I'm so frustrated with our local Humane Society. Let me give you some background:
When I moved here there was virtually no H.S. They had a phone number answered by a call board and 2 people who took turns NOT answering calls.
I met with some like-minded people and we placed a "call to action" ad in the paper and started the H.S. back up again. From 1999 to 2004 I was the president and it grew significantly in that time, we set up foster programs, got hundreds of cats and dogs adopted, established fundraisers that people looked forward to every year, and had a lot of fun.
I had enough of being in charge and slipped to VP this year. Since then, everything has changed, the treasurer is a dictator, the Pres. can't make a firm decision on anything. After the hurricanes hit, they waffled around and had meeting after meeting trying to figure out what to do, meanwhile people were calling asking for help and offering to foster. So, I started to set up a database to match homes with people in need while waiting for everyone else to make a decision. I drafted a contract for people needing to place their pets stating that they would be responsible for reimbursing us for medical expenses and must check in once/week and if we don't hear from them for a period of 30 consecutive days there pet will be put up for adoption.
We have received over $2000 in donations to help with these efforts.
Their decision was to volunteer to help the Pasado Rescue group that is keeping rescues from new orleans at a barn near here. They are doing NOTHING to say our Humane Society helped with this effort.
Today, I got this email from our president:
HSHT will ONLY pay for BASIC care, NOT fully vetted, just a check up
if needed. Because these animals are not and will not
be in the foster system, you need to call (the treasurer) to
make sure we have money for this expenditure (don't
just ask if we have money!) and two other board
members approval.
The last important thing is that HSHT cannot support
the adoptions/foster of the animals that are not in
the foster program. That means that the HSHT name must
not be on any contracts that you have with people that
are not in the foster program. If someone wants to
become a foster home for HSHT, they must go through
the proper channels. We just don't have the people or
money to set up a temporary foster program.
As individuals, we will help you with whatever we can,
but as a society we are limited!
To me, this says HSHT does not want to be involved directly in any rescue efforts. What does this say to our community? When you needed us, we weren't there.
I'm so frustrated!! It's impossible to get anything accomplished anymore. It used to be if there was a need, we mobilized and filled it. If action was needed, we acted. Now, it's talk, talk, talk, meet, seek approval from everyone, talk some more and wait 'til the emergency has passed so we don't have to take on any responsibility or risk any liability.
Am I being completely irrational here??
