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Post by chickaboom on Sept 12, 2007 12:52:31 GMT -5
What has been your experience with this shelter?
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Post by One who knows on Nov 6, 2007 22:41:49 GMT -5
Ken Childress has done a good job at this shelter considering he has to deal with a nonresponsive city council. Currently he is trying to do a JPA with the County and several contract cities to get a new state of the art shelter. We always look at the shelters without looking at what they deal with. SB City Council has never cared about animals and their voting records shows that. Childress has gotten more from them than anyone before. He could use more public support for his proposed programs. They do have new facilities for the cats and that was sorely needed. Also he has gotten a small spay/neuter program. He is enforcing an old ordinance that had been overlooked for years concerning breeding in the City of SB, it is not allowed in any shape, form, or fashion but there was no power of enforcement behind it until Childress got it recently. There have been many improvements since he took control but much more is needed. He has wonderful ideas but try to get them approved by the council is another matter.
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Post by chickaboom on Nov 29, 2007 23:37:01 GMT -5
What types of programs did Ken Childress propose that have been shot down? Do you have any specifics? The conditions out there are beyond inhumane. All public officials in that area need to be held accountable.
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Post by One Who Knows on Nov 30, 2007 11:32:59 GMT -5
Childress only has $10,000 for spay/neuter. That is the biggest thing he needs. In general he needs support from the public about everything.
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Post by chickaboom on Dec 7, 2007 1:21:27 GMT -5
In your opinion, what is the best way to support him? Is he approachable? Does he have a list of specifics that he needs help with? I'm willing to help out - I have a dog from that place. But I have to be honest, I was very unimpressed with that place.
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Post by volunteer on Dec 9, 2007 1:18:28 GMT -5
I have been a volunteer at the SB City shelter for about three years now and I have seen suffering there that people would be cited for at their own homes. People (even some of the employees that work at the shelter) have no idea on what the animals must endure there. I am not blaming the shelter employees at all; they are basically doing what they can with what they have. The City needs to step up and unfortunately Childress can't put the pressure on them that they need to make a difference. His methods may be working, but things aren't happening fast enough. The City is throwing tons of money into police and fire, while the shelter just continues to deteriorate. People need to know what is going on so that the City will start to be held accountable for what is going on there. The place is filled with roaches, mice, and disease. The buildings leak like a siv and the dogs sit in wet kennels in the metal buildings. There is no heat in the floors of the male and puppy buildings, which means the dogs sit on cold concrete all night long if they aren't given blankets. Something has to be done to speed up the much needed progress and the City needs to feel some heat from the public.
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Post by One Who Knows on Dec 13, 2007 22:50:16 GMT -5
Ken is approachable but as with most if not all folks in Animal Control, he doesn't trust people right off the bat. You must be willing to earn his trust. His "bedside" manner is not the best but once you get to know him, he's really a good guy. We got off to a rocky start and I told him he was on my nuts list. But he made the effort and finally got off that list. He really wants to stop euthanizing animals but his major needs are for a better shelter. Attending council meetings and speaking to this issue would help. He is working with the County to try to get a JPA, Joint Powers Agreement, to build a state of the art shelter so you need also to work on the County to pass this. Having your friends to call their County Supervisors and City Council member is a powerful tool.
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Post by volunteer on Dec 17, 2007 11:21:32 GMT -5
We are in agreement that Ken is not the ultimate problem here; the problem is SB City. But I will tell you one thing: I used to work there and RARELY, VERY RARELY, did I actually see Ken (or any of the management for that matter) walk through the kennels to see what is going on. How is the City going to really know what is going on with the condition of the shelter if the direct link from the shelter (management) doesn't even seem to want to take a look for themselves? Ken and Sue are both trying to do the best they can given what they have to work with...but they have perimeters that they must stay in so that they can continue to earn a living. The City is comfortable in keeping them in these perimeters. The City needs somebody outside these perimeters to grab them by the hand and make them see what kind of concentration camp/slaughter house they are calling their animal control.
