A former worker at Spay & Neuter Kansas City tells The Pitch that the staff walked out Tuesday after a disagreement with the organization's president, Michelle Dormady.
A message on the pet organization's Web site reads:
Unfortunately, the SNKC Outreach Program coordinator abruptly resigned her position this week and we are looking for someone to fill that role. We too are concerned about the animals in need, especially during this cold weather.Jessica Emerson, former Client Services Coordinator for SNKC, tells the staff's side of the story.
Emerson says that the Outreach Program Coordinator, Kate Quigley, was checking up on an outreach dog at a home and found that, for the second time, the dog had an embedded collar (a condition that results when a collar is left on a puppy whose neck is still growing and requires surgery to remove). In such situations, Quigley would call city animal control officers, who can impose fines or other consequences to negligent pet owners. But, Emerson says, too often the animal control officers would let bad owners off the hook. Which is what happened in the case of the dog with the embedded collar -- for the second time.
"Animal Control always leaves animals in horrific situations because the owner was 'nice,'" Emerson tells us via email.
According to Dormady, SNKC's president, outreach work is emotional, and every case is different. If her outreach volunteers hear about a dog who is left outside without proper shelter from the weather, for instance, they'll visit the owner, offer free supplies and tips on proper animal care, and call animal control officers if they witness other signs of abuse. The goal of the outreach program is to educate animal owners so that they can keep their pets. "The last thing we want to have happen is for the animal to be pulled by animal control or something because of a doghouse," Dormady says.
But for too long, according to the angry staff members, Dormady would apologize for and defend animal control officers and their lax efforts, leaving SNKC staff frustrated.
Emerson says she told Dormady how the staff felt and was fired as a result.
"After that Kate decided that was her last bad call and walked out and then went Emily the other receptionist," Emerson writes. "By the end of the day the office manager gave her 2 weeks notice and so did both the vet techs. Everyone from this organization is gone or on the way out besides the vets. Not 20 minutes after her staff walked out she (Dormady) sent an e-mail saying SNKC is hiring."
Dormady says that she and SNKC value their relationship with the animal control officers who enforce city ordinances regarding pets. "When there's an owner involved and the owner gives the animal control officer the perception that the situation is being resolved, and immediate action is going to be taken, that officer might give the pet owner the benefit of the doubt in a case where all the other conditions look good," Dormady says. "There are circumstances, as I'm sure there are with any animal control department anywhere in the United States, where someone might not be doing their job to the fullest potential. Thankfully, our organization has a good working partnership with animal control so that those issues can be addressed professionally and a resolution found."
SNKC changed the locks at the warehouse where Quigley stored donated dog houses and pet food, and Emerson says SNKC's board refuses to meet with the departed staff members. Since Tuesday, Emerson and Quigley have linked up with The Pet Connection in Mission, Kansas, and will try to start their outreach program over again. "We are discussing the specifics but we hope the outreach will be back up and helping the animals that truly were the ones who benefited from it," Emerson writes.
Dormady wishes her former employees well. "We all want the same things. We all gotta support each other to help the animals, and we're not going to stop helping animals. We hope they'll continue their efforts in caring for the community and their animals."
SNKC (6817 Stadium Drive, Kansas City, Missouri) and The Pet Connection (5918 Broadmoor, Mission, Kansas) are both looking for donations of pet supplies like food, housing and hay.
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As a former employee of SNKC, I would like to let the community know that we are truly heartbroken over the events of the past week. But, it was destined to happen. We were not being supported by our president in our fight against animal cruelty. Fortunately we have the most amazing and dedicated volunteers, donors, and supporters backing us. Mixed information has been fed to the media. The outreach program, ran by Kate Quigly, has been said to be up and running as normal. This is the farthest from the truth. Kate is the outreach program. She made it what it is and her passion is what keeps it continuing and growing. We are currently discussing a couple of options that we have at this point. Kates outreach program will continue. And we all hope it will continue with the same people behind it. We are excited to see what is to come. We are excited to continue this fight with the proper support. As soon as a decision is made as to where the outreach program will continue its strive, we will anxiously share this info with the community. All we need from you all is your support. There are two sides to every story. And at this point, as (ex) employees, all we want is to be heard and understood. Thank you for everyone who has been there for all of us.
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