It's been an eventful day among animal activists working overtime to help save the miserable lives of the animals at the Robeson County Animal Shelter.
As reported yesterday, employees were not feeding or giving water to animals nor cleaning their cages. Dogs and cats sat inside nearly 100 degree cages filled with the stench of urine and feces. Food, and more disturbingly, water bowls sat empty!
Pet beds donated by one group sat piled and stacked against the water heater in the back instead of inside the cages where they were intended to keep the animals off the filthy floors. One might argue that they were removed to clean the kennels, but by shelter closing, the kennels were filled with feces, evidence that employees who are paid to do a job, a good job, failed to lift a finger. This shelter has had shoddy reports by the state on the poor conditions found there. (See yesbiscuit.WordPress.com)
Many believe that this latest scandalous neglect is employee retaliation for the forced resignation of ex-shelter manager, Jeff Bass. If so, then all these employees need to be fired because they don't work for Jeff Bass, they work for these animals. Their paychecks are provided courtesy of every tax-payer in Robeson County!
On behalf of this atrocity, I emailed WECT, WRAL, WTVD, the FayObserver, the RC Fire Chief Charles Brit (who has not responded to my email detailing in words, and showing in pictures, the fire code violation by the shelter from stacking animals beds against the water heater), and I even emailed Rescue Inc., a sort of Hell's Angels for Animals type advocacy group (Bikers with big hearts) outlining the desperate state of this animal shelter.
Earlier today, Journalist Stephanie Feldstein reported that the Robeson County Commission talked of permanently closing down the shelter, blaming animal activists! This is outrageous. For one, the county would have no problems with activists if they cleaned up the shelter and ran it consistently within humane standards.
No, no, my friends. What is really going on goes much deeper. Read between the headlines. RC reported budget issues this year. They also have a lawsuit pending from animal activist, Susan Barrett. Last month, the commission held an illegal "behind-closed-doors" budget meeting which, by law, is supposed to be completely open to the public. County Attorney Hal Kinlaw, the person who should be keeping the law foremost in everyone's mind said he "fell asleep", so did not realize what had happened. This is the same attorney who is miffed about having to respond to the charge of animal cruelty at RCAS. Questions were asked by Commissioners about the lawsuit which should never have been answered unless in a pubic forum!
That closed-door meeting was a perfect opportunity to strategize what to do about the animal shelter; keep it open and lose all that money from the budget, not to mention the money that would have to be spent on the upcoming lawsuit, or let a couple of days pass by, let the conditions at the shelter worsen so that animal activists get even more riled up thereby giving the county a plausible reason to shut the shelter down?
Their decision? I'm not much of a gambler, but I'd lay money on the latter.
It is true that spending time in court over this issue seems a great waste of resources that could be better spent on the animals at the shelter, but with the wrong people in charge, and employed there, we may as well throw that money into a bonfire and watch it burn.
Now is the time for both sides to sit down and broker a deal. There are many people, compassionate and smart people with a plan at the ready that will help reform this shelter. The county doesn't seem to want it anymore. Activists won't be happy until the county employees are out of the picture. Closing the shelter is just not an option as the animals and the Robeson County residents need it. I say, "Let's make a deal".
Stop the back and forth. End the abuse and neglect. Behave like the adults everyone is supposed to be, and get this situation under control! Both sides can benefit from a properly arbitrated negotiation. Work it out, and in the meantime, make sure (by appointing a watchdog group) all the animals at the shelter are checked by a Veterinarian, fed, watered, and kept clean inside of cleaned cages!
I'm telling you now, it ain't over till the fat, happy kitty sings!
Want to help? You can sign the petition to end animal cruelty at Robeson County Animal Shelter here.
More from Michele Gwynn: We can go on a date....if my cat approves! (Ms. Gwynn is also the San Antonio Sex & Relationships Examiner. Her humor in explaining "the unexplainable" goes hand in hand with her candor. She has even interviewed celebrities for her column such as Rudolf Martin, and a former UN Ambassador, Sichan Siv for a San Antonio local paper.)
