Chapel Hill News October 1, 2003. APS finds funds to continue emergency animal rescue services A midnight drama averted. Comment: I am gratified that APS has "found" the funds to continue EARS in the County; APS admits that it is required by contract to continue the service in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Ms. Harvey has told me that she was misquoted in saying that EARS is not a County-mandated service. As I have documented in statements to the BOCC, it has been a part of the budget process and its funding is including in the annual reports submitted to the County for shelter operations. It is covered in the APS Procedures Manual and the contract with the County says N. Any changes in any procedures of the type contained in the five sections of the procedures manual should be submitted to the Health Director or his/her designee for agreement and compliance with contract and budget considerations." It is fully appropriate that the APS Directors should pay for this EARS cost since they have placed an additional burden on the financial resources of APS in their counter-claim against us for slander. The attorney for their insurance company made clear that APS attorney Ronald Merritt is representing APS in the counter-claim and the cost for deposition transcript alone was about $4000. In addition Mr. Merritt has spent many hours in Court on these matters and I presume he is charging APS for his time. He gratuitously brought suit against us on behalf of Laura Walters whom we DID NOT sue. This suit is frivolous since, given Walters' many voluntary public appearances in the press, there can be no doubt that she is a public figure and that our true statements about her are protected speech. APS misstates the cost of continued EARS service; it is clear from their letter to the County that the additional cost is $1,209 per month as I noted in my September 29 letter. Furthermore it appears that the contract between APS and the County is now terminated, given the ultimatum presented by Pat Beyle. The Commissioners have not authorized additional funding by the October 1 deadline specified in that letter and APS gave the required two weeks notice of contract termination. ---- On Sept. 13, the board of directors of the county Animal Protection Society told county commissioners the agency wouldn't provide emergency animal rescue service past midnight Tuesday unless they received about $10,000 more from the county each month. The service, known as EARS, responds to animal-related calls to the county 911 system after APS hours and on weekends and holidays. With the clock ticking toward the deadline, APS announced Tuesday afternoon that, as a temporary measure, its board of directors would pay for these services out of their own pockets. Board president Pat Beyle said the directors would collectively pitch in about $2,000 a month for EARS. The move will allow the Orange County Board of Commissioners time to consider APS requests for a new contract and additional funding. Commissioners will hear recommendations about shelter operation from county staff Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Building. At or after that meeting, they will decide how to respond to the request for increased funds and whether to renew the APS contract. According to a statement from APS, the agency in the past has borne the entire cost of EARS. Until recently, the statement said, APS has not requested funding from Orange County for the program, but it can no longer afford to cover program costs out of organization funds. Beyle's Sept. 13 letter to commissioners said that APS is willing to operate the Orange County Animal Shelter on a month-to-month basis from Oct. 1 to Jan. 31, provided that "the APS is fully compensated by Orange County for the costs of operating the OCAS." The letter said that APS would stop providing emergency animal rescue services unless commissioners increased the county's monthly payment to APS by $10,636. EARS isn't the only program APS subsidizes, Beyle said Tuesday. The $10,636 figure covers more than EARS, she said. North Carolina law requires counties to provide certain animal control services, but EARS is not a county-mandated service, according to Assistant County Manager Gwen Harvey. In a related development, APS critics Elliot Cramer and Jude Reitman filed motions with Orange County Superior Court Monday requesting a temporary restraining order and injunction against APS. If granted, the motions would compel APS to accept Cramer and Reitman's applications for membership, withdraw the trespass notice it filed against Cramer in January, and adopt no amendments to its bylaws affecting membership rights except in an open meeting with at least 10 days' notice. Reitman and Cramer are also requesting access to the APS membership list. The motions are scheduled to be heard in court Thursday at 2 p.m. In an affidavit filed with the motions Monday, Reitman recounted her attempt to renew her membership and Cramer's in person at APS last week. According to Reitman's affidavit, shelter director Laura Walters said she would put the checks aside and refused to give Reitman a receipt. Walters subsequently refused to accept the checks and asked an APS staffer to call police, the affidavit said. "I waited outside the APS building and an officer arrived within a few minutes," Reitman continued in the affidavit. "Through counsel, in open court, I hereby tender to Defendant APS the sum of $25 for my membership dues and the sum of $25 for the membership renewal of Plaintiff Cramer." The affidavit quoted APS bylaws as follows: "Membership shall be open to all interested persons on payment of dues." Neither Beyle nor APS Director Laura Walters had any comment on Monday's legal proceedings. Walters said, "As far as the membership list, this is a private organization. A private organization would expect that its members are out to see that the best interests of the organization are upheld." "I don't believe that two people who are suing the organization are looking after the best interests of the group," Walters said. Cramer and Reitman filed suit Feb. 20 in Orange County Superior Court alleging that the APS board illegally refused to disclose information and records, removed members' voting rights and obstructed members' efforts to nominate candidates to the APS board of directors. The APS has responded with a counter suit claiming that the critics have defamed APS's reputation. Cramer and Reitman will make a statement in court Thursday about APS documents requested for discovery for their suit. By e-mail Monday, Walters disputed some details of Reitman's account of her visit to APS. Walters said that after she refused Reitman a receipt, Reitman threw the checks in her face and refused to take them back. "The police were called because Reitman caused a very loud disruption in our very crowded front office and she refused to leave after being asked to do so several times," Walters said. APS didn't ban Reitman from the building, Walters said. ________________________________________________________________ News of Orange October 1, 2003 APS, duo of critics continue court squabble By Jeff Casale HILLSBOROUGH - While the county debates whether to continue its contract with Animal Protection Society, the legal battle between the shelter and its two outspoken critics got a little more interesting Monday. Orange County Civil Superior Court Judge Ronald Stephens heard arguments from both sides on whether the APS had provided Elliot Cramer and Judith Reitman with the documents they are entitled to under the judicial rules of discovery. APS attorney Ron Merritt delivered two boxes to Cramer and Reitman's attorney, Barry Nakell, Monday morning, claiming they contained all the requested information - except a membership list and financial records. Stephens said he would decide on Thursday whether Cramer and Reitman would receive those as well. Both Cramer and Reitman said the day's proceeding was a step in their favor. "It appears that we finally have a judge who knows about First Amendment rights," Cramer said after the conclusion of the hearing. He added that according to the state statute on nonprofit organizations, members have the right to membership lists and financial records. Merritt and fellow APS attorney Chris Lewis argued that Cramer and Reitman were not entitled to the membership list and financial records because they planned to use them improperly. "The APS has no faith in Cramer and Reitman, in that they will continue to defame and (criticize) the shelter, rather than educate the public," Lewis said. Nakell told the court his clients would not use the documents in bad faith. Cramer and Reitman began their suit against the APS in February, claiming that management of the shelter refused to turn over board minutes, membership lists and financial records, and that it secretly changed its bylaws to keep control of electing board members. The APS and its executive director, Laura Walters, filed a defamation counterclaim against the two critics, citing that they publicly slandered the shelter, thus damaging its reputation and credibility in the community. Both Cramer and Reitman became members of the APS last year, prior to the suit being filed. The two said they got involved with the nonprofit organization because there was some question as to how the shelter was being managed. Last Thursday Reitman went to the shelter to pay both her and Cramer's annual dues. Walters accepted the checks, however she said it would be up to the APS board as to whether or not the memberships would be renewed. Reitman contested saying that she would like a receipt for the checks. In response to the demand Walters called the police, claiming that Reitman was causing a "disturbance." Monday Nakell asked for a temporary restraining order and injunction to compel APS to accept membership applications from Cramer and Reitman. He further requested that the court to withdraw the trespassing notice against Cramer, which was placed against him after an incident at the shelter last year. Stephens said he would address the membership and trespass issues in a hearing scheduled for Oct. 13. ________________________________________________________________ Chapel Hill Herald October 02, 2003 Comment: On July 9 former APS Secretary and Vice President Virginia Ellington made the following "constructive suggestion". The board should terminate the employment of Executive Director Laura Walters. The present Executive Committee of the board consisting of the president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and member Ann Petersen should resign. ----- APS willing to listen to constructive criticism I am on the board of the Animal Protection Society. Last Thursday night I attended the first of two public meetings about the county funding of the Orange County Animal Shelter which is being run by aps under a month-to-month contract with the county. There has been a year-long controversy over aps and the operation of the shelter. I went to the public meeting not only to show my support for aps and a continuing county contract with aps, but also to listen to public comments. I listened and I heard. One of the consistent criticisms of aps is that we appear to be defensive and nonresponsive to complaints from the community. Sometimes we have been. It is easy when you are being continually attacked to become defensive. Yes, there have been legitimate complaints; and yes, there are legitimate explanations. Many of the criticisms were unfair and false. But one of the criticisms that night was not false. We have spent too much time defending ourselves instead of spending that time improving ourselves. There are lots of things at the shelter that need improving. There always have been and there always will be. It is hard to stop and examine yourself and what you are doing, especially when you are under attack. But there is much about aps, our shelter, our shelter staff, our volunteers and our 20-year working relationship with the county that is good. Throwing that away and starting over with another nonprofit organization or increasing the burden on taxpayers with a county-run facility, is not the answer. The answer is to work together and improve what we have. Good things sometimes come out of bad things. This past year has been hard for everyone at aps. The next year will be harder and worse for the animals if we destroy what we have. Please help with your constructive suggestions. We will listen. Ann Petersen Chapel Hill The writer is president-elect of the aps board. ________________________________________________________________ Chapel Hill Herald October 4, 2003 Editorial APS should shut down its court battle The Chapel Hill Herald It's been an eventful week in the APS wars, but thanks to Superior Court Judge Ronald Stephens and the Orange County Commissioners, the end may be in sight. On Thursday, Stephens ruled the Animal Protection Society has to show its membership list and financial records to the critics who've sued it, Elliot Cramer and Judith Reitman. Meanwhile, county officials made it clear they won't be rushed into making decisions