Helena-West Helena Mayor Apologizes For Animal Shelter Controversy
Helena-West Helena Mayor James Valley is apologizing to the town after a furor erupted when he ordered the release of dogs from the city shelter into a national forest.
Valley said he has no problem with dogs or other animals, But said he made the move to solve the stray problem in his town. Earlier this month, he ordered nearly a dozen dogs from the city shelter released into the St. Francis National Forest. The release drew criticism from some groups, including PETA and the Humane Society. Mayor Valley called the freedom of the national forest for the animals a better alternative than the conditions at the city's overcrowded shelter.
Letter from Helena-West Helena Mayor James Valley:
Let me begin by apologizing to the good wholesome reasonable and sound minded people of this community who have been dragged into this mess about our animal shelter. I am sincerely sorry that a decision made by me, in the run of the hundreds of decisions I make every day, has brought the wrath of the animal loving world to your front door. Please accept my apology to my friends and neighbors for that.
This saga has lasted too long and is a distraction to the good work that had been and is being done in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas. We are a community that has made a major turn-around. We consolidated two (2) cities about two and one-half years ago and that effort has been marvelous. We have gone from perhaps dim aspirations and dark days to glimmering hopes and glowing dreams.
We are on the cusp of an economic jolt in the arm. We have several opportunities being developed which will have a very positive economic impact locally and regionally.
We have strategic plan that has been working quite well. We are putting the finishing touches on a masterplan for downtown development that also considers the entire city's development prospects.
Soon, we can expect to build a brand new twenty-one million dollar high school. A new state-of-the-art greenhouse nursing home is on the way. New housing developments are being planned as we speak. The phoenix is here.
However, on our animal control issue, we have a failure to communicate. I accept responsibility for that. Our modest shelter was closed UNLAWFULLY and without proper cause by a renegade humane society from the southern portion of the state.
For five (5) months we, as a community, have forced our sanitation workers to live with dogs in the middle of their work space. The shelter was closed and a set of holding pens was placed in the midst of the work area at the sanitation shop. The conditions were not pretty for the dogs; no doubt. The conditions were deplorable for the men and the women who worked there and had no connection with dogs whatsoever other than smelling their feces and other waste daily.
The sanitation workers already have not so good working conditions. The placement of the pens in the middle of that work area, did not improve those conditions.
I have broken no law. I was faced with two (2) bad choices; the choice of evils. Let the dogs go or kill the dogs. I am an animal lover myself. I am no murderer. The bad dogs were killed by the vet. The other dogs were released. These dogs were neither sick nor harmful.
Robert Frost might have handled this decision better than I did. Sometimes, choosing the road less traveled by makes all the difference in ways unexpected. I wish I had not said anything about the St. Francis National Forest.
That is what has really caused a fuss. The dogs were set free on Storm Creek Road near the St. Francis National Forest. Our community, unlike many of the suburban sprawl areas, is surrounded by woods; the St. Francis National Forest at the north and the White River Refuge at the south and plenty of thickets and hunting ground in between. Our stray animals deal with forest like conditions daily. It is not unusual for us to see coyotes or wolves in our yards in the late evening and early mornings. During the appropriate season, we see deer, rabbits, squirrels and other wildlife in our yards too.
I have received calls, faxes, emails and communications from Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas, Washington, D.C.; West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming to name a few. Many, if not most, of these people have no real connection to this area. They have not visited for one of our festivals. They have refused to contribute to the animal shelter drive underway now and has raised $700.00. They do not pay any taxes or fees that support our community. These people do not help build roads, parks or community centers in our hometown. They do not help us with our education issues or crime problems. But they were free with their insults. I have been called an idiot, a dumb a**, a stupid a**, a cruel ****er, a good ole' boy, a coon; a disgrace to my race; Michael Vick; stupid; backwards; inhumane; an a**hole; and unfit for office just to name a few things. (I guess it is harm to imagine being a good ole' boy and a coon at the same time. I have really arrived; big time).
Many do not understand that we have labored for five (5) months since that terrible day in January when the renegade humane society (Ruby Burton) slammed the doors on our shelter. Five (5) months of talk and babble about the "love" of animals and how they would be taken care of and nurtured. All of the dialogue, babble and talk left us in worse condition five (5) months later than we were in January.
In January the animals were housed in a shelter with ventilation and protection from the weather and elements. At our sanitation shop, the animals were kept in pens and kennels outside on the hot asphalt. The animals had no exercise area and no real way of being separated between and among sizes, breeds and conditions. In other words, these animals were inhumanely piled into a cage as directed by Ms. Ruby Burton and her humane society. These animals were taken from not perfect conditions to horrible conditions all at the behest of Ruby Burton and her humane society. This same society that wants me arrested for conditions caused, fostered and developed by them!
I plan to work with any group of people who are serious about making sure that our animal population receives proper treatment. I hope to soon see a plan for control and management of our animal population. The plan should include spaying and neutering, education of animal control officers, building a shelter that meets national standards, ample volunteer and community support, a good fostering and adoption program; medicines, food and other supplies at the shelter; a serious public awareness campaign and partnering with others to leverage our collective power to make a positive impact.
