Page 3 - Sonoma County Gazette Juy 2019

Sonoma County Animal
Sonoma County Animal Services has made great strides in the past few years, and all of us want to see that progress continue with a director at its helm.
Services Director
Dear Sonoma County Gazette:
We, the undersigned, have recently
learned about the elimination of the
Sincerely,
Pip Marquez de la Plata
Sonoma County Animal Services
Director position in the County’s FY2019-20 Budget. We are writing to encourage the Board of Supervisors to reconsider this detrimental decision and do what they can to “add-back” this position. And we’re hoping Sonoma County residents will ask them as well.
Executive Director, Forgotten Felines
The Director position is simply too important to eliminate or divide up. As representatives in neighboring jurisdictions, we care about what happens to Sonoma County Animal Services (SCAS) -- as many of our animal welfare issues, policies, challenges and solutions require a regional approach now more than ever before.
Wendy Welling, Executive Director Humane Society of Sonoma County
Nancy McKenney, MNPL, CAWA CEO/President, Marin Humane
Wendi Piscia, Executive Director Napa Humane
Mark Scott, Executive Director North Bay Animal Services
Mickey Zeldes, Supervisor, Rohnert Park Animal Services
We respectfully disagree with
the Public Health’s conclusions that there will be “no client impact” and no “provider impact”. Without a director, decisions will be delayed, oversight of the animal services program will be a lower priority and partnerships with agencies will be hampered. Sonoma County seems to have a high turnover with its leadership at ACC and this won’t help! Constant turnover is hard for staff both for morale and to have consistent policies and direction.
Dear friends at Sonoma County Gazette,
School Supply Drive
Thank you so much for running information on our school supply drive for the children of farm workers on your website.
We truly appreciate your assistance in getting the word out.
Sincerely,
lauren Ornelas Founder/Executive Director Food Empowerment Project
It also takes time to build relationships with other organizations. Given the lessons learned with responding to disasters, we have built an important network of animal organizations and strengthened the communications among the humane societies and animal service agencies in Northern California. Regrettably with the elimination of the director from
To Honor and Grieve for
Over 70 gray whales have washed up dead on the US Pacific shores this year, 13 of them in the San Francisco Bay Area. Most have died of starvation, a few by collision with ships.
our network and communication channels, we are concerned the role Sonoma County Animal Services will have in future disasters will be compromised as well.
My heart is breaking as we witness what may be the beginning of the end of this magnificent species that has shared the earth with us for as long as we have been human. Our world will be a poorer place without them.
We hope the County will consider other options before the director position is permanently eliminated from the FY2019-20 budget.
My friends Doug von Koss, Francis and Judith Weller, Elizabeth Herron and others are planning a memorial service and grief ritual for the whales July 20 at Dillon Beach. The ritual will begin at 9:00 AM. All are
the Gray Whales
LETTERS cont’d on page 4
7/19 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 3
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