about how much money to spend on the local animal shelter, or whether to retain the APS as the shelter's manager. However dismaying they were to APS officials, the two decisions pushed the yearlong squabble toward a conclusion -- and on terms not necessarily unfavorable to the society. Judge Stephens' ruling only addressed a procedural motion, but it underscored that Cramer and Reitman have genuine claims against the APS that could cost the society greatly if its directors insist on pushing the case to trial. The better part of valor would be for them to settle the ongoing lawsuit, and quickly. On the political front, county officials called an APS bluff by saying they'd wait until Oct. 21 to discuss the group's request for more spending on the shelter. The APS wanted the money by Oct. 1, and had threatened to walk away from the shelter contract at the end of the year if it wasn't forthcoming. Seeing that the commissioners could've responding by telling the APS to start packing -- and were sorely tempted to do so -- society officials should count themselves lucky to still be a factor in the shelter debate. By standing firm, the commissioners bought the community more time to decide what kind of shelter it wants. Their next move should be to schedule a meeting with the APS board, and finish setting up a task force to help the two sides review the advice they've received about shelter management from the Humane Society of the United States. At some point, the commissioners also will have to address the notion, floated recently by APS directors, that there's something unfair in the APS' having to supplement the county's shelter budget. The whole point of privatizing the shelter has been, in theory, that the APS could combine public and private resources to do more at the facility than the county could accomplish there with tax dollars alone. If the society can't do that anymore, what good is it? And if the squabble with Cramer and Reitman impedes fundraising, why not end it? ________________________________________________________________ Chapel Hill Herald October 6, 2003 Peeling the Orange Although no Luddite, Orange County Commissioner Steve Halkiotis has just about had enough of one kind of modern technology. During a commissioners' meeting last week, Halkiotis complained that his old computer could not handle the bombardment of e-mails he has received from local residents concerned about possible school merger and the state of the county's animal shelter. In particular, Halkiotis singled out retired UNC professor Elliot Cramer, a voracious critic of the APS. "Elliot Cramer has sent more e-mails and lengthy e-mails than any human being I know and my machine can't take it," Halkiotis said. "I give up, Elliot, if you're out there. I surrender. I'm waving the white flag. I surrender. Elliot, don't send me any more e-mails. I give up." The commissioner added that he preferred old-fashioned mail. ________________________________________________________________ Chapel Hill Herald October 6, 2003 Animal Protection Society ruling was good news October 2, 2003 was a good day for the First Amendment and the integrity of North Carolina non profit law: That day, the court ordered the Animal Protection Society to turn over documents to which its members are lawfully entitled. Judge Stephens's ruling essentially validated the basis of the Cramer/Reitman lawsuit against APS that was initiated in February. It also should quell APS's retaliatory vigor against its critics, but will it? Our lawsuit was based on APS's refusal to turn over its membership list and financial documents, and its removing members' voting rights. Dr Cramer, animal rights attorney Margie Huggins and others sought election to the APS Board of Director and they wanted that list to contact members about their positions. APS refused to turn over that list and it suddenly took away members' voting rights.. It then sued Dr Cramer and me for libel and slander, a classic SLAPP suit designed to chill mounting public criticism. APS's move backfired--and snowballed. The people of Orange County do not look kindly on such punitive tactics, especially by a largely taxpayer funded organization. Orange County Board of Commissioners' hearings on APS followed. An audit by the Humane Society of the US slammed APS for management, animal health and policy problems. The HSUS assessment further validated our contention that there was something indeed very wrong at APS. Still, APS persisted in blaming others for its own bad judgment, and it continues to deny the culpability of its management. Remarkably, APS told the court it might appeal Judge Stephens' ruling. And, even as it asks the county for more money, APS is spending thousands of dollars punishing Dr Cramer and me for making what the court has now ruled a valid request. APS conveniently refused to renew our membership recently and told the court that, as non-members, we are not entitled to APS documents. Judge Stephens rejected APS's repetitive argument, to the very end. How much more time and money will APS spend before it hears the message? APS owes the public its apologies and a swift and graceful exit from the shelter. Judith Reitman ________________________________________________________________ Daily Tarheel October 7, 2003 Ruling deals blow to APS By Dan Schwind Staff Writer October 07, 2003 After a year's worth of litigation and vehement accusations, local residents Judith Reitman and Elliot Cramer have taken the first round from the Animal Protection Society in a courtroom battle that's not yet finished. Orange County Superior Court Judge Ronald Stephens mandated Thursday that the APS must turn over its membership list and financial records to Cramer and Reitman by the end of the month. The courts have yet to hear the slander suit filed against Cramer and Reitman on behalf of the APS and Laura Walters, director of the county's animal shelter. "This is a great victory," Cramer said. "But it isn't finished yet." Reitman expressed similar views but said the judgment covers a large portion of the suit. "This takes care of the bulk of this lawsuit," she said. Still to be decided is the legality of a change in bylaws made by the APS Board of Directors in February that revoked the right of dues-paying members to elect the organization's leadership. Newcomers to the board since February have gained theirs seats by appointment, a practice APS members Cramer and Reitman staunchly oppose. The released information came with multiple stipulations attached to its use and did not give the plaintiffs flexibility to do with it as they wished. The most important restrictions, Cramer said, are that the member list cannot be posted online, financial records may not be distributed and financial conclusions regarding the materials must be discussed with APS before public comment is made. Stephens also affixed an addendum that information may not be used for improper purposes such as personal attacks. "Our uses are perfectly proper," Cramer said. "We just want to be able to contact members and ... find out exactly what's going on." APS Board President Pat Beyle said the group has not decided whether to appeal the ruling but will discuss it in the near future. "We respect the judge's ruling and will abide by that while we contemplate an appeal," Beyle said. This ruling is the latest development in the ongoing controversy over APS management of the shelter. The Orange County Board of Commissioners will hold a public forum on the matter Oct. 16. Beyle said the ruling would have no bearing on who the commissioners decide should run the shelter. "Negotiation with regards to animal care and budget is strictly between us and the county," Beyle said. "Their yardstick has nothing to do with this lawsuit." Reitman believed otherwise, saying that the decision hurts APS's chances to renew their contract to run the shelter. "This put the nail in the coffin," Reitman said. "They did this to themselves." Beyle said the lawsuit hurt APS's ability to run the shelter, as it has been severely time consuming and has diverted attention away from APS' duties to the shelter. "It's been a tough year," Beyle said. "It's been difficult to focus on ... caring for the animals." She added that the case also has affected APS's ability to raise funds for the shelter successfully. APS is a nonprofit group and relies on private donations in addition to county funds. "The comments that they have made (in the media) have not helped our ability to raise money for the animals." Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu. ________________________________________________________________ Chapel Hill Herald October 10, 2003 APS critic finds self in trouble with group Reitman was walking neighbor's dog that killed cat HILLSBOROUGH -- A woman who sued the Animal Protection Society of Orange County after the group wouldn't let her adopt a dog it deemed vicious is in a spot of trouble herself after a dog she was walking attacked and killed a cat. Judith Reitman received a nuisance abatement warning on Tuesday from Orange County Animal Control because the dog she was walking violated the county ordinance by being off the owner's property or not being properly restrained, and by causing property damage. Reitman and Elliot Cramer have been fierce critics of the aps, which runs the county animal shelter in Chapel Hill. They are battling in court for the right to see the aps' membership list and financial records. They say the group is poorly run. Reitman first became involved in the campaign after she tried to adopt a dog named Casey from the shelter and was told the dog had been tested and found to be too vicious to be adopted out. She protested and claimed Casey was a gentle dog that had been used in a children's project. On Sunday, Reitman was walking a Newfoundland-mix and her three dogs in a neighborhood off West Margaret Lane when it chased, attacked and killed a cat. The Newfoundland belongs to a friend, Blair Pollock of Chapel Hill, Reitman said. Animal Control Officer Dale Teer took a complaint from the cat's owner, French Trembley of South Hillsborough Road. "Female, Ms. Judith Reitman, was walking several dogs by my house and one pulled away from her and attacked and killed my cat, 'Phat Cat,' in my back yard," Trembley wrote in his complaint. "She had previously been asked to control her dogs as I had observed a dog pulling the leash away on two previous occasions." Bonny, the 120-pound Newfoundland, has always been considered a gentle dog, and it lives with a cat. But Trembley's pet ran across its path, and it took off after it, Reitman said. The Newfoundland dragged Reitman around the back of the house, where the cat ran under a cellar. The dog went in after it, she said. As she screamed hysterically, a friend who lives next door came running over to help. When they got the dog off, they picked up the cat, only to find it was limp. "It was a total shock," Reitman said. "Horrible. Horrible." Trembley said he blames Reitman for the attack. She had previously walked her dogs past his house and was unable to control them, he said. He and other neighbors had asked her to keep her dogs under control. "I deeply regret not going to Animal Control initially to warn her not to walk her dogs in my neighborhaood," he said. Trembley said he is considering filing a lawsuit against Reitman. "I just don't know what I'm going to do," he said. When informed Reitman was an animal acitivist, he said, "Animal activist that she may be, she's an irresponsible animal owner in what she did." "I blame her for the death of my beautiful little Himalayan," he said. "My children were just distraught. My younger son was in tears all Sunday night and Monday," he said. Reitman defended Bonny and said she is not a vicious dog. "She is not a cat killer," Reitman said. Reitman had frequently cared for Pollock's dog when he's been out of town, she said. Children have climbed all over the animal, and it never showed any signs of being vicious or dangerous. "This is like a 'Sound of Music' dog," she said. Reitman admitted that Trembley had previously asked her, through her friend, to keep her dogs under control. "I have as much right to walk on the streets with a leashed animal as anybody else," she said. "I was doing nothing illegal." Reitman said she was sorry that Bonny killed the cat, which had been declawed. In a letter she wrote to Trembley, she apologized, saying she would pay for the cat's burial or make a donation to a charitable group in honor of the cat. "My heart goes out to him, but the fact is he left a cat that could not defend itself to any dog outside," she said. Reitman added that she thinks someone leaked the incident to the press as a personal attack against her. "It shows you what their strategy is and it shows you how unethical the organization is," she said. Noting that the aps has euthanized hundreds of cats, she said, "They have far more blood on their hands than I have on mine." After the incident, Reitman took the dog and turned it over to a neighbor of Pollock's until Pollock returned from his vacation, Teer wrote in his report. Teer also issued vicious confinement