Kelly has a conflict of interest when Karen Clark insinuates Andy is all in agreement with what is going on out at the WVHS or did Karen Clark mislead the council ONCE again?
It is time that all the BS stops and the concerns are for the animals, not someone’s hidden agenda. Cut the politics, but the BS and start thinking about what is in the best interest of the animals.
The WVHS meets the very very minimal standards of the law by providing only food, water and shelter and that is why WVHS has been allowed to operate in this county if I am reading the law correct. I have spoken to many people who have complained they offered to walk the dogs, give them some manners, groom them, just spend some time with the animals, so they can feel human contact. WVHS treats people like criminals and refuses the FREE help to give these animals. All the other shelters in this county welcomes volunteers to help the animals at the shelters. But this action by the WVHS only shows once again, they have something to hide. They do NOT want people out at the shelter, because they might find something out.
Last, having a sex offender working at the shelter where children visit is unthinkable. Every parent has the right to know their child is entering a building where a sex offender is present. Therefore the excuse why some of these animals can not be adopted for educational reasons is crap, simple as that. Volusia County School Board and all the parents need to know their children are entering a build as such. At the very least, a sign should be posted at the front gate, we employee sex offenders. So, parents, the next time your child comes home from school with a permission slip to visit the WVHS, you might want to think twice.
I welcome the council to check out the tax returns online to verify, contact Volusia County A/C to verify Karen Clark’s statement the A/C is out there every day and I just found out yesterday why Karen Clark was removed from a very well establish Orange City non profit group last year. The trust always prevail!
I challenge everyone to vertify the information and you will see the truth and who you can trust at their word.
OMG, If only 10,607.00 + 100.00 + 825.00 was spent on the animals, then where in the hell did all the rest of the money from the 209,589.00 income go. That place stinks, it is falling a part and no real improvements. 190,000.00 could improve that place a great deal.
I have never seen another Humane Society hoard animals like west volusia humane society does. 7 years?? What kind of life is it for an animals to be caged up for years???
I would love to collect over 30,000.00 and year and not show up for work, but I could not live with myself. Gloria needs to be at that shelter every day for at least 8 hours to collet that salary. We as donors are going to have a second thought on Donating to this shelter again.
This Karen Clark women, I want to thank her for opening this can of worms. I was so upset to read this information this morning that "I" picked up the phone and made some calls and checked documention out online. I was informed that Board Member's addresses must be listed when filing your state incorporation. It seems the board members have something to hide as they all live at the shelter??? OH, are all the board members living in the cages too? To many things this facility is hiding! I did learn, Karen Clark did not speak the truth yesterday! How sad for these animals as it is clear they are not being put first.
I will NEVER give another red cent to the West Volusia Humane Society and will tell everyone I come in contact with about this discusting place. Snowing us, is over and coming to a STOP! YOU have been caught!
I agree wholeheartedly with the above comments. I visited the WVHS and was appalled. The place is a hellhole. Dogs are hyper and frantic -- desperate to get out of their dingy kennels. The caged cats and rabbits are heartbreaking. The cats are either anxious or despondent and depressed. The rabbits are motionless in tiny cages that have barely enough space for them. The cages, kennels, grounds and office are all filthy. This is animal cruelty. It is a disgrace. This facility advertises itself as "non-kill" but these animals are dying a slow death.
Could the 501(c)(3) violations be reported to the Fla. Secretary of State?
P.S. What happened to Trixie, the emaciated dog?
I agree with the above statements also. When I visited there many times I have left there feeling very emotional. These animals have no life. The cats are not given even a towel to lie on and I have seen very few toys to distract them from their dismal circumstances. The dogs don't seem to have toys to enjoy either.
Well the reason you didn't see any toys or towels for the cats to lie on was because the floors were being washed. Did you ever think of that????? or do you just have tunnel vision?
Maggie you don't know me and have no clue who I am but I know of you. Stop being greedy. I know that you are in this for your own gain. I know that you charge double what the WVHS does to adopt a pet. You should take care of your own business (ripping off adoptees) and worry about your own shortcomings.
Maybe you should get to know Maggi instead of knowing "of" her. The lies you are being told will soon be revealed as such.
The cats don't sleep on the floor so the comment about the floors being mopped does not apply. The cats should have towels to lay on in their cages and some kind of toy to keep them stimulated.
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