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 [...]
Archive for the ‘DC Area Rescue Orgs’ Category
The Root of the Problem
Posted in AWLA Policies, County Contract, DC Area Rescue Orgs, Principles on July 15, 2010 | 3 Comments »
In its fiscal 2009, AWLA received $1,229,326 from Arlington County to perform animal control and manage Arlington’s open-admission animal shelter. But as a private non-profit organization, AWLA also raised $1,031,897 in charitable contributions. Along with depreciation of $91,162, those contributions resulted in positive cash flow of $500,000 in fiscal 2009. If AWLA were a for-profit [...]
Another Missing Ingredient
Posted in AWLA Policies, DC Area Rescue Orgs, Principles, Yardsticks on April 27, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Last week I joined volunteers from seven local animal-rescue groups who attended an evening meeting hosted by the Fairfax County Animal Shelter. The meeting was arranged by FCAS managers who wanted to know how they could work more closely with the rescue groups to facilitate cat adoptions. What, our hosts asked us, could they do [...]
A Missing Ingredient
Posted in AWLA Policies, DC Area Rescue Orgs, Principles on April 8, 2010 | 1 Comment »
Last year over 2,000 dogs and cats found homes through the Arlington-based Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation. That compares with 1,080 dogs and cats adopted from AWLA in its fiscal 2009 and 1,081 from the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria in calendar 2009. (The resemblance between the two AWLAs is eerie, no?) Lost Dog [...]
An Open Letter to the AWLA Board of Directors
Posted in AWLA Policies, DC Area Rescue Orgs, Principles on March 23, 2010 | 5 Comments »
Dear AWLA Board, Arlington County’s animal-welfare advocates applaud you for seeking new leadership at AWLA. Under the right Executive Director, AWLA can make Arlington’s animal shelter one of the most effective and compassionate in the country. Accomplishing that will require, among other tasks: – using the standard Animal Statistics Table designed by Maddie’s Fund to [...]
What’s Possible, Part Two
Posted in AWLA Policies, DC Area Rescue Orgs, Principles on March 22, 2010 | 2 Comments »
Today, the Animal Welfare League of Arlington confirms the resignation of Kay Speerstra, Executive Director, effective March 31, 2010. “We thank Kay for her service to the League and wish her the best,” said Joanne Del Toro, President of the Board of Directors. This announcement was posted on the AWLA website and e-mailed to AWLA [...]
Pay for Underperformance
Posted in AWLA Policies, DC Area Rescue Orgs, Principles, Yardsticks on March 15, 2010 | 3 Comments »
If you haven’t been following our Yardsticks series, here’s the recap that compares animal-outcomes data for AWLA with the most recent available data for selected peer shelters. Because AWLA saves a much lower percentage (and kills a much higher percentage) of its homeless animals than the other shelters listed, you might hope AWLA’s Board of [...]