orders to the neighbor, Agnes Mauro, and to Pollock, which stated that Bonny attacked an animal and caused physical harm through bites or other aggressive behavior without provocation. "The above described animal is to be kept restrained on the property of the owner-keeper and on a leash and under control when off the owner-keeper's property," the order stated. John Sauls, animal control director for Orange County, said he also issued a dangerous-dog notice for Bonny on Thursday by posting a letter on Pollock's door. "Your dog is hereby declared to be a 'potentially dangerous dog,' " the notice said. Under state law, the declaration means that it will be unlawful for Pollock to leave the dog unattended on his property. It must be inside or in a securely enclosed and locked pen. The dog will not be permitted to go beyond the owner's property unless it is leashed and muzzled. "Generally, our remedy is for the life of the animal if there is a second killing or injury," Sauls said. "It applies to both people and animals as victims." Pollock said he was surprised and shocked that his dog had killed the cat. "I'm terribly contrite and sorry that it happened," he said. "I also have a cat, and the dog has never harmed any other animal in her life." Pollock said he wrote a letter to Trembley offering his apology and condolences, and made a donation to Cat Welfare in the cat's honor. "I feel really badly that it happened," he said, adding that he plans to take special care that his dog is confined as required. ________________________________________________________________ Chapel Hill News October 12, 2003 Here are some questions for APS The Sunday letter from APS board president-elect Ann Petersen, while not offering any apology for past APS board actions, was nonetheless a welcome change of pace. She has invited public comment and queries. There is a simple (and best) way to get answers to concerns you may have about APS controversies. Attend an APS board meeting (second Monday of the month, 7 p.m., at APS _ next one is Monday). Join me in questioning Laura Walters and Petersen, and see if you are satisfied. -- Why were voting rights removed from members in a hastily called secret board meeting in November 2002, just as members were poised for the first time in APS history to use them to validly voice their dissatisfactions? -- How many of this past year's controversies and "outside criticisms" and loss of trust were attributable to this removal of voting rights? -- How much member-donated money has funded APS's legal defense of removal of voting rights? -- Who is recruiting new board members now? -- How much of any donated money is going to fund Walter's personal (counter) lawsuit? -- Have any member newsletters published since last November addressed any of these specific questions? -- Why, at least as of Sept 25, had there been no mention of the Piedmont Wildlife Center in any of the APS's Web or published material, despite APS claims of support and collaboration? These questions are not a personal attack on anyone at APS. They are straightforward questions deserving honest answers from the stewards who have responsibility for our donations and many tax dollars. People's opinions may differ as to what questions are important, and what answers are good answers and which are not. To openly admit my own opinion: I would like to see APS survive, but the organization needs new leaders. Retaining the same board members who were ready and willing to confiscate member-voting rights, and who have since cloaked themselves in defensiveness, makes little sense to me. Damage has been done, trust destroyed. Animals, because they have no voice themselves and are completely at our mercy, deserve the most decent and noble behavior from us. Can current leaders admit to mistakes, resign with dignity, and let the APS survive and hopefully thrive without them? Please do not take my own conclusion as any "objective" reality. Please come ask questions and offer your opinions to the APS board. -- Beverly Rockhill, Carrboro ________________________________________________________________ Chapel Hill Herald October 14, 2003 APS membership decision delayed Comment: I'm glad to hear that "President-elect Ann Peterson will "give them what they're entitled to and go from there." If they gave us what we were entitled to a full year ago there would be no lawsuit. It is unclear how Ann Peterson became President-elect since there will be no election to the Board until December after which officers would be selected for the next year. The most significant action yesterday is that Judge Barbour ordered APS to identify the documents associated with each of their allegations such as 1. Please produce all documents that support your allegations in Paragraph 8 of your Counterclaim that the counterclaim defendants acted "pursuant to their own selfish, reckless and malicious motives". Merritt argued that this was "work product" and would reveal his defense strategy. The Court ruled otherwise and he must identify the documents that relate to each and every one of their many false allegations against us. At the APS Board meeting last night it was announced that Ron Merritt is representing APS in their slander suit on a contingency fee basis. He had confidently told the APS Board that they would win their law suit. Obviously the latest two rulings are a setback for them and we expect further favorable rulings. APS is paying the expenses associated with the suit which has amounted to thousands of dollars. It is clear from the rulings so far that APS has received very bad advice from Merritt. -- HILLSBOROUGH -- A Superior Court judge postponed a decision Monday about whether to allow two Animal Protection Society critics to regain their membership in the group. Judge Wade Barber did not rule on the motion, which would require the group to accept Elliot Cramer and Judith Reitman as members again, but he said another judge would try to tackle the case later this week. Barber, however, did order APS attorney Ron Merritt to file a written response by Nov. 3 to Cramer and Reitman's request for various APS documents. "I was delighted with what happened," Cramer said afterward. APS Board President-elect Ann Petersen said her group would cooperate. "We'll just have to look at what the judge ordered, give them what they're entitled to and go from there," she said. Cramer and Reitman both joined the APS last year when they became interested in how Orange County's animal shelter was operated. The APS manages the shelter. Cramer, a retired professor, began looking into the APS after Executive Director Laura Walters declined to renew the group's contract with former veterinarian Bobby Schopler. Cramer is a friend of Schopler's mother, according to Barry Nakell, Cramer and Reitman's attorney. Reitman, an investigative journalist, began studying the shelter after its staff euthanized a dog she wanted because the dog was deemed too vicious to adopt out. The two sued the APS in February, claiming that the group refused to hand over board minutes, membership lists and financial records, which they said, as members, they had a right to see. They also claimed that the society secretly changed its bylaws to keep control of the board of directors because Cramer was seeking a spot on the board. In response to Reitman and Cramer's lawsuit, the APS and Walters filed a defamation counterclaim against the pair, alleging that they published posters and other information accusing Walters and the society of illegal conduct. APS officials believe Cramer and Reitman want to undermine the relationship between the society and Orange County so that the county will terminate the APS's animal shelter management contract. Reitman tried to renew her and Cramer's annual memberships last month as they were about to expire, but the APS board determined that it would not renew the memberships. Barber heard arguments from both sides Monday, and then took a 10-minute recess to advise the attorneys that he personally knew one of the people who filed an affidavit in the dispute. A longtime Chapel Hill resident who is active in the community, Barber said he did not perceive that he would be biased in the matter but that he would not proceed unless both parties agreed. Merritt said both parties did not agree, and Barber then said he would see if Superior Court Judge Ronald Stephens could hear the matter Thursday or Friday. Earlier this month, Stephens ordered the APS to hand over its membership lists and two years of financial records to Cramer and Reitman, but he imposed 11 restrictions on what the critics could do with the information. In anticipation that Stephens might rule in Cramer and Reitman's favor, APS attorneys gave the judge a list of proposed restrictions that the pair would have to abide by if they received the documents. Stephens approved all the proposed restrictions, which bar Cramer and Reitman from publishing the list or financial records, posting them on an Internet site or providing them to any other people, organizations or the media. On Monday, Merritt gave Nakell an index of about 1,400 documents that the APS has turned over to them. "We're still not satisfied that all the documents are in there," said Nakell, who then requested a formal written response to his clients' request. "[Without it,] there's no way of telling which of these documents are responsive to those requests," Nakell argued. Merritt said all the documents turned over are germane to those requested. "It'd be very difficult, if not impossible, for me to say what pieces are relevant," Merritt said. Merritt also contended that some of the documents Cramer and Reitman are seeking are privileged information to which they are not entitled. Barber ordered Merritt to file a written response to the request for documents by Nov. 3. If Merritt believes that specific requests are privileged or confidential, he should state that and define the reasons, Barber said. A Nov. 17 court hearing is scheduled to handle any further objections concerning the requested documents. ________________________________________________________________ Chapel Hill Herald October 16, 2003 Lengthy aps controversy overshadows animal welfare (also Chapel Hill News October 19, 2003) Comment: Actually there are two controversies - one about the failure of APS to operate even a marginally adequate County shelter. (see the latest statistics below) -- the other is about the failure of APS to operate consistent with State law and its Bylaws in regard to Member rights. As Judge Jolly noted, APS has considerably "muddied the waters" with its slander suit in an unsuccessful attempt to stifle debate about public matters. I have been informed by Mrs. Illiano that this no longer represents her views and I am pleased to hear this. ---------------- Letter to the editor Having followed the aps-Cramer/Reitman controversy for over a year, I have seen this campaign escalate from concerns to accusations to plain hostility, finally crowned by lawsuits. How did it ever get to this point? What has this to do with animal welfare? How unfortunate that an evaluation by the Humane Society of the United States was not conducted between the time the former executive director left and a new one was installed. How can anyone be sure that all the problems found in the shelter operations are not long-standing and should not be put squarely on the present management? As far as the HSUS recommendations are concerned, nowhere within the report is there a mandate that their findings should warrant a new shelter management. Instead, much emphasis was put on an outdated facility, and the overall findings are not uncommon to shelters across the land. By now, every effort has been made to review and begin complying with the recommendations for improvement, and it is therefore curious that the campaign to discredit the shelter operations and the aps board should continue. Also, why the two most vociferous critics still insist on wanting to be aps members is beyond my comprehension. It is unfortunate that the aps wildlife program has been put on hold, but the Piedmont Wildlife Center has expressed intent to fill that gap. While its goals and aspirations are worthy, it is also important to know that the N.C. Zoo already has a comprehensive and well-founded wildlife treatment and rehabilitation program. Also, with internships for veterinary students from the state College of Veterinary Medicine, the zoo also offers training to volunteers and other interested people who want to work with wildlife. It would therefore be prudent to consider existing programs before using taxpayer money to duplicate services. As for the cost estimated by the county to start and operate the shelter, HSUS has cautioned that the projected amount might not be sufficient. Since these people are experts in shelter operation, I am inclined to give more credence to their estimates than to the critic's numerical wizardry. Finally, isn't it time to create an unbiased task force and start clearing the debris left by the storm of controversy and negative campaigning in order to hopefully arrive at recommendations beneficial