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Post by volunteer on Dec 17, 2007 11:31:33 GMT -5
Basically, the City is not placing any importance on AC because they don't have to. So, yes, a letter writing campaign as well as a public education movement will be happening. I really don't want any employee at the shelter to take the heat for something that they can't control (for the most part). I also am not going to sit back and wait for the City to get off their ass while some poor dog sits in a COLD, WET kennel with large amount of mucus running out of its nose from distemper that it caught at the shelter.
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Post by volunteer on Dec 17, 2007 11:41:32 GMT -5
If you have any other advice as to how to help the situation, please feel free to send more our way. I am not trying to make this a negative movement; I am actually trying to make this a positive movement...with emphasis on keeping pressure on the City. I am open to any and all suggestions. You can send them to humane1sb@hotmail.com. Thank you!
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Post by volunteer on Dec 17, 2007 13:46:02 GMT -5
I do want to give Ken and Sue their due respect and thanks for sticking with such a terrible situation. I know what that place can do to a person and it takes a special person to stick with it. I honestly think that some of the management doesn't know how bad it is out in the kennels, but I could be wrong. Either way, management is not the one that needs to be focused on, so I will leave it at that. I truly look forward to your input.
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Post by one Who Knows on Dec 18, 2007 14:19:32 GMT -5
I don't want to give the impression that Ken and I are close, but I did talk with him regularly and would drop in to visit often. Many times he was in the kennels and many times I walked the kennels with him pointing out certain dogs and problems. Many times when I called he was in the kennels. Not to disagree but my impression is that he did spend considerable time in the kennels and is very aware of the problems. He would express his frustrations often. When you are an employee you lose your power to make changes in government. The public is the ones who have power and it is up to us to bring about these changes. He would appreciate any positive support you would offer, believe me.
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Post by Volunteer on Dec 18, 2007 21:36:41 GMT -5
I don't mean to split hairs, but I worked there for about eight months and I can't think of a SINGLE time when I saw Ken INSIDE the kennels, physically walking through, smelling the disease and feces smell that builds up from the poor drainage system in the buildings. I have never seen him walk the kennels at night when it is cold and rainy and the dogs are shivering and wet in the corner. That is where I am coming from when I say that management doesn't really know what is going on IN the shelter buildings. I have physically gotten down on my hands and knees and attempted to clean out the build-up of sewage in the male building, so I am aware of what needs to be seen...I have inspected every nook and cranny. I really, really don't want to bash Ken, but sometimes I think he fails to take in what is really going on. Maybe it is not his job to pay attention to the details...I don't know. I'm just frustrated that the animals are put in the position that they are and the City just seems to be getting away with it. If a citizen of SB left their animal in the conditions that the shelter animals must endure, then they would be fined. I guarantee that if you were to go there right now, you would find animals with water dripping on their heads, shivering, cold and wet. Believe me...I have seen it myself.
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Post by rsmelody on Dec 19, 2007 0:36:21 GMT -5
???so glad to have found this site, anyway, we have been trying to do something to improve these conditions, I have written the Sun Newspaper, with all the info that I had, however they never responded
I did write to PETA, they are more than willing to help, but they need more pictures of the shelter, and more info
anyone out there have anything, and I mean anything to help them so they can act on this?
Thanks Melody
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Post by animal friend on Dec 19, 2007 13:30:01 GMT -5
I have personally seen the conditions of that place and heard many devastating stories from rescues and other individuals whose adoptees have been so ill, they passed away not long after being sprung. Also, some organizations will not rescue from there anymore due to the illness, etc. I have rescued or transported many dogs from SBC shelter and all of them have been sick or covered in ticks. Kennels are overful with animals and the place is falling apart. I have also been on the way to transport dogs, only to find out we were minutes too late and the animal or animals were put down. It is very sad and someone needs to do something about it. The employees, volunteers and animals do not deserve this. Someone needs to speak up and make something happen for them.
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