Honorable Mayor Rawlings and Dallas City Council Members,
We, the undersigned, wish to express our support and sympathy for the staff of Dallas Animal Services over the loss and recent media coverage concerning four dogs euthanized after being surrendered by their owners under pressure from independent rescuers.
We consider Dallas Animal Services and Adoption Center a valuable partner and recognize the extraordinary challenges they face in dealing with the myriad animal problems in the City of Dallas, not the least of which is the reality that there are more animals coming into the shelter than there are being adopted or reclaimed.
Several years ago, DAS took a huge step forward in hiring Jody Jones, who has the experience and vision needed to take DAS into the 21st century—if only she were allowed to focus on implementing the changes she would like to make, rather than constantly battling both inside forces seeking to strip the department of funding and staff, and outside forces that fail to appreciate the very significant changes they have made in a relatively short time – changes like partnering on the Pets for Life program, which takes volunteers and staff into the communities most in need of help and education; changes like an increase in the live release rate from 25% to 45%, which translates to thousands and thousands of lives saved; changes like increased transparency and reporting and a director who is responsive and interested in what the community has to say.
Anyone who has been involved in animal welfare for long knows that change happens slowly in this world. We measure progress in tiny increments, and we learn to savor the small and sadly infrequent victories…because we are able to see that in the big picture, there IS progress. Jody Jones and Cate McManus have been inspiring leaders in that progress for Dallas. To lose them would mean nothing but a huge step backward for the city and indeed the entire DFW area. Sadly that is exactly what some people seem determined to see happen.
In the case of the four dogs euthanized recently, it is unfortunate that the media and public have taken this story at face value without taking the time to allow a full investigation or to fully understand the complexities of how rescue works. We too mourn the loss of these four dogs, but even more, we mourn the potential loss of thousands of others who never get this kind of attention but whose lives are being vastly improved with the changes and progress being made every day at DAS under the leadership of Jody Jones and Cate McManus.
We hope that the community can move past this incident and resolve to help DAS continue the work they have begun to address the underlying causes of the very real problems faced by animals and the people who love them in Dallas.
Sincerely,
Maeleska Fletes
President
Dallas Companion Animal Project
www.DallasAnimals.org
Leisha Adams, President, Texas Husky Rescue
Bonnie Hill, Executive Director, Spay Neuter Network
Kelly Richert, President, Feral Friends Community Cat Alliance
Tammy Kidwell, President, Dallas Cat Rescue DBA Cat Matchers
Cheryl Spencer, President, North Texas Pet Food Pantry
Stacy Smith, Vice President, Animal Advocacy, Humane Society of Flower Mound
Allan Cadis, Executive Director, Texas Best Choices Animal Rescue
James Wenger, President, DFW Rescue Me
Paige Anderson, President, Animal Rescue of Texas
Karen Hales, President, Kritters Looking for Homes Rescue
Karen Hales, DFW Coordinator, Chihuahua Rescue & Transport, Inc. – DFW Region
Rosemary Adkins, VP, St Cloud’s Rescue
Kimberly Jenkins, President, EARS (Education & Animal Rescue Society)
Richard Hoffman, President Dachshund Lovers Of Texas Rescue
Jenifer Batchelder, CoFounder Texas Sporting Breed Rescue
Steven Basham, Team Lead, Apollo Support & Rescue for Abandoned Dogs
Lisa Schrader, President, Recycled Pomeranians and Schipperkes Rescue
Erin Shults, CEO, Mazie’s Mission
Leslie Sans, Executive Director, Dallas Pets Alive
Paige Segovia, President, Lone Star Pyrs and Paws Dog Rescue
Christina Arriaga, Executive Director, Rockwall Pets
Kate Larkin, President Ragtag Rescue
Jim Hanophy, Executive Director, Operation Kindness