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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