Winter 2004/05

UPDATE!

Compassion for Camden, Inc. - A Humane Society - Est. 1992

President's Notes:

Camden Goes Pro

Professional animal control for a struggling city.

In May 2004, the city of Camden ended its decades long struggle with inadequate animal control. We’re pleased to announce yet another victory!

Upon our urging, in September 1997, the then presiding mayor assembled a five member animal welfare committee to study the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of its animal control budget and hiring practices. The committee’s members were well aware of the fact that dogs and cats in US urban areas fare miserably; the worst of all western countries. Given the scope of what lay ahead, the group quickly fell apart.

Only two members remained, Compassion for Camden’s Marion Churchill and a farsighted, animal friendly city official. It’s because of their judicious and provident efforts that in 2000 the city, for the first time in its history, was provided with an in-house animal control department. However, the city failed to staff the new department properly and professionally. The same two animal welfare committee diehards, known as the determined-duo, went back to the drawing board.

In April 2003, the duo finally succeeded to convince the city’s state appointed CEO to give the nod of approval to hire at least two professional animal control officers. The first officer hired was based on the duo’s recommendation. He would lead the department. But, it wasn’t until May 2004 that the city’s new Animal Welfare & Control and Humane Law Enforcement Bureau was in place.

cont. page 3

Editing our newsletters takes time, plus all the concentration I can muster. As I’m doing just that in July 2004, (our Summer newsletter; thankfully it was a rainy day) I promised myself not to be interrupted by the phone. I started to turn the volume down and let the machine pick up. It rings that second. OK, I turned the volume on again, just in case, and listened to the machine.
I couldn’t believe my ears. I was so dumfounded by the whole thing that it was somehow impossible for me to grab the receiver.

Here’s what happened: “Marion, (repeats name several times) are you there? This is Mrs. Richard Pryor - Jennifer - calling you from Los Angeles. What’s going on in Camden? We want to help. Please call me as soon as possible at our home at ... “ (envision phone number here, no I’m not giving it out!)

I heard what I heard, but I had to replay the message several times to let it sink in and get the number straight. Then, I told myself to sit down (I was already sitting) and take a deep breath. Then, I called her back.

We talked for a long time. I tried to explain my Camden experiences, spanning twelve years, regarding the plight of animals, the county shelter cruelty cases and so on. Jennifer listened patiently and told me that someone had forwarded her the link to our website.

cont. page 2

President’s Notes: cont. from page 1
Last night, she said, she went to our Mean Streets page and then practically cried all night. I knew that Richard Pryor is not only a very funny guy, but a very serious animal protector, too. In fact, Jennifer and Richard are dedicated to end the suffering of the African Elephant by abolishing the ivory trade. I had seen them several times at conferences and fund-raisers, but they’d never know me.

In any case, Jennifer’s offers to help were plenty and generous. But, the first thing she would do on that day was to instruct her web designer to link our web sites. See www.richardpryor.com, we’re on their home page! And, the results have been terrific. Lots of traffic from them to us, with the extra benefit of fresh donations.

Ever since, Jennifer and I are chatting on the phone from time to time. We’ve become buddies and have vowed to visit each other. Hopefully next year, I can't wait!

-Marion Churchill

For weeks, the Good Samaritans, gave up their personal lives, they rolled up their sleeves and dug deep into their pockets. It was because of their efforts that the dogs have been rehabilitated and placed into loving homes.

The tragedy was well covered by local newspapers. People called us wondering why the Animal Welfare Association (AWA) of Voorhees was not involved in helping. We told the callers that as soon as we’d find out we’d let them know. Then, suddenly it seems, the AWA jumped on the bandwagon. Was it just because it had become the in-thing to do?

The Good Samaritans said that they were very disappointed in the local welfare community; their appeals had fallen on deaf ears. Not a single South Jersey shelter or organization, except Compassion for Camden and the NJ SPCA, came forward to help. In particular, the Good Sams’ said, they were disturbed by the lack of action on the part of the AWA. Even more so by their executive director Karen Dixon who published that the AWA came and saved the day.

We’re referring to AWA’s Summer newsletter, read by many, and resulting in even more inquiry. The newsletter reads in part: “Because of the generosity [of AWA supporters] the AWA was in a position to help, providing medical treatment and clean housing for eight of the neglected dogs.”

-The Talmud

Not so, said our source. AWA billed the Good Sams’ for spaying and neutering. They didn’t provide anything for free, they said. Although there was that bottle of meds at their cost. AWA went on to say that they took eight dogs, but fails to note that they returned four of them as being unadoptable. The Good Sams’ were amazed, these were beagle and dachshund mixes! Lucky for the dogs, a rescue in Pennsylvania took them.

