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| Affectionately called "little Peanut" by the family who found her and who wanted to adopt her; this friendly young beagle was killed at Fox Valley Humane Association for what was described as "food guarding" during her behavior assessment |
If you're involved in animal welfare or if you live in the Appleton/Green Bay Area of Wisconsin you've probably seen the brewha about the Fox Valley Humane Association's (FVHA) killing of a friendly, "stray" young beagle that had a family willing to adopt her.
If you need a refresher here are the details. Thank you to Yesbiscuit and the Milwaukee Animal Welfare Examiner for covering this story.
YesBiscuit!: Nobody WANTS to Kill Animals: Fox Valley Humane Edition
Milwaukee Animal Welfare Examiner: Despite Being Wanted by Her Rescuers, FVHA Euthanized Peanut
For additional background, the story was also picked up by the following news agencies:
Appleton Post Crescent (newspaper)
Fox 11
ABC 2
NBC26
weareGreenBay.com
So first off, it should be immediately apparent that this story was BIG news. On a day when most of Wisconsin was focused on Green Bay Packer's quarterback, Aaron Rogers, broken collar bone, four television stations and the local daily paper covered it. And how did the FVHA handle the story? By sticking their fingers in their ears, going la-la-la and ignoring what their donors and supporters are saying. They didn't deny that the killing occurred. They defended it. They made it out to be an isolated "incident". The FVHA director even told me on the phone that she was proud of providing "humane euthanasia" to the people of the Fox Valley. There was nothing humane about killing Peanut. This was not euthanasia. This dog was killed. She was young. She was friendly. She had a home.
The bigger story is that FVHA took in 3614 cats and dogs in 2012 and killed 1957 of them. Yet, on their website they claim to have saved 100% of adoptable cats and dogs in 2012. They are deceiving the public and the taxpayer. (The shelter received over $169,000 in municipal income in 2011). The public should be outraged and they are.
The public wants shelters to be safe havens where they can take lost pets and know that they will be cared for. Not slaughtered. Read through the comments on the news stories and the Facebook pages. People do not want the FVHA to fail. They want their donations and tax dollars used to shelter animals. The public wants shelters to shelter. Not to kill.
In the newspaper this morning I read that U.S. Cellular was getting backlash for poor customer service and billing problems. Here was the statement from U.S. Cellular spokesperson: "We are completely focused on getting this right. We are sorry that customers had experiences that haven't lived up to their needs or expectations."
In stark contrast are the FVHA director's, Liz Dietz's responses yesterday in the news media:
"The Fox Valley Humane Association says it has reviewed its policy, and says it was followed precisely with the animal. It has no plans to change its procedures."
"Calling the attacks on their organization slander and misinformed...."
"The problem with Facebook is that it's very easy for people to voice an opinion but not take responsibility. It's misinformation, not factual and, in fact, slanderous."
So while Dietz, accuses the public of slander and defends the killing; the turmoil continues. Even to the point where I saw a recommendation that they probably need to consider calling in public relations firm to undo the damage that has been done by Dietz.
Business guru, Seth Godin wrote an excellent blog on customer satisfaction a couple of weeks ago. "The complaining customer doesn't want a refund. He wants a connection, an apology and some understanding. He wants to know why you made him feel stupid or ripped off or disrespected, and why it's not going to happen again."
But Dietz, apparently doesn't get it as she digs the FVHA further into a hole by defending her actions. Because killing 1957 animals in one year at a well-funded Wisconsin shelter is indefensible.
I have blogged about FVHA in the past. Here are the links:
The Power to Kill
Ask Your Shelter Director - Part 3
What's in a Name
Perfectly written. I'm so confused how some people are buying Dietz's poorly written responses but so proud I live in a community where so many of us ARE outraged (and even willing to take part in a peaceful protest across from the FVHA on Saturday, 11/9, at noon). I hope FVHA learns to be more like US Cellular!
ReplyDeleteExcellent article, Kathy!!! Thank you for covering all aspects of this story including Liz Dietz's poor response to the whole situation. If you have any suggestions on how we, as citizens, taxpayers, and animal lovers, can help make change at FVHA please advise. I'm sure you are a wealth of information in that field too.
