Late Saturday, the City of Dallas named a new Division Manager for its beleaguered Animal Services Department – a department whose reputation hit rock bottom last year when the manager was indicted on felony animal cruelty charges for allegedly allowing a cat to die trapped in a wall at the shelter. Around the same time, two other staff members were each being investigated in separate instances of alleged cruelty toward the animals in their care.
Jody Jones will take over the position now held by Interim Division Manager and Dallas Police Lieutenant Scott Walton. Lieutenant Walton stepped into the role last September and animal welfare advocates credit him for turning the department around. His unique combination of discipline and humor, and his trademark commitment to compassion, have made him as popular as he is effective. Under his leadership, adoptions are up, euthanasia is down, and Dallas Animal Services and local rescue groups are working together better than ever.
Elaine Munch, President of the Metroplex Animal Coalition had this to say about out-going manager, "Lt. Scott Walton revolutionized the way DAS does business by simply applying good management principles that adhere to transparency, honesty and recognition of good work, plus not accepting sub-standard work. The previous regime was all about denying that there were any problems. Of course there will be problems. It's an understaffed facility that is full to the brim all the time. But denying that problems exist and not actively managing staff toward good behaviors is, and always was, unacceptable. Walton changed everything for the better and he proved that his way works. The live release rate and rescues are much-improved and the community is working with the shelter in a partnership that is closer and more productive than ever."
Jody Jones is thought to be an excellent choice to continue the work Lieutenant Walton has done. She has been the Division Manager at Richmond Animal Care & Control in Richmond, Virginia for the last seven years. Prior to that, she served as the Director of Animal Care & Control of New York City. She is a member of the Virginia Federation of Human Societies and a faculty member of the American Prosecuting Attorneys Association for the Committee on Animal Law.
Richmond Animal Care & Control enjoys the assistance of a large volunteer program, places an emphasis on education and outreach, and each year publishes their statistical outcomes on their website. Since 2006, not a single healthy homeless pet has been euthanized in Richmond, thanks to a program developed by the Richmond SPCA in cooperation with Richmond Animal Care & Control. With the help of the Association for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Richmond program has become a model for communities across the country.
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Copyright Rebecca Poling 2011. All rights reserved. Email DFWAnimalRescue@att.net if you have a story you’d like to share.
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