to both man and beast? Elfriede Illiano Chapel Hill ________________________________________________________________ Chapel Hill Herald October 21, 2003 Request by APS on agenda tonight CHAPEL HILL -- The Animal Protection Society will not get an additional $10,636 per month it said it needed to continue running the county animal shelter if the county commissioners agree tonight with a staff recommendation. Three of the five commissioners -- Moses Carey, Alice Gordon and Barry Jacobs -- said Monday they concur with County Manager John Link's recommendation to deny APS' request for the additional funding. The board will meet tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center. "I think the manager's on the right track," said Jacobs. "I have some questions about where we're going with some of his recommendations that I want to ask for answers about. And I still would like the answer to the question of how our approximately $430,000 is being spent before I'm comfortable paying any more money." Orange County owns the shelter, located off Airport Road in Chapel Hill, and pays the APS about $429,000 a year to run it. The commissioners have a monthly contract with APS. But the organization's board said in September if additional funding was not provided starting Oct. 1, APS would cede the responsibility for shelter operations to the county or another agency by the end of the year. APS Board President Pat Beyle could not be reached Monday for comment. County staff said that the line-item funding request differs from the county's established practice with other nonprofit "partners" and that a significant portion of the APS increase relates to personnel decisions made solely by the APS Board. The staff memo to the commissioners also disputes the amount of additional county funding that APS needs. County Finance Director Ken Chavious said an additional yearly sum of $38,064, or $4,229 per month, in county funding would be justified, based on historical precedent. That additional money would go toward improvements made following recommendations from the Humane Society of the United States, an outside agency hired by the county to study the shelter's management. The commissioners could vote to extend the county's monthly contract with APS, with an additional $4,229 a month in funding, or they could opt to open up a bidding process for a contract for interim shelter management. Those are two options outlined by the county staff. Carey said he is receptive to the county getting proposals for a shelter operator through June 30, 2004. "It's always good to get public input and to go through the bidding process," Carey said. "You learn things when you go through a bidding process that you otherwise wouldn't learn. That's at least a good recommendation. Whether the board will adopt it is another question. We'll have to discuss it." Jacobs also supports opening the process to bids for interim shelter management but would like the permanent shelter operation to remain a "public-private partnership." "Commissioners ought to be ultimately responsible for what's going on at the county shelter if we pay county money, so I think that means a greater role in the management. But that doesn't necessarily equate with a complete takeover," Jacobs said. The HSUS has recommended a task force to implement the hundreds of changes spelled out in its 156-page final report. The board has yet to vote on forming such a task force. With decisions to make about funding, short-term and long-term management of the shelter and how to implement some of the HSUS recommendations, Carey was pleased with the approach outlined by Link. "I think he's taken a more reasoned approach to it and that reasonable approach is that the county's continuing to do whatever it can to ensure the safety of animals and provide some means of continuity for management of the shelter until the county can make some decisions." ________________________________________________________________ Chapel Hill News October 22, 2003 Letter to the Editor APS couldn't help with dog's plight I recently discovered a pit bull on a neighborhood street. He was very sweet but clearly lost, confused and seeking human help. He was also badly scarred with large patches of missing hair, obviously an ongoing problem of severe mange. I went to the APS shelter, arriving 10 minutes before closing. I stopped a staff member leaving the building and asked for help. He went inside and was told that I needed to put the dog in the small night-deposit cage. Several employees were in the shelter, but no one was willing to even check the dog for a microchip. I then took the dog to my veterinarian. They were closed but still let me in and scanned the dog for a microchip. The dog was registered to the Orange County APS. The veterinarian gave me the microchip number and called the shelter, leaving messages. I took the dog home and arranged to have the dog stay with my neighbor overnight. APS did not call the veterinarian, so at 11 a.m. the next morning, I brought the dog back to APS. I handed the staff the microchip registration number. The APS employee could not find the microchip registration information. The receptionist who files the information had no idea where it might be. I asked the staff member to come to the car to see if she might recognize the dog. She immediately said that it was Louie, one of their dogs in foster care. Louie apparently had been brought to the shelter eight months before at 5 months of age, badly emaciated, with a bad case of mange that it still had. It had been fostered all that time despite the APS foster program policy restriction of 30 days with one renewal. A contract requires that the foster parent provide veterinarian care. The foster parent had come to the shelter that morning to report the animal missing. The shelter staff told me that the foster caregiver could not afford the adoption fee, much less veterinarian care, but really wanted to adopt Louie. I offered to cover the adoption fees and assist with vet fees, but Laura Walters refused my offer, maintaining that they make arrangements for "this sort of thing all the time." I left my contact information for the foster family. I never heard from them. I have had my share of incidents with the APS. It is time for the county to provide proper management of this county facility in the interest of humane treatment of animals and the public! -- Cynthia M. Bird, Chapel Hill ________________________________________________________________ Chapel Hill News October 22, 2003 Letter to the Editor Some APS decisions are worth remembering Some recent letters to the editor have expressed support for the current management of the APS of Orange County. The APS as an organization is certainly worth saving, but please remember some of the decisions made by the current director and her board in the past 18 months. In July of 2002, Dr. Bobby Schopler was given a contract and an ultimatum to sign it, and that contract required him to violate the provisions of the N.C. Veterinary Practice Act. Even after the licensing board and Schopler told Walters that the APS public spay-neuter program was not in compliance, she still continued to have the part-time vet do them. (Documentation for this was submitted to the county commissioners last year.) The APS did comply with the VPA after these violations were publicized. Later, when APS realized that by sacking Schopler, it lost the only permit allowing the wildlife center to continue to accept migratory birds, Walters ignored federal fish and wildlife regulations when trying to reopen the wildlife center to birds. The regional office for federal fish and wildlife permits in Atlanta was not impressed with Walters' activities. (Documentation of this was given to the county commissioners.) Neither Schopler nor Piazza received an apology for how they were treated, even after the APS was proven wrong. Others have recently stated that since the HSUS report doesn't call for new management at the APS, that their performance must be acceptable. Not true. The HSUS made it very clear when they were hired to evaluate the shelter that it would be the governing body of Orange County who would decide who manages the shelter. HSUS would make recommendations about how shelter operations could be improved, but not about specific personnel issues. Call the HSUS, they'll be happy to explain it to you, as they did for me when I called them this week! The county needs leadership they can trust at the shelter. I agree with former APS board member Virginia Ellington in calling for a new director and board officers at APS. If they refuse, then the county needs to take over or find another organization to manage the shelter. -- Kris Bergstrand, Chapel Hill ________________________________________________________________ Chapel Hill Herald October 22, 2003 Interim operator for animal shelter sought CHAPEL HILL -- Orange County will accept proposals for an interim animal shelter operator, the Board of Commissioners decided Tuesday night during a meeting at the Southern Human Services Center. The commissioners unanimously decided Tuesday to put out a Request for Proposal for an organization that could run the county animal shelter through June 30. Bids are due to the county by Nov. 4. The board also denied a request from the Animal Protection Society, which currently runs the shelter on Airport Road in Chapel Hill, for an additional $10,636 per month that APS officials said they needed to continue operations. Orange County pays the APS about $429,000 a year to run the shelter, and the commissioners have a monthly contract with APS. But the organization's board told the commissioners in September that if additional funding was not provided starting Oct. 1, the APS would cede responsibility for shelter operations to the county or another agency by the end of the year. While the commissioners denied the APS's full request, they did allot the organization an additional $4,229 per month through January. APS board President Pat Beyle said Tuesday that she would call a special APS board meeting to respond to the county's actions. "We'll determine from there whether we are going to have a bid and, from there, get busy," she said. "We would like to continue. We would like to have the contract to run the shelter. We would like to work closer with [the county]. If we had worked with them over the years, perhaps we wouldn't be in this situation." One of the group's chief critics, Elliot Cramer, said he was glad the commissioners opened bidding for the shelter operations. "It really wasn't a big surprise, given that [APS] gave an ultimatum to the county before," Cramer said. Cramer, a retired professor, and Judith Reitman, an investigative journalist, sued the APS in February, claiming that the group refused to hand over board minutes, membership lists and financial records, which they said, as members, they had a right to see. They also claimed that the society secretly changed its bylaws to keep control of the board of directors because Cramer was seeking a spot on the board. In response to Reitman and Cramer's lawsuit, the APS and Executive Director Laura Walters filed a defamation counterclaim against the pair, alleging that they published posters and other information accusing Walters and the society of illegal conduct. APS Board President-Elect Ann Petersen said Tuesday, before the commissioners voted, that the organization is committed to change. "The APS wants to continue to operate the shelter," she said. "We believe we can do it better than we have in the past." The Humane Society of the United States, an outside agency hired by the county to study the shelter's management, has recommended hundreds of management changes in its 156-page report. If the APS does not submit a bid proposal or its bid is unsuccessful, a new operator would take over the shelter's operations in January. The county wants the proposals to include a variety of components, including the proposed management team and its qualifications, references, and a lump monthly sum that would be required to perform the services included in the proposal. "We have reasons to believe that we'll have proposals within the time we have specified," County Manager John Link said. The commissioners will review the submitted proposals Nov. 18 and are expected to select an interim shelter management at that time. ________________________________________________________________ News of Orange October 22, 2003 Additional dollars for APS denied CHAPEL HILL - There were no surprises for Animal Protection Society board members at Tuesday night's county commissioners meeting. The Orange County Board decided to heed County Manger John Link's recommendation and voted unanimously to deny the county's animal shelter operator any additional funding, thus opening the door for the county or an outside entity to make a bid to takeover its operation. The APS, which is currently on a month-to-month contract with the county, recently asked the board to provide them with additional funding of more than $10,600 as a condition for continuing to operate the shelter through January 2004. The board