Skip to main content

Copy of letter sent to the director of our municipal shelter regarding upcoming lay offs (Paw Plan Practices Activism!)

Note: All things pass.  Glad to report that Laura is happily teaching middle school, and has been doing such since this layoff, back in 2019. :) The current Volunteer Coordinator, Kristin, is excellent too!  Updated 01-30-24




Jessica L Pita
-------------------
Louisville, KY 40213
LMAS Volunteer


Ozzy Gibson, Director
Louisville Metro Animal Services
3705 Manslick Rd
Louisville KY 40215


Mr. Gibson,

I was saddened to know LMAS is affected by the city-wide budget cuts and forced to lay off a handful of employees. It has to be very difficult for you and all upper management to decide which positions to (temporarily) cut. LMAS is strong, and as a shelter community has been through a lot over the years. -And I'm certain the shelter will rebound from this hard hit.

That being said, I was particularly troubled to learn of Laura Crook's proposed lay off.
Community safety, for people and pets, is understandably priority #1 for LMAS.
And just below that comes animal well being while in your care.

Laura's role, as Public Education Coordinator and Volunteer Coordinator, plays a crucial part of keeping pets, while in the shelter, content, calm and balanced.

Dogs and cats are in small enclosures on average 22.5 hours/day. They're let out to relieve themselves, physically and mentally, just a couple times daily (on good days)... by volunteers.

Laura's job is getting and keeping volunteers in the shelter to assure dogs (in particular) are sufficiently socialized, to avoid detriminal conditions such as 'kennel-crazy'.
She's very good at her job and has a great rapport with volunteers and the public; Laura is smart, humble and approachable.

Another important aspect of her job is educating the public on animal welfare and sheltering via off-site events. These events expose people to the shelter and our community's homeless pets.

I'm aware LMAS would divvy up Laura's job duties among other employees. -Laura does a lot of important work, especially for one person, and her presence adds immesurable value to the shelter as a whole. There's no way her absense wouldn't be sorely felt... by pets and people alike.
Hopefully her position can somehow be saved.

Thank you for your hard work and dedication.
The shelter has thrived under your calm, assertive leadership!

Sincerely,

Jessica Pita

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

-Why Rescue Makes Temp Move Back to So. Florida (08-2024)

 This blog title was so simple to type, much simpler than the process of bringing this planned move into fruition!      ~And maybe 50 people read the rescue's blogs, it's certainly not a big audience, but still: even if one person reads it, and it helps that person and/or their pet, then it's worth it.     Why The Move (broken down into 3 categories):     1.) For approximately 4 years I worked at Miami Dade Animal Services when I lived in Miami Beach the first time around (circa 2010), mostly via an ASPCA-grant-funded-position which was aimed at increasing our live release rate… which I did quite well, but boy it was a lot of work!      Because of my time working in animal welfare while in Miami, I have some great rescue contacts there.     And I’ve always wanted to get Paw and Feather Plan ‘rooted’ in South Florida… where the idea for this rescue was born.         I know several individuals in a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Policy Changes Affecting Individuals Requesting Rehoming Assistance from PAFP (changes do not affect our pet plan clients)

      As of 01/31/2024 these are PAFP's new SOPs (last revised on 02/13/2024):     -As PAFP currently has a hospice foster that did belong to a plan client, the rescue isn't able to take in other fosters at this time for the most part.      -The rescue  tries to pull/rescue pets from our high intake municipal shelter, Louisville Metro Animal Services, exclusively .  The rescue pulls pets only when we have a confirmed, volunteer foster home for pets.       -Any rehome cases we do take on will be charged a rate of $17/hour, and the ability to pay the $17/hour is not a guarantee we'll be able to 'say yes' to your particular rehome case.  Additional Notes in Regards to these New Standard Operating Procedures:     In a continued and consistent effort to remain as transparent as possible for the rescue's small-but-mighty following, I offer detailed explanations on the why of each of the above new procedu...
Post a Comment
Read more

Do NOT Feed Your Dog Grain Free Full Time...

  Unless you want to put it at direct risk of dying prematurely of heart failure.      Yep, you read it right.  There are no 'ifs, ands or buts' about it:               Feeding Dogs a Strictly Grain Free Diet puts them at non-hereditary risk of dilated cardiomyopathy.      Thankfully, Janine, a PAFP foster and adopter, enlightened me to this fact.       Once Janine's 3rd whippet had late stage symptoms of advanced heart disease, she had reached her wits' end.  Her first two whippets had succumbed to heart disease too.  -And she just didn't get it: her dogs enjoyed top shelf dog food, Acana, had plenty of daily exercise, and regular vet visits.       That was it : beloved dog number 3 was going to a veterinarian-cardiologist.  -Enough with unexplained heart disease for Janine's dogs... and heartbreak for Janine!  Janine's foster, June, that almost w...
Post a Comment
Read more