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Animal Welfare at APS - News articles
and other information
Chapel Hill News editorial on HSUS report of APS operation
of shelter
First Amendment imperiled by law suits
Extracts from the Ann Peterson deposition relating to Cramer's
intentions regarding APS -
Illegal operation of a veterinarian practice by APS
Statement to BOCC on animal neglect at APS
The APS Personnel Committee's view of Laura Walters
On July 25, 2002, following Walters' firing of Bobby Schopler,
The APS personnel committee headed by Ann Peterson unanimously
recommended putting Laura Walters on Administrative leave and
eliminating the Associate Director position and offering Darra
Das the bookkeeping position she formerly held. In their statement
below they cited allegations for termination below including
a. putting the APS, its Board members and the public at risk.
b. putting the wildlife and other animals at the APS, APS's
reputation, public confidence, and fundraising efforts at
risk.
c. lack of any type of communication skills.
d. poor management judgment, including "hiring Darra as
an Associate Director, a person who is totally unqualified.
e. lack of integrity and trust.
Statement of APS Personnel Committee
(original scanned letter - big)
deposition statements of Ann Peterson
In her deposition, Ann Peterson admits having written for a
unanimous personnel committee (caps in original)
"BOTTOM LINE. LAURA HAS PUT APS, OUR FUND-RAISING EFFORTS, OUR
REPUTATION, OUR PUBLIC PERCEPTION, OUR ANIMALS AND POTENTIALLY
OUR LEGAL STATUS AND CONTRACTS WITH COUNTY AT RISK. IS SHE A
LIABILITY WE CAN AFFORD?"
Other statements from the deposition of Ann Peterson
Criminal acts by APS
A letter from Ann Peterson to the NC Veterinary Medical Board
(September 3, 2002) acknowledges that APS violated the
veterinary practice laws but misrepresents when these illegal
practices stopped. She says (V57-V58) "This program operated
successfully until March or April of this year (2002). It was
stopped completely at that time ... We hired counsel to
investigate and in March or April determined that our current Low
Cost Spay Neuter Program violated those statutes and could not be
easily redesigned to comply. As a consequence, it was stopped
and has not operated since." This is completely false. We have
been assured by the State that this is a
criminal violation of State veterinary practice laws. Prior to
these illegal acts, John Sauls had informed Rosemary Summers (May
20,2002) that "the NC Vet Board has ruled that our APS vet clinic
cannot perform outpatient services because the clinic is not
owned by a veterinarian". A portion of that letter is below as well
as documentation presented to the Orange BOCC documenting illegal
surgeries.
Criminal Acts
Misrepresentations about Judith Reitman and Elliot Cramer
Ronald Merritt argued in court on March 18 that Judith Reitman
posted a flier that said APS needlessly killed a
gentle dog, when in fact, Reitman knew the dog had been
considered dangerous.
The poster did not say 'needlessly' and APS's listing of that dog
as 'pet of the week' specifically said that it was 'gentle'.
Merritt said "Fraud is Mr. Cramer's and Ms. Reitman's favorite word;
anything they disagree with is fraud. At the time they made these
allegations, they had no evidence of anything. In fact at Cramer's
deposition, he explained the nature of Walter's fraudulent
statements.
See Cramer Deposition
Merritt claimed that Reitman also sent an e-mail to county officials
claiming that APS had violated its own bylaws while
in her deposition, she said that when she sent the e-mail
she had not seen a copy of the bylaws. He said that she knew
that statement was false and was made in reckless
disregard to the truth. Reitman's deposition statements
below present quite a different picture.
See Reitman deposition
Continued misrepresentations of APS are shown below as well
false statements by APS President Ann Peterson about Elliot
Cramer and others.
See Misrepresentations of APS.
Reitman interview with shelter manager
and animal control officer in Arkansas about Laura Walters
The Story of HOPE: Neglect at the APS Shelter
APS Transition 2002 - new staff
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modified: January 31, 2008