rejected that request based on the line item approach for funding the APS took, which was different from the county's established practice with other nonprofits in the area. In addition, the increase is said to be related to personnel decisions made by the APS board of directors - something Link said the county is not responsible for. "Our approach on funding nonprofits and other outside agencies is that we've never appropriated funding based on line items," Link said. "Nonprofits provide us with a great resource and bring a lot of (positives) to the table, but this particular proposal this far into the fiscal year, would be difficult (to provide)." Link added that the APS decided to spend the county's $430,000 of funding independently - without county direction. In fairness, he did acknowledge that the APS has made improvements to both the shelter and its operations based on the Humane Society of the United States report, which was released August. Seven members of the APS board were in attendance during the meeting, including President Pat Beyle, who said she wasn't surprised by the county's decision. "It means we will have to call a special meeting to discuss what we want to do next," Beyle said. "We are sincere when we say we want to continue working with the county and we would like to continue working with them on a contract, but as a board we must decide on how we want to approach this." WHAT'S NEXT? Hard-pressed for time, Link and his staff must now solicit requests for bids on the shelter contract complete with a list of key components applicants must comply with. The criteria is extensive, dealing with topics such as management, philosophy and qualifications of those interested in operating the shelter. Link and his staff have a little less than two weeks to assbemble a list of applicants, something he told the board he "was confident" he could come up with. The APS was encouraged to apply, but both Beyle and board member Ann Peterson said a decision would not be reached until the nonprofit's board voted on it. For now, the APS will continue to operate the shelter providing its basic services, including the Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS), through December. The county commissioners are scheduled to make its determination whether or not to amend the APS contract extension, or approve a bid award to a contractor on Nov. 13. "I look forward to looking at the applications," Commission Chairwoman Margaret Brown said. Chapel Hill News October 26, 2003 "Factis Non Verbis" APS vows conciliation In receiving county funding increase, animal shelter operator acknowledges mistakes and promises to 'be positive and more open' in the future. CHAPEL HILL -- The Animal Protection Society of Orange County has sounded a new note in recent weeks. In a statement Tuesday to the Orange County Board of Commissioners, APS board president-elect Ann Petersen apologized for the agency's past defensiveness, acknowledged the validity of some recent criticisms and promised constructive action in the future. Despite the conciliatory tone of her remarks, commissioners gave APS less than half the amount the agency asked for in September as a condition for continuing to run the Orange County Animal Shelter. The county board also decided Tuesday to request bids for management of shelter operations through June. "We do feel that the additional funding will help," Petersen said Tuesday of the extra $4,229 a month the commissioners offered APS for running the shelter October through January. In September, APS requested $10,636 a month in addition to the approximately $429,000 a year the county pays the agency for shelter management. Petersen told county commissioners, "We acknowledge that we have spent too much time being defensive instead of trying to mend fences, listening to criticism and improving what we can improve. We sincerely apologize for that. We are committed to moving forward on a positive, open and responsive basis." Petersen also supported release of a $20,000 county donation to the Piedmont Wildlife Center. Commissioners granted PWC the funds, which the county set aside in June pending the release of the final Humane Society of the United States report on overall animal shelter operations. The HSUS report came out in late August. "We have met with the Piedmont Wildlife Center . . . to mend some fences," Petersen said in a prepared statement that she delivered on behalf of the APS board. "Instead of fighting with each other, our organizations are now working to help each other." APS board president Pat Beyle said Friday that the board will meet early next week to decide whether APS will submit a proposal to continue running the animal shelter. She echoed Petersen's remarks about the PWC. "It's very clear we are not going to be in the wildlife business in rehabilitation," Beyle said. "We still have to take in wildlife because we are the county shelter, and so we have to take in any animal. We felt (the PWC) are being set up to take wildlife. Right now it seemed the better part to work with them. Who needs to fight when your goals are the same?" Beyle said several conversations have occurred between APS board members and PWC representatives over the last month and a half. Once the Humane Society report was issued, she said, APS had specific tasks to work on and consequently was able to begin working more constructively. "When someone continuously blasts you, you get defensive," Beyle said. "We'll try to open up and listen and see if we can't make some changes." Bobby Schopler, executive director of the Wildlife Center, said Thursday that he saw a noticeable change of tone on APS's part. "I'm in favor of all parties working in the best interest of the animals of Orange County, and I trust that's true of everyone," Schopler said. "PWC is very much open to working with any individual or group or government organization that interacts with wildlife. We'd like to help facilitate the care of the animals and improve the general care of wildlife in our region. That is our mission, our goal, and we plan to stay true to that." Schopler said the $20,000 was a first-time request for operational funds for PWC. He noted the center also plans to ask the other counties it serves for funding. Eighty percent of animals served at PWC come from Durham, Wake and Orange counties, but wild animals are sent there from more than 20 counties in the Piedmont region, he said. "I'm really pleased that the county is supporting the PWC, and I hope that the surrounding counties follow their lead," Schopler said. County manager John Link said he expected the request for proposals to run the animal shelter to go out early this week. Bids will be due Nov. 4, and the commissioners will discuss submitted proposals Nov. 18. Proposals will cover shelter operation through June 30, with possible extension beyond that date at the commissioners' discretion. ________________________________________________________________ * * * FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE * * * DATE: October 27, 2003 CONTACT: Pat Beyle, APS President, 942-1281 Laura Walters, APS Executive Director, 967-7517 After much thought and consideration, Laura Walters, APS Executive Director, has made the decision to resign her position. This past year has been an extremely difficult one for Walters professionally and personally. For whatever reason, a small number of individuals have repeatedly and unfairly attacked Walters and the APS and she has decided to resign with the hope that these attacks will stop. When Laura was appointed to the executive director position 18 months ago, she was replacing someone that had been in the position for 17 years. Accepting this position for anyone was risky and we appreciated Laura's willingness to do so. Walters has made many positive changes in programs and operations of the animal shelter and APS as a whole which has had a beneficial impact on animal welfare in Orange County. "I appreciate the strong support of the APS Board throughout my tenure as executive director. I am looking forward to taking some time for myself and my family and getting some much needed relaxation", Walters said. When told of the decision by Walters, APS President Pat Beyle expressed disappointment but understanding. "Unfortunately, this past year has been hard on all APS staff and Board members. Laura has done a wonderful job despite the controversy and I'm sorry to see her go but certainly understand her reasons. I'm glad for her and know that she's relieved now that she's decided to resign." Ann Petersen, another APS Board member and president elect, echoed Ms. Beyle's feelings. "Laura has always had the best interests of the animals at heart. I admire and respect her for staying with the APS this past year and continuing her dedication to the animals despite all of the controversy. We will miss her, but we know that she will continue to help us in whatever manner she is able," Petersen said. Walters has agreed to stay on for the necessary period of time it will take to effect an orderly transition of her responsibilities to the APS Board and she will continue on as an advisor to APS as we move into the future with our mission to take care of all animals in need. Walters' resignation will have no impact on the lawsuits filed against Cramer and Reitman, APS critics. ________________________________________________________________ Daily Tarheel October 27, 2003 Shelter receives hike in funding By Kathryn Grim City Editor October 27, 2003 On Tuesday, the Orange County Board of Commissioners voted to grant the Animal Protection Society a portion of the increase it demanded for management of the Orange County Animal Shelter. The board approved a $38,064 increase in the organization's monthly funding between Oct. 1 and Jan. 31 -- $101,051 less than APS requested. In a letter sent to the board Sept. 13, Pat Beyle, president of the APS Board of Directors, requested $139,115 in addition to their usual allotment in exchange for the organization's continued operation of the shelter. Beyle attributed the need for increased funding to changes in operational practices related to the implementation of recommendations suggested by the Humane Society of the United States in a review of the shelter. The board factored out funding to account for an APS contribution covering 10 percent of the projected cost of operation and an increase in shelter employees' salaries. During the last six years, contributions by APS toward shelter operations have ranged from 5.45 percent in 2001-02 to 19.12 percent in 1998-99. Last year APS covered 13.67 percent of its expenses related to running the facility. The most significant change in APS's projected expenses since last year was a salary increase totalling $23,540, which made up 66 percent of the increased funding. County manager John Link expressed displeasure with the manner in which APS made its request -- in the middle of the fiscal year and outside the budget process. "In effect, the APS board, without county input or discussion, has decided to change the funding structure for the shelter and the financial relationship that has existed between APS and the county since 1975," Link said. The board also agreed to have staff request proposals from organizations for how to handle interim management and operation of the shelter in the case that the county takes control from APS. Members of APS's executive board have complained that uncertainty over whether the organization will continue shelter operation has caused a decrease in the amount of donations and the number of volunteers. The board has shortened APS's contract with the county from annual to monthly. "You all knew APS had been contributing a substantial amount of money to the shelter. When you put us on a month-to-month leash, I thought we were going to have problems with getting contributions and staff," APS board member Ann Petersen said. County staff wrote in their report that the county will require a minimum of four to six months for an "orderly and effective transition" of shelter management. The board approved the formation of a task force to examine how to improve shelter operation. The group will present its findings in December. Proposals must be submitted by Nov. 4, and the chosen applicant is to take over shelter operation no later than Feb. 1. Staff will report back to the board about applications Nov. 18. Proposals for more permanent operation of the shelter will be requested in a separate process. The board still has to decide whether to cede control to the health department, the manager's office or another entity. ________________________________________________________________ Chapel Hill Herald October 28, 2003 Embattled animal shelter director to resign Comment: We hope that Laura will report these threats to the Police; it sounds like more of her "outrageous lies". I can't imagine how anyone can find out her address and telephone number; APS refuses to even give out the addresses of Board Members, even though it is required by statute. Somehow I find it difficult to visualize Laura being "unnerved; I've always thought that she had a lot of nerve. If