Overcrowding, understaffing at Chicago's Animal Care and Control
WGN's lead story last night was about questionable conditions at Chicago's Animal Care and Control. The above link is a seven-minute video. It contains some images which may disturb some of you.
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I don't particularly want to belittle Cherie Travis, but the whole story reeks of poor executive skills. She wanted the story quashed?
Not everyone is cut out for administrative jobs, as much as the pay grade may seem to make intuitive sense to those who are used to it ($11,177 per month, in this case).
So sad but, unfortunately, not surprising. As a species, I fear we're just too willing to ignore the needs of those who can't advocate for themselves. This story is just one more reason why Hyde Park Cats--and similar organizations--are so important!
There was a lot that the WGN piece left out because their focus was on overcrowding. Union workers clean the cages and volunteers are not allowed to clean cages. They have only one vet, who is not licensed to buy/procure (by the DEA) veterinary meds...as of a couple of weeks ago there were dwindling supplies of medications and they were flat out of a lot of them with no ability to re-order any. Dogs are mislabeled and the cage cards are wrong (wrong dog, wrong cage). I think Ms. Travis is in over her head and sadly can't negotiate with the union effectively or with rescue groups. So many rescue groups have pulled out of there because of her inability to work with people - she is mean and rude to almost every single volunteer, rescue group, in the building.
The solution is complex and multi-faceted and unfortunately she is the right person (as a animal rights lawyer/champion) but in the wrong job.
They have only one vet, who is not licensed to buy/procure (by the DEA) veterinary meds...
Veterinary prescribing is generally governed by the FDA under section 503(f) of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and (here) the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, not the DEA. If you're a vet in the first place and it's not a controlled substance (say, ketamine), there should be no such issue.
Not to be a defender, but there is a Facebook page for her that makes for some interesting reading (pro & con).
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cherie-Travis-Commissioner-of-Chicago-Animal-Care-and-Control/196504186268
As always I'm glad Hyde Park Cats is here in our little corner of the world especially when I see these types of images.
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