Humane Society's trust at stake

What is going on at the Cedar Valley Humane Society?

One day, board President Bernie Lettington tells a KCRG-TV9 reporter the Humane Society board has no intention of replacing co-directors Susan Manson and Sandy LaBaw.

Soon after, Manson and LaBaw were fired along with several other staffers.

Staff and volunteers have said they're worried about changes in the organization's direction and how it might affect their ability to care for abandoned animals, but board leadership says the shelter's mission won't change.

Details are scarce, rumors are rampant and some explanation is in order if the organization is to rebuild trust in the community.

When we spoke with Lettington this week, he declined to provide us with details about the firings or say if they were related to a comprehensive review of policies and procedures he has been spearheading.

He also declined to say if any particular incident sparked that review of the organization, which he said is being conducted with the help and expertise of people in other animal welfare organizations.

“The motivation to review our procedures is that's it's something any responsible organization would do,” he said.

Agreed. But a responsible organization also would acknowledge that the public it serves is wondering what is behind last week's shake-up that so disturbed the fired employees.

Letting joined the board a year ago, and became board president in March. Since then, he has led the board in reviewing the way the Cedar Valley Humane Society does business.

He told us he wants the organization to streamline adoption policies and make them more adopter-friendly, to get involved in legislative advocacy and expand educational and adoption programs.

First, the board wants to add a full-time executive director to help with fundraising, development and in developing a strategic plan, he said.

He said the board has been taking applications for that full-time position since mid-August and hopes to begin contacting applicants within the next few days.

Meanwhile, last week's firings have left the shelter so short-staffed it is open on weekdays only by appointment.

Volunteers are picking up the slack when they can, but that situation is likely to continue until other staff can be hired to fill the vacancies.

We agree with Lettington that the organization, which provides services for all of Linn County except for Cedar Rapids and Marion, should run efficiently and effectively.

And it's possible that these sudden, unexplained changes are in the service of that goal.

But clients and donors who pay for the operation of this important agency can't make that call if they don't know what's happening or why. They deserve to know more.