she leaves tomorrow, that will certainly be good news for the animals. --- CHAPEL HILL -- Laura Walters, whose 18-month tenure as head of the county's animal shelter has been marred by a lawsuit and some very public criticism by a vocal group of local activists, is resigning. Walters joined the Animal Protection Society of Orange County three years ago as its director of development and became its executive director in March 2002, replacing longtime executive director Pat Sanford. On Monday, Walters said the public spat, largely with critics Elliot Cramer and Judith Reitman, has worn her out. Targeted by a lawsuit from Cramer and Reitman earlier this year, Walters and the society responded with counterclaims charging slanderous, damaging statements. More recently, Walters and her family have been the recipients of harassing telephone calls, she said. "I don't want to be here any more. I want to get out," Walters said. "I've had threats at my home. I just think this whole thing has gotten out of control, and I don't want to do it any more." Walters didn't elaborate on the threats but said they weren't too menacing. Still, she and her husband, who have three young children, have been unnerved. She pondered stepping down for the last six months but was urged to stay on, she said. She'll leave officially in two to three weeks. Her resignation will not derail the lawsuit Walters filed against Cramer and Reitman, nor will it likely affect that duo's lawsuit against the APS. Walters' claim was a response to the suit filed against the APS that accused the society of actions like refusing to hand over minutes from board meetings, membership lists and financial records, and improperly changing the group's bylaws. Counterclaims filed by Walters and by the APS accused Cramer and Reitman of making slanderous, damaging statements about the society, both in written comments and at public meetings. Cramer -- who has been legally barred from the animal shelter -- and Reitman led the creation earlier this year of the Piedmont Animal Welfare Society. The group is based in Chatham County, where Cramer lives, and is intended to be an animal watchdog group. Cramer said Monday that Walters' resignation amounted to a victory for his cause. "It's a very long time coming," he said. "They have known about her mismanagement for a very long time. It's certainly an admission of everything that's been said -- that she's responsible for the mess out there." Cramer, a retired UNC professor, and Reitman, an author and activist, have criticized the APS harshly for what they describe as major problems with how the group operates the animal shelter, which is off Airport Road in Chapel Hill. Orange County owns the shelter, but it pays the APS about $429,000 to run the facility. The county is now taking bids from groups willing to run the shelter from Jan. 1 at least through June 30, which is the end of the current fiscal year. Bidding ends Nov. 5, and APS board members said Monday it's not clear whether the society will bid to continue running the shelter. Cramer, the society's primary opponent, believes the Walters resignation will hinder the APS' chances of keeping the contract. "Without a director, how could they possibly bid on the contract?" he said. Barry Jacobs, a member of the Orange County Commissioners, said Walters had earned a reputation for making information a bit difficult to access, and her future with the animal shelter wasn't promising. Her resignation may actually help the APS, Jacobs said. "Long term, it was not likely that she was going to be retained, if the county had any say in it," Jacobs said. "I think we're looking for a different management style and management model. Rightly or wrongly, Laura Walters was the lightning rod for a lot of the criticism. Taking her out of the equation probably makes it easier to focus on the issues and less on the personalities, and that's always good." Jacobs said the next head of the APS should be more "open," both with records and decision-making. He added that Walters' departure may help the county and the shelter "clear the air." "It's tough to tell how much is true and false, but her management clearly hampered the organization, at least in how the organization was perceived," Jacobs said. Members of the APS board have supported Walters. Ann Petersen, who will take over as the board's president in January, said she was surprised by Walters' decision. "I'm just very sad. Laura's done many good things for us," Petersen said. "She feels that she's been a distraction and that removing herself will [smooth things a bit]. I don't know whether it will or not. We'll just have to figure out where to go from here." Walters' tenure took a blow earlier this year thanks to a report from the Humane Society of the United States, which said that the shelter should clean up, get rid of clutter and adopt standard operating procedures. The report did note that some people told inspectors things were better since Sanford, the former director, left the organization. Representatives from the Humane Society spent two days at the shelter observing and examining the operation, including how the board of directors conducts its business. Walters, who worked previously at an animal shelter in Arkansas, is proud of her accomplishments at APS, which she said includes the creation of a management program for feral (wild) cats and a new spay/neuter program. She'll leave her post marveling at the ferocity at which some of her critics fought for their cause. "With animals, people are just so emotional," she said. "I'm just amazed at how people have been driven by emotion rather than by consideration of facts." Walters earned $44,830 in fiscal 2001-02, according to the APS' form 990 filings with the IRS. She may have received a raise since then, but Walters and other APS officials declined to release a figure for her current salary on Monday. ________________________________________________________________ Chapel Hill Herald October 28, 2003 Judge denies 2 APS critics' bid to regain membership Comment: Laura should savor small victories. Since filing our request for a TRO, the APS membership list and some financial records have been supplied to us (after a year) pursuant to Court order. We have caught Laura in still another "outrageous lie". In rejecting PAWS as an APS Member (after a receipt for dues was provided us) she wrote "Unfortunately, we are unable to accept PAWS as a member of the APS due to the fact that it is an organization. Under our by-laws, membership is not open to organizations. Therefore, we have returned your donation which is enclosed in this letter." In fact, the Membership list includes several organizations as members, including Quail Roost Veterinary Hospital, Love Overboard Kennels, Spotted Dog Restaurant, Snider and Roberson, P.A., Antiquities, Sadler's, Barley's Landscaping, and Bud Matthews Service, Inc. Thus, it appears that, contrary to the statement in Ms. Walters' letter, APS membership is open to organizations and that APS has several organizations as members. --- HILLSBOROUGH -- A Superior Court judge has denied a request from two Animal Protection Society critics that would have allowed them to regain membership in the group. Judge Ronald Stephens issued his ruling Friday, but Elliott Cramer and Judith Reitman, who have sued APS, learned of the decision Monday -- the same day the society's executive director, Laura Walters, announced plans to resign. In announcing her plans, Walters said the public spat between APS and Cramer and Reitman had taken its toll on her personally. In addition to the membership issue, Cramer and Reitman wanted the court to make APS change its procedures concerning revisions to its bylaws, and to lift a trespass ban that was imposed on Cramer earlier this year. Those requests were turned down as well. Reitman had tried to renew her and Cramer's annual membership last month as they were about to expire, but the APS board decided not to accept the renewals. "You need to show irreparable harm, and that's a tough thing to do," Cramer acknowledged Monday. "It was a longshot." The court ruling was the latest in a long public battle between APS and the two critics. Each side has filed a lawsuit against the other; Cramer and Reitman say APS has changed its bylaws improperly and generally criticized APS and Walters for their management of the animal shelter. Walters and APS have both filed defamation counter-suits accusing Cramer and Reitman of slander. Walters said she relished the judge's ruling. "It's a huge victory," she said. "I'm thrilled. It goes to show a whole lot about their behavior." ________________________________________________________________ Daily Tarheel October 28, 2003 Comment: Certainly APS and the animals are better off without her. The question is - did she fall or was she pushed. --- O.C. shelter director resigns By Kathryn Grim City Editor Laura Walters formally resigned from her post as the Orange County Animal Shelter director Monday, the same night the Animal Protection Society board of directors unanimously decided to bid to continue operating the shelter. On Nov. 18, the Orange County Board of Commissioners will consider proposals from organizations that want to operate the shelter permanently or until the county or another entity assumes control. Walters said she decided to step down because of built-up frustration with the position resulting from persistent public criticism and an eventual series of lawsuits involving county residents Elliot Cramer and Judith Reitman. On Monday, a civil court judge ruled to uphold a trespass order Walters had filed against Cramer and defended APS' right as a private organization to refuse to allow Cramer and Reitman to renew their memberships. Cramer and Reitman entered into litigation with the board when it removed voting privileges from general members of APS. The judge rejected a restraining order Cramer and Reitman filed to prevent the board from implementing further changes to its bylaws. APS has used insurance to fund its half of the court costs. Cramer said he and Reitman have spent about $25,000 in personal funds thus far. The judge has not yet ruled on a defamation suit Walters filed against Cramer and Reitman. Walters volunteered to stay on as an adviser to the board as it either continues to run the shelter or phases control to the county or another entity. Walters said she wants to ensure the board continues to run programs she started such as the feral cat management program. The APS board has until Nov. 4 to submit a proposal to the commissioners describing in detail its plans for shelter operation. The board set up a committee of members Monday to discuss the proposal and the possible restructuring of board management, possibly eliminating the position of executive director. Walters said she previously had indicated that she would not serve as executive director if the organization continued shelter operation. But Walters said she hopes APS will retain control of the shelter. "I think there's no way anybody's going to be able to step in and do it as well as APS," she said. If the county does take over the shelter, Walters said, she would be willing to consult if needed. "I have an excellent relationship with county staff," she said. For now, Walters said, she is simply tired of the publicity her controversial position has attracted. "I've had threatening phone calls," she said. "I go to the grocery store, and people recognize me." Walters worked at the shelter for three years, starting as director of development. Pat Sanford, who served as executive director for 17 years, hired Walters as her successor 18 months ago. Walters said, "I think APS is better off without me, and I think I'm better off without APS." ________________________________________________________________ Chapel Hill Herald October 29, 2003 Animal shelter's associate director resigns Comment: Spinmeister Pat Beyle says "None of the board expressed shock," but the October 28 Herald says "Ann Petersen, who will take over as the board's president in January, said she was surprised by Walters' decision." I do agree with Beyle "They've both been fantastic employees", but what has been lacking is competence. This certainly is a good start towards the preservation of APS, but as the Chapel Hill News editorialized, what is needed is "an overhaul of APS management and governance that will be more responsive to the public interest. It's time to sweep out the kennel." When will we have the resignations of the APS leadership? --- CHAPEL HILL -- A day after the head of the county's animal shelter announced plans to resign, the associate director said Tuesday she too will leave the organization. Associate Director Darra Das informed the Animal Protection Society board that Nov. 14 would be her last day on the job. On Monday, the group's executive director, Laura Walters, said she was resigning. "They've both been fantastic employees," said APS Board President Pat Beyle, who added that she understood the decisions. Beyle said Das cited a lack of job security as a reason for her resignation. The APS will continue to run the county