All articles by Michele Gwynn are under copyright and cannot be re-posted whole without written consent by the author. Partial re-posting with a link back to the original article is permitted. For consent, questions, or comments, email megwynn@msn.com. Thank you for caring!
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Comments
Wow, Michele, what a great job covering this ongoing horror story. If it weren't such a sad and despicable subject (the neglect, not the animals!), it would be fun cheering you on!
You're a great advocate for animals everywhere. You're making more of a difference from Texas than are all the people right there in North Carolina!
I know exactly how to solve this, but nobody seems to want to listen. Let me know if you hear that RC is looking to get out of the killing business - I have a solution for them.
Keep up the great work, Michele. Hold those good ol' boys' chubby little feet to the fire...
The people who work there must pattern themseves after Hitler. I have never in my life seen anything like this, they should all be fired and jailed for animal cruelty.
Michele, If you have any influence on the people of North Carolina, please begg them to STOP the "backyard rescue" of these animals. There are dogs left at vets, backyards, local farms, across state lines, sold, you name it. The abuse has left the shelter and is now in the hands of scammers and unqualified rescues. It's a cocktail for disaster. EVERY ACTION HAS CONSEQUENCES. Please continue to encourage negotiations with county officials. The sad truth is Robeson County Animal Shelter is one of the BEST county-run shelters in NC. People have no idea what Gov. Bev Perdue allows in her State and she promised to change this if elected. Please keep reporting for the animals.
Let me get this straight? The employees who are getting paid to care for the animals, are doing NOTHING, except sitting around and collecting their money. IF that is the case, THEY HAD BETTER GET CHGARGES OF ABUSE and NEGLECT lodged against them!!!!! If they call themsevles "Animal lovers" they are the biggest hypocrites to walk the earth!!! How could they sit there and watch animals die?!?! and do nothing?!?!?!? I'm floored by their LACK OF BAHVIOR!! I hope they themselves rot in hell
I propose they open the opportunity to let volunteers come in and clean the shelter. It works for the activists by getting the shelter cleaned, and saves the county money by not spending a dime.
I agree with firing the current staff. Pushing the subject to fast and too hard will just cause the shelter to be permanently closed. Pass out polls and petitions to the citizens and let them decide. I'm sure there are volunteers willing to pass them out even.
I hope that those people are locked up in the same kind of environment and have to suffer like this animals did. The sad thing is that when they walked into the room, all those creatures were probably wagging their tails and trying to love on them. I don't understand how anyone could do such a horrible thing.
I wanted to applaud you on this article. I felt your compassion for these animals. Job well done.
This is an absolute atrocity and god awful shame! I hide my face in shame and disgust. What the hell is the world coming to?? This place is rotten and a disgrace to humanity! This "shelter" is far from operating like a shelter should - I don't see any reason this facility should remain open. They do more harm than good. "RIP precious souls that have already gone" | find your compassion . com
At times like this I'm ashamed to be human.
You people should be ashamed of yourselves! To allow this to happen...just a bunch of inbred, southern 'good ole boys' from KKK country! You all should be neutered and spayed and NOT allowed to breed!! Just a bunch of human sh%$^&^t stains!! I hope you rot in hell!!
What does anyone expect from a bunch of ignorant, rednecks from KKK country? I mean, really? Shame to all who knew this was going on and allowed it to happen! Someday, somewhere and somehow...you will get yours....when you least expect it!
Addie Mason...I would love to know who you are defending and why! perhaps the breeding and passing on of defective gene pools should start with you!!!