ReplyDeleteThank you for covering all aspects of this sorrowful story, in particular how poorly Liz Dietz has handled the outcry from the public. With your wealth of information laying in so many areas, if you can suggest ways we as taxpayers, citizens, and animal lovers can start to implement change at FVHA, please advise. I'm 100% on board.
ReplyDeleteA little over six years ago, I fell in love with a sweet little orange tabby at FVHA named Tigger. I had recently lost a young kitten named Hazel to FIP. I met Tigger at FVHA on a Tuesday and noticed she was a little snotty and was sneezing. I was very familiar with symptoms of an Upper Respiratory after going through Hazel's illness, and I alerted the FVHA staff. I was told that the vet would see Tigger the next day. That following Thursday, I returned to FVHA with my mom and aunt to introduce them to Tigger and complete the adoption papers. I was told by FVHA staff that the little fur ball had been seen by a vet, and she did, in fact, have an upper respiratory infection (very common in cats, especially in shelters, and also very treatable). The shelter also asked if I would be willing to treat Tigger at home, and I replied of course. That week end, I prepared my home for another kitten, I bought toys and food and everything to welcome little Tigger home. After no call from FVHA that Monday, I called on Tuesday. I was told that my application for adoption had been approved, however Tigger was no longer available. I was incredulous - the first thing that went through my mind was that they had given her to someone else. Sadly, that was not the case. The FVHA staff member then informed me that Tigger had been euthanized over the week end due to the upper respiratory infection. I was shocked and incredibly saddened. There was absolutely NO reason that Tigger should have been put to death. She had a minor upper respiratory issue, which is VERY easily treatable, and I would have gladly brought her to my home and nursed her back to health.
ReplyDeleteI volunteered for FVHA for many years, I will no longer do so. Sadly, Tigger & Peanut's stories are not the first I've heard regarding FVHA and I am sickened and disgusted with their inhumane and knee-jerk reaction policies. There are so many shelters in the area that operate on a much lower budget, yet their success rates are much better than FVHA. It appears as though FVHA places more importance on making sure the director is paid a rediculous salary than on the welfare of helpless animals.
I'm praying that Peanut's story stays fresh in the minds of Valley residents. I'm praying that God softens the hearts of the staff at FVHA so they will stop placing the almighty dollar over the well-being of animals and the trust of Valley residents. Their policies must change.
A little over six years ago, I fell in love with a sweet little orange tabby at FVHA named Tigger. I had recently lost a young kitten named Hazel to FIP. I met Tigger at FVHA on a Tuesday and noticed she was a little snotty and was sneezing. I was very familiar with symptoms of an Upper Respiratory after going through Hazel's illness, and I alerted the FVHA staff. I was told that the vet would see Tigger the next day. That following Thursday, I returned to FVHA with my mom and aunt to introduce them to Tigger and complete the adoption papers. I was told by FVHA staff that the little fur ball had been seen by a vet, and she did, in fact, have an upper respiratory infection (very common in cats, especially in shelters, and also very treatable). The shelter also asked if I would be willing to treat Tigger at home, and I replied of course. That week end, I prepared my home for another kitten, I bought toys and food and everything to welcome little Tigger home. After no call from FVHA that Monday, I called on Tuesday. I was told that my application for adoption had been approved, however Tigger was no longer available. I was incredulous - the first thing that went through my mind was that they had given her to someone else. Sadly, that was not the case. The FVHA staff member then informed me that Tigger had been euthanized over the week end due to the upper respiratory infection. I was shocked and incredibly saddened. There was absolutely NO reason that Tigger should have been put to death. She had a minor upper respiratory issue, which is VERY easily treatable, and I would have gladly brought her to my home and nursed her back to health.
ReplyDeleteI volunteered for FVHA for many years, I will no longer do so. Sadly, Tigger & Peanut's stories are not the first I've heard regarding FVHA and I am sickened and disgusted with their inhumane and knee-jerk reaction policies. There are so many shelters in the area that operate on a much lower budget, yet their success rates are much better than FVHA. It appears as though FVHA places more importance on making sure the director is paid a rediculous salary than on the welfare of helpless animals.
I'm praying that Peanut's story stays fresh in the minds of Valley residents. I'm praying that God softens the hearts of the staff at FVHA so they will stop placing the almighty dollar over the well-being of animals and the trust of Valley residents. Their policies must change.