One has to wonder with all the donations the WVHS receives, and they do, why they don't clean up the place? According to the director they have lots of volunteers and the money seems to be flowing in. Yet the "shelter" sports shabby signs, a disgusting "welcoming" gate, trash heaps, beat-up trailer and storage sheds, and more. Walk behind the grotesque kennels to find even more junk. Doesn't seem to me to be a very enticing place to encourage people to visit to adopt a pet and save a life!According to Cynthia, a long-time volunteer at the "shelter" the kennels in early 2007 were in foul shape. Thankfully several volunteers rolled up their sleeves and improved the environment for the dogs.
By spring of 2008 dozens of people called me to voice their concerns about the place. My response was "Put your complaints in writing. And get photos." A picture is worth a thousand words and complaints with names amended hold even greater weight. There were quite a few "anonymous" complaints but those also were helpful. Two "Deep Throats" who were involved in law enforcement and the judicial system and had volunteered at the "shelter" also gave intriguing information and sage advice. As the sad stories mounted I became determined that something must be done for those lonely, depressed, isolated, and unhealthy animals warehoused far from the public eye.
Two reoccuring complaints through the months of research were: (1) "The director, Gloria Thomas, is never there. She lets a couple of men run the place;" and (2) "Animals rarely get adopted."
Hmmm.... Now surely we could solve the second issue. The first needed to be tackled by the shelter's board members. And since I was a life member (though strangely my name eventually disappeared from the membership list as well as my company's name and logo as a corporate sponsor!) I decided to obtain the names of the board and contact them regarding the complaints I had received. (More on this later including the job description for the shelter director.)
In June four of us went to the shelter to adopt as many cats and dogs as were allowed. And amazingly complaint #2 kicked in: Mrs. Thomas, not on site, within minutes came roaring through the shabby gate and up the dirt circular drive. The director had arrived! Since she lived a few minutes from the place it was easy for her to get to work quickly. Obviously one of the men in the office had grabbed the phone when we appeared to alert her to our presence.
We introduced ourselves and told her that we were there to adopt animals. While Charlotte, Maeda, and Sherry filled out adoption forms I ventured into a kennel with my camera and began taking photos of all those sad innocent creatures. The dogs watched with excited anticipation, tails waging, rubbing against the cage, showing off, silently pleading, "Please take me. Please take me."
Just then one of the male employees burst through the kennel door hollering, "You can't take pictures in here!" He grabbed my camera and the dogs began to howl, jumping up the walls and gates of their kennels. It was cacophony as if they were afraid of him, angry at his mere presence, his tone, the sound of his voice. Why I wondered were they so distraught?
I snatched my camera away replying, "I'll take all the photos I want. You're not going to stop me!" He stormed off to tell Mrs. Thomas.
Sherry filled out my application form while I took photos. I'd selected two dogs - Casper, a filthy matted little Bichon with so much spirit I had to rescue him and a darling Lab mix. It was heartbreaking not being able to select all the dogs for redemption.
As I walked out of the kennel, watching the dogs climbing the walls in misery, and past the cat cages - remembering the cat house where cats never, never, never benefit from fresh air and sunshine - I noticed little cards attached to the cage doors. I stopped to read one of the cards then went into the office to ask what the information meant.
Upon hearing the explanation tears of grief flowed down my checks and my resolve to do something even more deeply imbedded in my soul.
MORE TO COME...........
6 comments:
I posted about the convicted sex offender working there for so long in the first postings pages but I would like to comment about the management (or lack thereof) of the facility. I called many times to adopt a Shelter Dog & was told there were no dogs available over and over again yet people told me they had seen dogs out there. When my girlfriend lost her husband & called to have them take a dog she was told no,they weren't accepting animals, yet at the end of the conversation, they asked what type of dog she had & she told them a young ShitZu (sp)they then changed their tune & told her well in that case we might find a home for that kind of dog, she hung up as it struck her that maybe they only took special dogs to keep for themselves to resell or something & went to a Rescue Organization instead. My girlfriend has since passed & the dog has a happy home thank the Lord. I have heard so many things about the filth from ppl that go on out there it scares me, where does the line get drawn between shelter, abuse and Mill and is it true the woman that runs the place hoardes animals at her own home far exceeding what residents are allowed in their home w/a husband that is an animal control officer? That needs to be investigated immediately.
Thank you for caring enough to look out for those poor animals that may end up out there.
A new sign? Maybe the comments are getting through and some of the money is being used for things that need fixing?
Or maybe it was just to stop some of the comments?
About the sign. Maggi Hall had absolutely nothing to do with the sign. Volusia County mowers were constantly knocking down the sigh, thus rendering it a little more beaten up as time went on.
A sign company promised a new one and unfortunately went through rough times. But they held on to their promise, even though it took almost a year, the new is now standing proudly on Grand Ave.at Humane Society Rd.
See how Maggi twists things? I doubt she will publish this comment.
The sign means nothing to the animals compared to the way you approve those animals living in terrible conditions. Apply the pressure Maggi, they will be forced to change and spend more money on the animals rather then themselves...
How about instead of spending money on a sign, you spend money ventilating the kennels that are layered in filth and sickness, or maybe, just maybe spending the money on the ANIMALS SUFFERING in there rather paying handsome salaries to certain employees there?
You idiot. Can't you read? It was posted above that a sign company donated the Grand Ave. sign. AND They do not have filth layered kennels, they do take care of the animals health needs. The veterinarians are great. Although Florida Wild Veterinary Clinic has not seemed to volunteer anything at all. Correct me if I am wrong.
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