animal shelter until the end of the year, but it is unknown whether the APS will continue to be the shelter operator beyond that time. Orange County owns the shelter, but pays the APS about $429,000 to run the facility. The county commissioners are expected to choose later this month an interim operator to run the shelter through June 30, the end of the fiscal year. And even then, that operator is not assured of managing shelter operations on a long-term basis. The APS board unanimously decided Monday to bid to continue running the shelter. "We are at a place, we've got one week to make a bid, we've got one week to get it together so we are obviously very busy," Beyle said. "We are in a management structure that has been there for years and years, and it doesn't mean we have to follow that same management structure. Right now, we're taking a look at other ways of building a management team." The APS board has made its proposal to the county its top priority, but acknowledges that it has three weeks to select interim shelter management to run the shelter through the end of the year. Beyle said that whether the county awards the contract to APS will likely factor into APS' search for a new executive director. She added that the board also was not surprised by Walters' resignation. "None of the board expressed shock," she said. "We all put ourselves in her position. We've gotten a fair amount of knocking around, but she's really been the target." Walters' 18-month tenure as executive director was marred by a lawsuit and public criticism by a group of local activists. She had taken the post in March 2002, replacing her longtime predecessor, Pat Sanford. Walters said the public spat, largely with critics Elliot Cramer and Judith Reitman, wore her out. More recently, Walters said she and her family have been the recipients of harassing telephone calls. In a related matter Tuesday, for the second time in a week, Superior Court Ronald Stephens denied a request from Cramer and Reitman that would have allowed them to regain membership in APS. Stephens rejected attorney Barry Nakell's motion that the judge reconsider his Friday ruling. "That's not a surprise," Nakell said. "The underlying motion was not essential to our case either. That was kind of a sideline to our lawsuit, which has been mostly successful." In addition to the membership issue, Cramer and Reitman wanted the court to make APS change its procedures concerning revisions to its bylaws, and to lift a trespass ban that was imposed on Cramer earlier this year. Those requests were turned down as well. Reitman had tried to renew her and Cramer's annual membership last month as they were about to expire, but the APS board decided not to accept the renewals. Nakell said that Walters' and Das' resignations and the APS board's recent desire to be more cooperative with the county are positive signs that the lawsuits can be settled, if the APS board is willing. "We think there's a promising prospect of conciliation and we look forward to that," the attorney said. ________________________________________________________________ Chapel Hill News October 29, 2003 APS director and associate step down Board says it didn't call for resignations. Comment: If you believe that, there is a bridge in Brooklyn that I will sell you for next to nothing. ----- WALTERS' TENURE AT APS March 2001: Laura Walters joins APS as director of development. January 2002: Pat Sanford resigns after 17 years as APS executive director. March 2002: Walters becomes executive director. July 2002: Bobby Schopler, director of the APS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, leaves after contract negotiations fail. August 2002: Jude Reitman attempts to adopt a dog from the shelter; APS determines the dog would be a danger to the community and euthanizes it. September 2002: APS stops taking in injured wildlife at animal sanctuary and announces plans for a national search for a wildlife veterinarian to replace Schopler. November 2002: APS amends its bylaws to give the board, rather than the general membership, the right to vote for new board members. Elliot Cramer, a candidate for the board, calls on APS to rescind this amendment and to dismiss Walters. January: APS bans Cramer from shelter property. Pamela Bayne and Sandy Green resign from APS board. February: Cramer and Reitman file a lawsuit in Orange County Superior Court alleging APS illegally refused to disclose information and records, removed members' voting rights and obstructed members' efforts to nominate candidates to APS board of directors. April: APS files counter-suit claiming defamation of reputation. June: Walters enters lawsuit as intervening defendant claiming defamation, libel and slander. Preliminary Humane Society of the United States report criticizes APS vaccination practices, record keeping, sanitation and disease management. August: Final HSUS report gives mixed reviews on APS operation of shelter. Sept. 13: APS board asks Orange County for additional $10,636 a month as a condition of its continuing to manage shelter. Oct. 21: Orange County Board of Commissioners offers APS $4,229 a month from October through January. Oct. 27: Laura Walters submits resignation. Oct. 28: Darra Das, associate shelter director, submits resignation. CHAPEL HILL -- After more than a year marked by vehement public criticism and ongoing legal battles, Animal Protection Society Executive Director Laura Walters announced her resignation Monday. Associate Director Darra Das followed suit the following day. Despite the resignations, APS will submit a bid next week to continue running the Orange County Animal Shelter. Walters came to APS in January 2001 as director of development; she became executive director in March 2002. Walters said she expects to step down within the next few weeks. Das came to APS three years ago. Her resignation will take effect Nov. 14. Walters notified APS president Pat Beyle and board member Ann Petersen late last week of her decision and made it public after meeting with APS staff Monday morning. "It's sad that we're losing a good person, but I know that Laura will help us any way she can. APS will just have to go forward," Petersen said. "This decision is Laura's. I don't think anyone on the board knew it was coming. The board did not ask for her resignation." Walters said the past year has been difficult. "We've dealt with a lot of controversy, a lot of unfair statements, a lot of personal attacks," she said. "It's been a very interesting ride, but Laura's getting off the train." Elliot Cramer, a critic of APS, said of Walters' resignation, "It's been a long time coming. It seemed inevitable for a long time. In getting rid of her, they've basically admitted the problems we've been stating all along." The APS board met Monday evening in what Beyle and Petersen described as a work session to address contract and personnel matters. A reporter was not permitted to attend. At the session, the board decided unanimously to submit a bid to continue managing the county animal shelter. The Orange County Board of Commissioners decided last week to request proposals from organizations interested in running the shelter. The proposals, due to the county Nov. 4, must include the names and resumes of anyone who would be part of the shelter management team. Beyle acknowledged that this criterion presents a challenge for APS in light of Walters' departure. "We're disappointed in losing Laura, but we will bid," Beyle said. "We will have to work with that and come up with a plan." Beyle said the whole APS board will be involved in putting together a proposal. "We're going to go for this to win," she said. Walters said she plans to advise the board on the status of the shelter's various programs and contracts over the next few weeks. Beyle said, "By the time Laura Walters steps away, we should know what the county is going to do (about running the shelter). We'll then have a picture of what's in our picture, whether we will have the county contract or not." Beyle noted that besides running the animal shelter, APS runs a large dog-training program, a low-cost spay/neuter program, and several other educational and animal welfare programs. Associate Director Darra Das said that she and other APS staff members have been concerned about their job security since Orange County put APS's contract on month-to-month renewal in June. "It's a shame to see this happen to such a great organization," Das said. She said she and Walters are the county's only animal cruelty investigators. State regulations do not require counties to have such investigators, but Orange County has done so for some time, Das said. Das has also helped run a horse protection workshop affiliated with N.C. State and the Humane Society of the United States. Walters said that the biggest achievement on her watch was ending breed discrimination at the shelter, such as euthanizing pit bulls because of a belief they are not suitable for adoption. "This board is so progressive. We've saved hundreds of lives. Temperament testing has also been fantastic." She said that she had wanted to resign for several months and now looked forward to spending more time with her husband and three young children. "It's a relief, let me tell you," she said. Walters said her resignation will have no impact on the lawsuit Cramer and Jude Reitman filed against APS in February or the countersuit APS filed in April. Walters joined that countersuit in June. ________________________________________________________________ Chapel Hill News October 29, 2003 Comment: The headline is misleading; the judge did not rule on the merits of the issues; he was unwilling to issue an immediate restraining order. With regard to the stalking issue, this is just one more of the outrageous lies that Laura has been spouting ever since she arrived. Unfortunately the corrupt leadership of APS has been supporting such statements. --- Judge denies APS membership A trespass order banning Elliot Cramer from the shelter property was upheld. By KATHLEEN KEARNS, STAFF WRITER CHAPEL HILL -- An Orange County judge has denied a request by two critics of the Animal Protection Society that they be reinstated as members. In September, Elliot Cramer and Jude Reitman asked for a temporary restraining order that would have restored their membership in APS, removed the trespass order banning Cramer from APS property, and prevented new changes in APS bylaws. Superior Court Judge Ronald Stevens turned down all three requests. He made the decision Friday and notified lawyers on both sides with a handwritten note sent by fax Monday. That same day, APS executive director Laura Walters announced her resignation. "I want to make very clear the lawsuit is not going to be affected," Walters said. "I'm pursuing that full force." Cramer commented that the request for a restraining order had been hampered by his and Reitman's inability to demonstrate that denial would cause them irreparable harm. Cramer, Reitman and APS have engaged in ongoing legal battles since the winter. In January, APS banned Cramer from APS premises. Cramer and Reitman filed suit Feb. 20 alleging that the APS board illegally refused to disclose information and records, removed members' voting rights and obstructed members' efforts to nominate candidates to the APS board of directors. The APS responded April 25 with a counter-suit claiming that Cramer and Reitman had defamed APS. Laura Walters entered that lawsuit as an intervening defender on June 3, alleging that Cramer and Reitman had defamed her and damaged her professional reputation. Walters said Tuesday that insurance APS carries will cover legal services to defend the organization against Cramer and Reitman's suit. This insurance does not cover legal costs connected to the counter-suit, she said. Walters said APS attorney Ronald Merritt has undertaken that case on a contingency basis. He will be paid only if he wins, she said, and in that case, Reitman and Cramer would pay Merritt's fees. Walters said Merritt will continue to defend her as an individual under this contingency arrangement even though she has resigned as executive director. Judge Stevens' decision to deny the temporary restraining order came after Walters and Ann Petersen, the sole candidate to become the APS board's next president, filed affidavits alleging that Cramer had engaged in stalking behavior. "Since fall of 2002, Mr. Cramer has been overly occupied by my actions at work and I consider him an obsessed stalker," Walters said in her sworn statement. "The only relief I have had from Mr. Cramer has been the trespass order which has kept him off of the premises of where I work full time and oftentimes late at night and have a right to feel safe and not threatened." On Tuesday, Cramer and Reitman's attorney, Barry Nakell of Hillsborough, filed a motion presenting new evidence and requesting that Stevens reconsider his decision on the restraining order. The judge denied the request. On Sunday, Nakell asked APS attorney Merritt for financial documents that Nakell said weren't turned over to Cramer and Reitman as ordered by Judge Stevens Oct. 2. Stevens told