I have already, working in conjunction with PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and the national humane society, enrolled two of our employees in the Animal Control Academy to receive proper training and certification in animal control. This is the first step in transitioning from "dog catching" and killing to a full animal control and management program. By the way, we have never had an animal control officer that has received such training. We are transitioning, I hope, from the days of operating a "Dog Pound" to the management of an Animal Shelter and the full program that brings to bear upon our animal population. No longer will it be acceptable to merely "catch" dogs, hold them for a period of time and kill them.
We can, we must, we shall do better! If we are serious about management of the animal population in accord with national standards, we are going to need some funding. It is my hope that some will donate to the cause by sending money in any amount to our City Clerk, Mrs. Sandra Ramsey, P O Box 248, Helena-West Helena, AR 72342 attn: Animal Control Fund. I hope that you are one of those persons. Please, do let this opportunity to do good pass you by.
I will inject myself into a fundraising effort to assure that the shelter drive collects at least $50,000 by the end of this year. I have met, on a number of occassions, with Ms. Gloria Higginbotham with the Delta Chapter of the Humane Society. She has been nothing but civil and civic-minded. I applaud her and the Delta Chapter (not to be confused with the Ruby Burton outfit). Because of our meetings and the good will of certain people in the business community, we are off to a good start with our fund raising effort for the shelter.
We, Gloria and I, met with County Judge Don Gentry. He has pledged his support and we hope to make the animal shelter county wide such that the smaller cities and communities within Phillips County are served as well.
It's a new day for animal control in Phillips County, Arkansas. It is our hope, belief and aspiration that you will step up and lend a helping hand in this effort.
Sincerely, James F. Valley
NEW YORK STATE ANIMAL POPULATION CONTROL PROGRAM FUND RAIDED
In a message dated 5/19/08 New York State Humane Association Board Members reported that New York State Agriculture and Markets reported that $1,020,000 was transferred out of the ANIMAL POPULATION CONTROL FUND and placed into the general fund, leaving approximately $1,250,000. We are currently spending in excess of $100,000 per month for surgeries. Ag. & Mkts. also reports that "We actually accumulated the excess in 1996-2006. Last year we spent $950,000 and took in $500,000. Based on the first five months of this fiscal year, we will pay out approximately $210,000 for adopted dogs, $280,000 for adopted cats, $200,000 for low income dogs, and $500,000 for low income cats. That will be $1,200,000 or about twice the revenue for the year."
In the "Humane Reciew", the newsletter of the New York State Humane Association the following article reads as follows:
"NYS Animal Population Control Program Fund Raided"
In order to balance this year's budget, the New York State Legislature authorized the Paterson administration to siphon dedicated funds from special accounts, including the Animal Population Control Program, establishedd to assist adopters of animals from shelters and low-income pet owners
with the costss of havingtheir dogs and cats sterilized. Over $1,000,000 was taken from the fund designed to prevent the births of unwanted pets, thereby preventing unneccessary animal suffering and burdens for animal care and control organizations.
NYSHA encourages its members to contact Governor David Paterson (Executive Chamber, State Capitol, Albany, NY 12224; e-mail info at www.ny.gov) and Ag. & Mkts. Commissioner Patrick Hooker (10-B Airline Drive, Albany, NY; e-mail www.agmkt.state.ny.us) to protest this lamentable practice and to storngly urge that it not be continued in coming years. If a "surplus" in the Animal Population Control Program makes it vulnerable to such sweeps in the future, any such excess can be readily eliminated by simply applying it to its orginal legislated purpose. Effective publicity about the program throughout the state, including New York City, would ensure that no such surplus will accumulate and become the target of relocation.
Dutch government to lift 25-year ban on pit bulls
The Dutch government says it will lift a long-standing ban on pit bulls because it did not lead to any decrease in bite incidents.
Agriculture Minister Gerda Verburg has informed parliament of the decision, which follows the advice of a commission of experts appointed to review the policy.
Instead, the country will focus on enforcing local leashing laws and owner education programs.
Spokesman Koen Geelink said Monday the ministry hopes to have a new policy in place by year-end, in which dogs that have displayed aggression will be tested by an expert.
The country banned the breeding and possession of pit bulls in 1993, after three children were killed by the dogs.
Finding Funding for Dog Contol by Enumeration
In these challenging days of Town governance, a little common sense can go a long ways in the venue of dog control policy. While this might seem like a trivial issue in the scope of things; a well defined program is a self-supporting one and one less thing to worry about. According to NYS Dept. of Agriculture and Markets Law Article 7, section 109, all canines four months or older must be licensed with proof of a rabies vaccination.
The benefits of licensing are numerous. Not only is a license proof of ownership but also hastens the return of a lost pet. As an added benefit to the town, a portion of the monies is returned to help fund the position. One can easily see the benefit of increased compliance.
Many towns and cities have kicked off their enumerations with newspaper ads offering an 'amnesty period' for licenses to be purchased at the Town Clerk's office. Licenses purchased as a result of the enumeration were subjected to a $5 surcharge; may times given to the enumerator as a 'bounty'. The ideal arrangement is for the dog control officer to conduct the actual census. (S)He then learns where both the friendly and not-so friendly animals live. Elderly and disabled owners are identified and notated for emergency preparedness. A summer intern can also be used in some instances.