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On March 22, 2010 — just under a year ago — Kay Speerstra resigned as AWLA’s Executive Director. As the animal-outcomes data attest (see ShelterWatch.org), she left behind an organization that dramatically underperformed leading national open-admission shelters when it came to saving homeless cats and dogs. This was in spite of the fact that AWLA had greater financial resources and received fewer animals than most of the more successful shelters. Clearly, AWLA’s lack of commitment and effort trumped its monetary and logistical advantages. As posts from last summer like where have all the kittens gone? and Arlington’s homeless dogs indicate, AWLA’s animal-outcomes performance did not start improving immediately after Speerstra resigned. But there were hints — an offsite dog-adoption event, an effort to repair damaged relationships with local animal-rescue organizations — that more hopeful days lay ahead. Those hopeful days are here, and acknowledgement and thanks for that are due to Joann DelToro and the AWLA Board. Many observers assumed the Board would hire an AWLA insider who would attempt to preserve the status quo. Instead they conducted a deliberate national search before hiring Neil Trent from the Longmont Humane Society in Colorado. After Trent arrived at AWLA six months ago, things really started to change. During his first six months at AWLA, the organization has: – launched a trap-neuter-return (TNR) program in partnership with Alley Cat Allies; – expanded its use of social media websites to promote its cats and dogs; – begun posting flyers to promote its adoptable cats and dogs at local vet clinics; – met numerous times with leaders of local rescue organizations to discuss how they can collaborate with AWLA; – begun planning to extend its foster program to include adult cats and dogs; – begun publishing its animal outcomes data on its website using the standard Asilomar format. These steps are just a start, but they show that Trent realizes that improving the prospects for the homeless animals in its care isn’t rocket science — it just requires implementing the same kinds of programs that the most successful open-admission shelters have been practicing for years. And sure enough, AWLA’s newfound effort is beginning to yield improved results: | ||
| Homeless cats | 7/09 – 6/10 | 7/10 – 12/10 |
| Adopted | 64.1% | 77.0% |
| Transferred | 3.1% | 4.2% |
| Died or Lost | 1.9% | 1.5% | Killed | 31.0% | 17.3% |
| Homeless dogs | 7/09 – 6/10 | 7/10 – 12/10 |
| Adopted | 64.3% | 74.3% |
| Transferred | 3.9% | 6.5% |
| Died or Lost | 0.6% | 0.5% | Killed | 31.2% | 18.7% |
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What a difference a year makes. AWLA’s turnaround is still a work in progress, but it’s clear by now that Neil Trent has set the right goals and has begun to drive the organization toward them. We look forward to further progress at AWLA, and hope that its local peers like the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria and the Montgomery County Humane Society are taking note. The homeless companion animals consigned to them deserve no less of an effort. | ||
Progress Confirmed
March 9, 2011 by shelterhawk
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Posted in AWLA Stories, DC Area Rescue Orgs, Principles | 5 Comments
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Hurray for all the animals that will find themselves someday at the AWLA. Hurray for all the folks that made this happen…and I know for some, it has been a battle for MANY years. Thank you for all you do!
Congratulations to Neil Trent. The job to clean up AWLA has to be enormous. Thanks to you Neil!
Neil Trent is my new hero. He is amazing. Almost immediately upon arriving at his new post, he reached out to animal advocates, including the ones with the harshest criticism of the previous director and the shelter. Neil listened and took our concerns to heart. He has implemented many of the changes we requested and has brought many wonderful new ideas with him. Neil started in Sept and in those 6 short months, he has already significantly reduced euthanasia rates. I’m so deeply grateful for Neil’s commitment and dedication to the animals. I was the harshest critic of the AWLA. I now fully endorse the AWLA and Neil Trent. He is doing an amazing job and has already saved many, many lives. Thank you Neil and I look forward to working with you for many years to come.
you all are a bunch of idiots who dont know ANYTHING about animal sheltering, guess what awla the real people that you should be hawking are those in alabama and shelters like that but no you bash the people who are actually trying to make a difference please get a real job and do the animals a favor and leave the good shelters alone
Hawk
Your the one who doesn’t know the REAL scoop.
I worked there and know what was going on. Even was willing to testify under oath to those that run the county if needed about how ill run that facility was under Kay and Bonnie.
You or anyone else can contact me and I’ll fill you in on stuff that AWLA cannot twist around and say never happened.
Awesome. I’ll never forget the day I had concerns about going to get brand new baby kittens in someones garden. I was newly employed for 6 months. I told the chief of animal control my concerns regarding not being able catch the mother. I was re-assured she would find a foster family for those kittens if I could not catch the mother queen. 30 minutes after I gave them names, set up a kennel, made kennel cards she took them back and euthanized them. It was then I realized something wasn’t right. I kept every case and other documents for my own investigation and noticed several patterns and ill-fated outcomes. Depending on who was “in charge” those days, it goes to show and prove who is meant to work in that type of environment. Those who lambaste and how no regards morally and for the law eventually realize “what comes around goes around.” I truly miss helping those in need. Just the other day, after missing for 3 months since our last snow fall. (a savannah I was taking care of who made his home on my back porch) I reunited him with his family. What a wonderful day! Kudos to Mr. Trent!
Shara