To those of you who think "it would be best to close the shelter" - that is NOT the answer - more animals would then suffer and we certainly do not want that to happen; hopefully in the near future there will be more "significant changes". Also, beginning in August there will be two new employees who will be under the jurisdiction of the County Manager and at that time (if not before) many things will change. I, who have worked diligently for thirteen years (CONTRARY" to what "some" may say and which I totally ignore), to END the suffering of animals in Robeson County, know how difficult it is to be "patient" but I hope you will be able to "trust" "some" of us are doing everything within our power to END the suffering and I care NOT whose "toes" I step on and the "powers that be" in Robeson County are VERY MUCH AWARE OF THS. Faith Walker
ps - I will contact Michelle when "something breaks" and hopefully it will be soon.
This is so cruel.. Why can't you people just get along and do what is best for the animals.. There are enough people out there that will do there job and help with these animals.. With all the people that are unemployed right now there has to be someone that will take care of these poor pets and make life a much better place.. Get rid of all the employees from there and hire some people that will take care of them... Pets are like family not just another animal how would you like it if your brother,sister,mother,or father where taken care of like these poor animals??? you would be looking to string the person up with a linching squad!!! So get off your butts and get this taken care of!!!!!
Apparently as of this morning, there are 64 cats that need to be rescued, if the population isn't diminished by tomorrow, euthanasia will be the means of lowering the population. It's so sad that there are so many that need to be helped/re-homed!!!! There is obviously a problem in St. Pauls - for so many to be at large or surrendered to this facility!
The present staff appears to be uneducated on contagious diseases, therefore they allow virus infected animals in with the healthy, this is creating the potential for disaster!
A farewell cake was given to Bass by his staff - sad to see him transferred because of the threats he received by those who are upset at what they see at RCAS (he did not resign, but was transferred by the Director of the Health Board Bill Smith for fear of his safety)
RCAS needs proper management, education of it's staff and a little less drama by those too willing to say "i told u so!"
Let's make sure that RCAS doesn't close & advances for the better
This is why animal abuse needs to be a federal offense. Everyone from the employees, to the paid representatives overseeing the operation of this facility at the county and state level should have animal cruelty charges brought up against them. This is a very sad testament to the moral compass of the individuals who could see that this did not take place.
Those poor animals. How can people be so heartless. Hope they all meet the same fate someday.
I have been keeping up with all thats been goin on with the situation at this shelter and i think this is what needs to happen. Go in and clean house with all the people that work there and fire them on the spot. Have people needing jobs and that wants to make a difference ready to step in and take over doing what was SUPPOSE to be done right in the first place, and keep this shelter open and taking care of the animals that are still able to be cared for. Im sure there are pleanty of people that would gladly take over the job of helping these poor negleted animals.I know if I lived in that area I'd be right in the middle of it and stepping up to help.
I have just stumbled on this site thru my email and glad I have had the chance to look through. I can NOT understand hat so ever these abusers can get outy of abusing such harmless precious lives. Animal as well as people.
Yes these current workers should have charges filed through federal, get fired, community services and NEVER have the ability to care fo any living thing, PEROID!
Second, have people there volunteer toi get the shelter set up in the manner it needs to be. With the different sections for different animals. When ready open with a nice open house, have fund raisers to assist with temporary costs that will get put toward cleaning all this up.
I am a bit fed up with the coward childish animal abusers at robeson.
it is time to take out the trash and bring in new staff. So be it. they had their chance. One individual who is employed there had the balls to send a message to us on facebook and was upset not about the animals but because they installed spam blocker and some sort of email program to minotor their emails. WORK helping animals stay off FACEBOOK!
And she knows who she is and I have the post from her. These qare cowards and Im gonna get so far up their asses their mothers are going to get off.
THIS IS WAR!
This is a shelter that is supposed to be helping animals get adopted and rehomed INSTEAD if being euthanized....They are doing anything to help these poor ababies...no food...no water....crap and urine everywhere??? Are you kidding me? How is this happening? Not giving animals proper vet care and letting them die because of it??? This is an outrage!!!! This place has to stay open or where will all the homeless animals go??? Everyone that is working there needs to be fired and bring in a whole new crew...People who actaully care about the well-being of animals NOT abusers and murderers!!
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