Last March welcomed the new Austin animal shelter director Abigail Smith. Hopes were high that the new director and soon to be new digs would usher in a new era for the city’s unwanted animals.
10 months later and some rescuers are scratching their heads and still waiting to see change. Austin has a very strong rescue community made up of devout and hardworking people called ‘partners’. In Texas, the word ‘partner’ carries a big significance; “howdy, partner” a oft used longtime traditional greeting.
Some of the Austin Shelter partners would appreciate the opportunity to say ‘howdy’ to shelter director Abigail Smith. According to several of the Austin shelter rescue groups who partner with the city’s animal control facility, they’ve yet to meet the new director.
According to one local rescue who’s saved countless animals from Austin Animal Center and its predecessor, Town Lake Animal Shelter, “what bothers me the most is the fact that we have no clue why city officials chose this director for this important position. When we had the opportunity to meet the final candidates for this position, this person was not there, so we never got to hear what she has to say, what her experiences are working with animals or what her vision is to help make Austin a no-kill city. Since we still haven't met the director, we are yet to find out why the city of Austin picked Abigail Smith to be our shelter director. Is it because she was truly the best candidate or was it because of a different reason?”
These rescue groups have viable questions and would appreciate answers. “I truly thought that after the director was settled in, she was going to take the time and invite all those who work with the shelter, the rescue organizations whom they call "partners" to officially introduce herself. I thought we will have the opportunity to hear what she has in mind for the shelter's future. I thought that she will be professional and courteous to listen to what we had to say. After all, we know Austin, we know our community and most importantly, we know what animal issues need to be addressed. To my surprise and disappointment, that meeting never happened.”
These groups are not paid salaries and do this work as a labor of love. “We do this rescue work because we care. We put all our time, hard work and money to try and make a difference. We use our homes, cars and every penny we have to get this done. Most of us cannot have guests come to visit our homes or go on a well-deserved vacation, because we are too busy taking care of all the animals we have at our homes. Then we have a shelter director who is getting paid a pretty hefty salary from our tax money. A director which we know nothing about because we haven't officially met yet.”
The director of a municipal shelter is employed by its government, its people, and all these people are asking is to simply meet the new official. Without these ‘partners’ Austin cannot obtain a ‘no-kill’ status. How can any organization function without communication and respect? “In my opinion, this is not a true partnership. We are being used as "worker bees", being asked to pull animals whenever the shelter is full (pretty much every day), yet, when important decisions are being made, we are not consulted with, as if our opinions do not matter at all.”
These concerns are valid. Even the most basic dog training is reward based as the dog will not perform without a payoff. These partners are not asking for rewards and commendations. They are simply seeking the common courtesy one would expect should be extended to an equal ‘partner’.
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