|
News & Features
From the Idyllwild Town Crier weekly newspaper, 07.09.09 edition.
ARF choice raises hackles
By Marshall Smith, Staff Reporter
The board of the Animal Rescue Friends of Idyllwild (ARF) appointed a
new director to replace outgoing Director Leslie Morgan. The new
director, Nona Reynolds, had previously worked with ARF as a volunteer.
Her appointment has raised some strident objections from Jane
Stonehill, longtime and former ARF director; Virginia Torres, PetsVet
technician and previous ARF board advisor on veterinary medicine;
volunteer Gretchen Peckham; and previous ARF Treasurer David Pekrol.
Stonehill’s and Torres’ objections center on ARF’s reputation, which
they believe will be denigrated by Reynolds’ tenure. Objections center
on policy, primarily. Stonehill and Torres are afraid that Reynolds
will take in too many animals, causing their care to be substandard and
that, because Reynolds lives in Anza, she may take in too many
non-Idyllwild animals. Peckham noted that although Reynolds’ heart may
be in the right place, in the past she’s been, in Peckham’s words, a
“collector.”
Reynolds admitted that she once had up to 40 dogs on her 19-acre
property and that a disgruntled ex-boyfriend had called Riverside
County Animal Control Services, but that now that she is alone, she
can’t foster or take in that many animals.
As to taking in animals from areas other than Idyllwild, Reynolds said
Idyllwild would remain primary but that animals could be taken in from
other areas. She also said she had gotten ARF donations from Anza and
other areas.
Stonehill also stated that she was afraid that under Reynolds’ purview
animals would be adopted without county-required spay and neutering.
Reynolds countered that ARF had in the past adopted out animals without
spaying and neutering. Her intention is to not spay or neuter an animal
before it is 6 months old. That necessitates fostering the animal until
that time. Reynolds said Veterinarian Susan Anderson is coming up next
weekend to spay and neuter ARF animals, but neither Anderson nor Anza
Veterinarian Richard Schmitz will spay prior to 6 months.
Other areas of disagreement between Stonehill/Torres and Reynolds
involve pregnant and unadoptable animals, but after interviewing both
sides, the differences might not seem so great to the general public,
but are obviously important to Stonehill, Torres and Reynolds. All
involved claim care of the animals is their primary concern. “My heart
is there for the animals and I just want to get ARF back in the good
graces of the community,” said Reynolds. “It has gone downhill in the
last year.”
What is clear is that Stonehill and Torres do not want their
names associated with ARF any longer. PetsVet, with whom Torres is
affiliated, will no longer service ARF animals. Torres wanted that
point made clear. “There are so many things we don’t agree with this
board change and this appointment,” said Stonehill. “We oppose the
appointment [of Reynolds] and will run an ad that states that we are no
longer associated with ARF.
“When I left ARF I believed it was in good hands,” Stonehill reflected.
“With this change in leadership, primarily the new director, and the
advent of policies with which I disagree, I want to make it clear I am
no longer involved [with ARF]. Their vet standards are clearly lower. I
think there are good people out there. I think ARF could do better. If
I could, I’d remove my name from the 501(c)(3),” the IRS designation
currently held under Stonehill’s name.”
“We were supposed to be advisors to the board,” said Torres. “But since
Jane’s vision is no longer being followed, we want no further
association.”
“I volunteered to come back to foster animals,” said Reynolds, “not to
be director. That was offered to me.”
Said Peckham, who also opposes the appointment, “The problem is there
are only so many bodies out there [to volunteer]. Someone needs to do
the job.”
Torres is providing financial records to the Town Crier that may shed
light on allegations that a previous board member is making. Reynolds
said she never had check-signing authority as a volunteer and the only
thing she had was an ATM card to buy supplies. “I called Jane on every
purchase,” said Reynolds. As a postscript, Reynolds added, “I love Jane
with all my heart. I don’t know why she feels this way about me. She
knew about everything I did [when associated with ARF in the past].”
Stonehill acknowledges that the future could be different from the past
and that her and Torres’ objections are based on past behavior of
Reynolds.
Mountain High Pet Groomer Ben Davis thinks Reynolds is “the best thing
that ARF could get. The woman knows about dogs and people.” For the
last year Davis has refused to endorse or advertise ARF, only Living
Free, because of what he alleges is bad management.
For the record, the present board supports the appointment of Reynolds.
Web Site designed by the Idyllwild
Town Crier © 1995-2007 by Idyllwild Publications
WEBMASTER
|