the APS to turn over its membership list and certain financial records to Cramer and Reitman by Oct. 24. As of Tuesday, according to Nakell, the membership list and other documents had been turned over but some financial documents covered by the order were missing. Nakell said of APS, "We support their attitude of conciliation and becoming more open and responsive. Our principal objective was to try to accomplish that. We hope they will include us in their conciliation efforts. I think that if they do, we can resolve this very much to the satisfaction and the best interests of the community." ________________________________________________________________ News of Orange October 29, 2003 Shelter honcho splits -- Shakeup at APS comes as county hunts for other prospective operators By Jeff Casale comment: 60 hour weeks??? WHERE??? --- CHAPEL HILL -- Laura Walters wants out and after 18 months, she is. The Orange County Animal Protection Society's executive director filed her resignation Monday, saying that personal and professional attacks on her by a group of vocal critics has finally taken its toll. Additionally, just one day later, APS Associate Director Darra Das also filed for resignation. Both are effective Nov. 14. Walters was appointed to executive director of the shelter in March after long-time director Pat Sanford stepped down. The transition wasn't a smooth one. Shortly after she began her tenure Walters found herself entrenched in public a squabble with critics Elliot Cramer and Jude Reitman. When accusations swirled that there was mistreatment of animals and that Walters was "incompetent" director, she became the target of a lawsuit with Cramer and Reitman that has since been played out in both the media and courtrooms. Cramer and Reitman filed a lawsuit against the APS that accused them of actions such as refusing to turn over board minutes from meetings, membership lists, financial records and improperly changing the group's bylaws. The APS and Walters then filed a counterclaim accusing the two critics of making slanderous and damaging statements about the nonprofit and its director. "It's been a tough year," Walters said. "I hoped over time things would get better and for a while I thought it was going to lighten up, but I think now it's just time I move on." Walters said she had been contemplating the idea of resigning for about six months, but was urged by APS board members and workers to "hang in there." In the end, with putting in 60-plus hours of work at the shelter, fighting out the lawsuit in court and trying to manage her family life -- it proved to be too much. "(Laura) has been bashed six ways against the middle and the board is very sympathetic to her decision," APS board President Pat Beyle said. "But I know that she is very relieved now that she has finally decided to resign." Das, who has been with the APS for three years, said that her resignation was partly because Walters chose to step down and partly because of the instability of her job. Das also served as the shelter's horse cruelty investigator as well as a county appointed 19-A animal cruelty investigator. With the shelter currently under the microscope by the county in addition to its critics since the release of the Humane Society of the United States report released in August. Since then, the shelter has been placed on a month-to-month contract and the county has entertained the idea of accepting bids from other organizations wishing to run the shelter. The county will accept bids throughout the next week and is expected to look over them throughout the next month. The APS board unanimously voted Monday to participate in the bidding process. "We're excited about it," APS board member Ann Petersen said. "The entire staff at the shelter and sanctuary wanted us to bid and to bid as strong as we can. They have been highly supportive and want to continue to make APS a better organization." Walters said she will continue to fight out the lawsuit until "the bitter end" and said that her resignation should have no impact as far as the outcome. "I'm not a quitter," Walters said. "I wanted to do the (job) and I wanted to do it right." ________________________________________________________________ Raleigh News and Observer October 29, 2003 Orange County APS leaders resign CHAPEL HILL -- After more than a year marked by vehement public criticism and ongoing legal battles, the top two administrators at the Animal Protection Society of Orange County resigned this week. Executive Director Laura Walters announced her resignation Monday. Associate Director Darra Das followed suit Tuesday. Despite the resignations, APS will submit a bid next week to continue running the Orange County Animal Shelter. Criticism of APS has been at a heightened state since July 2002, when Bobby Schopler, the shelter's veterinarian and wildlife expert, left in a storm of controversy over what administrators and board members expected of him at the wildlife center he helped found. That controversy served as a springboard for critics to speak up about problems they had with the shelter. Since then, the Orange County commissioners and Board of Health have initiated several studies of the organization and held numerous hearings pitting critics against ardent supporters. The problems spilled over into court. The county owns the shelter in northern Chapel Hill, but pays APS $429,000 per year to run it. Walters came to APS in January 2001 as director of development; she became executive director in March 2002. She said she expects to step down within the next few weeks. Das came to APS three years ago. Her resignation will take effect Nov. 14. Walters notified APS president Pat Beyle and board member Ann Petersen late last week of her decision and made it public after meeting with APS staff Monday morning. "It's sad that we're losing a good person, but I know that Laura will help us any way she can. APS will just have to go forward," Petersen said. "This decision is Laura's. I don't think anyone on the board knew it was coming. The board did not ask for her resignation." The past year has been a difficult one for Walters. "We've dealt with a lot of controversy, a lot of unfair statements, a lot of personal attacks," she said. "It's been a very interesting ride, but Laura's getting off the train." Walters said her resignation will have no effect on the lawsuit that Elliot Cramer and Jude Reitman filed against APS in February or the countersuit APS filed in April. Walters joined that countersuit in June. Reitman and Cramer, who was banned from APS premises in January, alleged that the APS board illegally refused to disclose information and records, removed members' voting rights and obstructed members' efforts to nominate candidates to the APS board of directors. Cramer said this week that Walters' resignation has "been a long time coming." "In getting rid of her, they've basically admitted the problems we've been stating all along," he said. Orange County commissioners decided last week to request proposals from organizations interested in running the shelter. The proposals, due to the county Nov. 4, must include the names and resumes of anyone who would be part of the shelter management team. The APS board met Monday evening in what Beyle and Petersen described as a work session to address contract and personnel matters. Members decided unanimously to submit a bid to continue managing the county animal shelter. Walters plans to advise the board on the status of the shelter's various programs and contracts during her remaining time. "By the time Laura Walters steps away, we should know what the county is going to do [about running the shelter]," Beyle said. "We'll then have a picture of what's in our picture, whether we will have the county contract or not." ________________________________________________________________ Chapel Hill News October 29. 2003 Letter to the Editor Shelter's condition really is the issue After reading APS board member Elfriede Illiano's comments from her letter to The Chapel Hill News dated Oct. 15, I have comments of my own. Board member Illiano's first comment concerned how unfortunate it was that an evaluation by the Humane Society of the United States was not done between the time the former executive director left and the new one was hired. Fortunately, the HSUS did get involved -- it is the present condition of the shelter and its present practices that are the issues. To paraphrase Illiano, "How can anyone be sure that all the problems are not longstanding?" If they are longstanding, the best that can be said is that the present management and board of directors did not recognize these problems nor make any improvements. It took an outside agency in the form of the HSUS to enlighten APS management regarding disease control, cross-contamination, record-keeping (medical, financial, adoption, foster), basic cleanliness of kennels, cage-cleaning protocol and animal handling, to name a few. The 156-page report from the HSUS is available for those who would like to see the listing of improvements and recommendations. Illiano mentions that in the HSUS report "much emphasis was put on an outdated facility." It is my opinion that the HSUS report includes only slight mention of the physical facility itself, and on Page 6 of the report states, "While the facility suffers from a poor design and layout, it can be improved aesthetically as well as functionally with a few minor resources such as elbow grease and increased organization." Illiano's comment is erroneous "that the APS wildlife program has been put on hold, but the Piedmont Wildlife Center has expressed intent to fill that gap." The Piedmont Wildlife Center has done much more than "express intent to fill that gap." In fact, it has been in existence since April 2003 caring for more than 1,000 wildlife cases. APS has not had a wildlife program since October 2002. In response to Illiano's comment regarding duplication of wildlife services, I would like to remind her that this concern was raised by the Board of County Commissioners in 2002. I think it is important to note that this observation made by the commissioners was made in regard specifically to APS duplicating the services of the Piedmont Wildlife Center. Does Illiano really think that an existing wildlife organization serving Orange County is duplicating wildlife services offered 80 miles away at the N.C. Zoo? If Illiano advocates clearing the debris, I suggest she begin right here at home with the APS. Virginia T. Ellington Chapel Hill Herald ________________________________________________________________ The Chapel Hill Herald October 30, 2003 Editorial Resignation the right move for APS The resignation Monday of Laura Walters, the executive director of the Animal Protection Society of Orange County, was unfortunate but necessary. Public confidence in the APS is low, and the group needed to undertake a leadership change to regain its standing. The impending departures of Walters and her associate director, Darra Das, begin that process. Many developments contributed to the loss of confidence in the APS -- the longtime manager of the county animal shelter -- and Walters figured in many of them. For the Orange County Commissioners, and this newspaper, the last straw was the APS' "give us more money or we quit" attempt to strong-arm the county into making a hasty decision about the future of the facility. The commissioners called the APS' bluff first with delay, and then by deciding to put the management contract for the shelter out to bid. For others, the breaking point came when inspectors from the Humane Society of the United States confirmed deficiencies in APS' disease-control and record-keeping practices. It didn't help that the primary critics of the APS, Elliot Cramer and Judith Reitman, had been complaining about exactly those issues. Nor did it help that Walters was unable to deal with Cramer without using trespassing laws and the police to keep him away from the shelter. That spoke poorly of her judgment and public relations sense, at least to the commissioners, who, thanks to the debate a few years ago about a quarry along N.C. 54, are personally familiar with Cramer's bulldog persistence. Little things like that highlighted the biggest problem with the APS: the group's inflated sense of its role at the shelter. The shelter is county property, a county operation and the county's responsibility. But APS leaders have too often acted as though it's APS property, and too often made policy decisions without consulting the commissioners. That failing -- and a faulty public relations sense -- was not unique to Walters. Her predecessor, Pat Sanford, was just as prone to PR gaffes, and just as prone to making unilateral decisions. But there was less patience with Walters because the APS used up much of its political capital in the course of dismissing Sanford and wildlife veterinarian Bobby Schopler. Those moves were defensible, and a more adroit organization could have handled the outcry they provoked. But until now, "adroit" and "APS" haven't belonged in the same sentence. It remains to be seen whether that will change.