State-Journal.com - One dog's story a chance to get Humane Society on the right track

Paul Clark, a tracker from Indiana, talks to Lori Goodlett Tuesday afternoon in her backyard about Copper’s tracks. Clark is a cab driver who saves homeless animals he sees while driving. State Journal/Tricia Spaulding

The city and county’s contracts are up for renewal with the Franklin County Humane Society – which is under scrutiny over mistakenly identifying a family dog named Copper as a coyote, which led to police turning her loose.

Although there’ve been reported sightings of Copper in southwest Franklin County, and there is a reward, she has not been found.

County Attorney Rick Sparks says the county’s contract with the animal shelter is currently month-to-month since it expired several months ago.

“It’s like a lease you sign,” Sparks told an ad hoc group of animal advocates meeting with county officials Wednesday, and it’s either renegotiated or terminated.

The advocate group that recently formed to press for changes at the Humane Society has also learned the city contract is month-to-month.

“This is just not about Copper,” Trudi Johnson told County Judge-Executive Ted Collins.

“Those of us who advocate for animals have known for some time there are is sues that need to be dealt with the board and management of the shelter.”

Collins said Fiscal Court dealt with issues at the Humane Society several years ago when he was county sheriff, “but apparently it is time to revisit our involvement with the agency.”

According to Collins, besides the approximately $50,000 Fiscal Court gives the shelter, it also employs two animal control officers through the sheriff’s office.

Sparks told the group that Fiscal Court also pays a per diem to the Humane Society for every dog or cat that becomes part of a court case because of pending litigation against an owner.

The advocates voiced several concerns they’d like addressed during the meeting with Collins, Sparks and First District Magistrate Jill Robinson.

Some included customer service, public relations, accountability, operational culture, high euthanasia rates and lack of transparency and public trust.

Sparks told the group he preferred to see Fiscal Court investigate and work to solve the problems.

“Let’s identify the weak points and fix them, but let’s not blow up the dam.”

The group told Collins that board meetings do not appear open to the public, and there’s no reply to applications to be on the board.

Betty Collins told city commissioners Monday night that she and a friend who applied to be on the board were told, “We were not a good fit.”

Jeanine Sloan, who currently works at L.I.F.E. House, told Collins she never received a response when she applied to be a board member or when she filled one out to become a foster volunteer.

Collins said the contract calls for reports, but he has not seen any lately.

“They could be sending them to the sheriff’s office.”

Collins and Robinson agreed that Fiscal Court possibly needs to appoint one of its members to the board to ensure transparency to the public.

“We have Fiscal Court members who sit on other boards and perhaps we need to do that now,” Collins said.

Concerns about the Humane Society recently surfaced when Manager Regina McDaniel refused to accept a dog brought in by a police officer, calling it a coyote. The dog was Copper and subsequently released to the wild.

John Forbes, president of the Humane Society’s board of directors, has defended its handling of Copper, contending it cannot legally shelter what has been identified as a coyote.

The advocate group says it would like a public meeting with the Humane Society’s board of directors. Johnson says a request will be sent to the board asking for a meeting.

Copper, a Shiba Inu belonging to Cloverdale resident Lori Goodlett, was released behind the old Home Depot building July 3. The 11-year-old female has not been found and is currently believed to have traveled into southwest Franklin County.

Paul Clark, a tracker from Jeffersonville, Ind., met with Goodlett, Trudi Johnson and others Tuesday in the vicinity where Copper has been spotted.

The group – with plain hamburgers in hand – searched the area and placed cages that are checked several times daily by volunteers and Goodlett.

But so far, the news has not been good even though a reward of more than $1,000 has been offered by PETA and others for the dog’s safe return.

Barbara Murray, a volunteer who is out daily posting signs containing information about the dog, also knocks on doors.

“You would be surprised, even with all the publicity, many people are still not aware of Copper’s story nor that she is missing,” Murray said.

The Shiba Inu is approximately 15 inches tall and weighs 20 pounds. Copper has a graying face and red fur.

Anyone who has sighted Copper can call Lori Goodlett (502) 226-2580 or Trudi Johnson (502) 330-0884.

