End the Humane Society fighting

I’ve been reading about the Santa Cruz Humane Society in the Nogales International for the past several months; reports of “alleged” misdeeds, letters of people who jumped to premature conclusions that the “alleged” dirty deeds were true, and a report that the Santa Cruz County attorney did not find evidence of the “alleged” misdeeds and that charges would not be filed against the board members, but maybe the complainers.

Then today (Aug. 4) there was a guest opinion called Where Will the Money Go? by Cheryl Rennie dredging all the dirt up again.

I’ve been a member of the Santa Cruz Humane Society since it was started by Joan White. I was very active when Jackie Precious and Liz Collier were the directors. For many years, I helped with the rabies clinics and fund-raisers. Then suddenly, I was no longer called to help. The newsletters disappeared or were irregular, rabies clinics stopped, and the clinic had no vet. I heard the board was in disarray and board members kept quitting. I still kept up my yearly membership of $25 until a previous board charged $100, which I questioned.

The answer I got was a shock. The board did not have membership records. Why no records?

Both financial and organizational records have disappeared from the files at the society office during this time of chaos. The current board of directors, including the much-reviled Joan Jernigan, Barbara Hahn, and Linda Wilson, have been trying to rebuild the procedures for operating the shelter and the Humane Society.

As the board tried to set procedures, they were met with opposition from people who wanted to maintain the status quo. In the NI of Aug. 4, Cheryl Rennie questions who will pay for the “costly audit” and the retention of two law firms when charges were not filed. She is correct that charges were not filed because the reports made to the police were unsubstantiated and dismissed by the county attorney’s office. However, police reports were filed, police officers came to board members’ homes and investigated allegations of fraud. Who wouldn’t go out and hire a lawyer under such an attack?

Ms. Rennie questions the need for a costly audit, when the audit is a direct result of the complaints to the police. The SAS 99 audit was scheduled because of the police investigation. She also questions why a full-time operations manager was hired. What successful business survives and succeeds without a manager? Someone has to be in charge. Procedures have to be followed. Then supporters will have trust.

Now, because people have been fighting like cats and dogs, the auditor and one lawyer will have to be paid out of Humane Society funds. This is the way it works for all organizations. Board members are volunteers and are legally protected by the organization. The other lawyer was hired by individuals. But look on the bright side. The auditor will make suggestions to reorganize the financial accounting. The board is re-creating the bylaws, which lower membership fees. Progress is being made.

I urge all interested parties to forget personal animosity and start working together. This means that some people will have to put their egos aside and compromise to make the reorganization successful. If you cannot do that, then step aside and let others rebuild the Santa Cruz Humane Society.

To the board of the Santa Cruz Humane Society�”hang in there! Keep working to reorganize the society and the shelter. Many people are behind you and will help.

(Editor’s note: Becker is a retired teacher from Rio Rico)