21.	Posted by someone who cares August 2, 2010
	I hope copper is found but I want to say I support the Franklin County Humane Society. In the paper the very first artical stated that the shelter Manager made the desision to have them take the dog back. However even though it clearly stated that fact people are still blamming the whole staff, I have been there several times before and after this incident and I want to say the three people that have delt with have been very friendly and nice to me. I want to say if it was not for the Humane Society I would not have my life long companions. Instead of you all wanting to shut down the shelter maybe you all should think about the dogs and cats of Franklin County. Every one keeps talking about how the Life House could help people so I looked on there web site and in order to place a dog in there facility they have to evaluate it and temperment test the dog or cat. So I am wondering do you think they will take aggressive dogs, or the ones who are old and sick, or the ones who are so scared they pee then selfs when someone gets close to them, or what about all the Pit mixes in franklin county ( I have been told that they dont take pits or rotties)what about them do they not deserve a chance. Humane Society could stand to improve on some things but I am forever grateful that they are there because if they was not I would of never been able to adopted my rottweiler. What if I find a animal and can not keep it then what do I do with it if the Humane Society was not there. I have been talking to several people and they tell me things about the shelter and I simply ask how long has it been since you been there and they say about nine years ago. So if this you and you have not been there for a little bit then go down there and see them and judge for yourself and make your own conclusions. As far as the people who say the staff dont care go meet them and see for your self. I recently read on Petfinder for one of the dogs that was up for adoption that one of the employees had the dog at her house when she gave birth to 13 puppies, if they dont care then what you call that. A friend of mine just adopted a Shih Tzu that had to be groomed becasue he was so neglected and while grooming him they found magets in his ear, but you all dont know or care about that. I have so many things that I know the Humane Society staff has done to help these animals and no cares about that they only care about the bad things. I will say it agian if it was not for the Humane Society my companion would be dead or on a chain somewhere becasue of her breed. If they wont to punish any body then punish the one who did it, not all becasue most of the staff cares about those animals. Also for the one who was talking about dog daze lat year they had there Tales For Tailes book sale in place of the Dog Daze becasue they said all animals could be viewed in stead of some. They are having it agiain this year on the 14th of August. And by the way all of my animals are microchiped and up to date with shots and have a collar microchip tag, rabies tag and name tag on them at all times.

15.	Posted by sellus1 July 30, 2010
	Based on the official reports that the FCHS provides the City, their average euthanasia rate is indeed right around 80%. The exact figure I calculated for the last year and a half (which is as far back as my data goes) was 78%. Regarding calling a special meeting next week, only Commissioner May has expressed interest so far. Mayor Graham has flatly refused, and Commissioner Williams and Commissioner Carter have so far declined to respond to my request. The County is already opening renegotiation of their contract with the FCHS next week, and the public clearly does not want us to keep dragging our feet on this. We should have and could have discussed this in appropriate depth at our most recent meeting on July 26th, but our City Solicitor misled us at that time into believing that we were bound by our contract with the FCHS. In his most recent correspondence with the Commission, however, Mr. Moore finally acknowledged that we do indeed have the ability to cancel our contract with the FCHS and negotiate a new one. We should not allow our City Solicitor's poor advice during our July voting meeting to delay our discussion of this issue for two full weeks. Our constituents expect and deserve more from us. Sincerely, Sellus Wilder Frankfort City Commissioner selluswilder@gmail.com

13.	Posted by mach5701 July 30, 2010
	Lets see the HS is supported by private contributions. Is that what we call the 56,000 dollars the city donated to them. I do agree that there are a lot of people out there that don't realize that when the city gives tax money to charitable org. that it was not their money that they gave. WAKE-UP The ppoint that you all were making is noted. I know we try to run the HS with private donations and fees but I am sure as you all have read no one will volunteer for this. Now asyou can read mollygirl's post she is stating to talk about a law suit. Who will bring the law suit to the HS. If it is the city then they will hire a lawyer, other than the one they have for advise, with OUR tax money and the next budjet meeting they won't raise our taxes for this they will call it a legal fee to pay for this. Then when the PRIVATLEY FUNDED HS has no more money to pay what fine is put on them they will ask for more "city donations" to pay for it. I know that I am probably being labled as an animal hater but as I said in another post I am not, I am a realist. It takes money to do anything. Again most of the animals at the shelterare there because they are not wanted or because of somone was not responsible with there pet they had!!!!!!!this is why if we dont stop being all feelly touchy we could have a major problem on our hand. One other thing that somomne had said, as far as I know the animals that are at the shelter are not tortured nor when they are killed(is that straight forward enough) do they suffer. If we try to keep all the animals there whole normal life time and dont fund the shelter to the max then these animals will not have enough food and there could be over crowding etc. So I know all you pet lovers out there mean well but reality is hard to face. I for one would like to donate MY!!!!! tax money to the FOOD shelter. Have a good day.