For the Good Samaritans the entire situation was daunting, challenging, overwhelming, but mostly unbelievable. Finally, more help arrived in the form of private individuals connected with animal rights and shelters. Also an animal shelter in North Jersey, and a kennel.

Note: The Animal Welfare Association of Voorhees, NJ, is one of the wealthiest animal organization in New Jersey, see www.guidestar.org. Some things they earn on their own, others they may not. Their much celebrated mobile spay/neuter clinic is just one other example. Here too we are fully aware of the details involving the grant application and purchase of the van. This according to the application: “AWA and Compassion for Camden are thereby making a request for a special, one-time funding [for the purchase of the van] in the amount of 250,000.” The funding was granted, the van purchased, still it’s yet to be mentioned. (For more info regarding the van, see page 4) And, just like the staffing for the van, there’s lots of staff at the shelter, too. All seem well paid. Good for them.
All charitable organizations rely on public funding. Misleading, unclear or fortuitous stories in their publications can do considerable harm, including fewer donations, to other, more deserving groups. If you’re moved by a certain story in a publication, and before you contribute, please call the organization to verify the merits of the story covered.

-Marion Churchill

Camden goes pro, cont. from page 1

The new department is now headed by the former on-call officer, Steve Bordi, who has served the city previously but part time, over three years. Bordi is also the president of the state’s Certified Animal Control Officers Association. Today, Chief Humane Law Enforcement Officer Bordi, is responsible for the city’s day to day animal control duties. But, more importantly he’s charged to develop strategic long term blue prints to decrease the city’s dog and cat large population. Specifically, humane education and enforcement of ordinances, such as the mandatory spay/neuter and anti-chaining ordinances.

In June 2004 Bordi hired Chris McGarry, a former wildlife rescuer and rehabilitator. McGarry, a graduate of the Ocean County Police Academy investigator’s course, comes equipped with the general study of animals, coupled with a great respect and consideration towards all life.

We are relieved that our years of rescue, outreach and political battles have paid off. But it’s far from over. Because for the city’s animals, their misery has decidedly not ended. Changing that, and it will, is up to Bordi and McGarry now. The determined-duo, however, vowed to remain steadfast. First items on the

agenda are getting Bordi and McGarry proper equipment, writing ordinances, continue educating police, local judges and county and city prosecutors’ offices.

Note: In 1996 Compassion for Camden wrote, and city council passed, an un-precedent spay/neuter ordinance. In early 2000, we wrote, and council passed, an anti-chaining ordinance, targeting mostly the 24/7 chaining of dogs, but written to include all animals. Both were firsts for the East Coast.

Although, having been well aware that neither law would be enforced until professionals were hired, we were delighted to have them on the books. At the time we didn’t bother to publicize either of them, even in our newsletters; there wasn’t much to celebrate, yet. We did, however, print brochures explaining the new laws, including the fines they carried. Our pamphlets were displayed and handed out by Bordi, while on duty, at schools, the city clerk’s, the mayor’s and various other public offices.

In turn, our little brochures brought about quite a bit of awareness and action, more than we had hoped for. For the first time this year, the city paid for the printing.

Once again, the animals won. But, there’s much to do!

-Newt Kirkland

“Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going. - Sam Levenson

Our victory turns into hands-on compassion for the animals! Because of our hard-won, two year battle with the Camden County Freeholders, the Camden County Animal Shelter’s new management team, the Animal Welfare Alliance of Camden County (AWACC) took over the operations of the facility as scheduled on September 1, 2004.

Not planned, however, was the lack of shelter inventory. Most everything was gone. Some presumably given away, some sold. Richard Perr, Esq., president of the so called Humane Society of Southern NJ (the outfit that formerly ran the shelter) and of the lawfirm Fineman, Krekstein & Harris, Philadelphia, and the rest of his group, behaved not entirely un-expectedly.

Let’s go back to July 2004 as Perr blabbered this to the local paper: “We look forward to working with the new organization.” What did that mean? According to all accounts, somebody had made sure that the shelter was mostly razed of food, supplies, cabinets, desks and other items.

The AWACC described the situation as desperate. In an appeal letter, dated August 04, to local foundations and other groups, they wrote: “It looks like the current vendor [Humane Society of Southern New Jersey] is wiping the place clean – litter pans, all donated food and linens, trash cans, mops, shelves…everything. They are also taking some of the steel banks of cat cages.”

The welfare community was aghast. The folks at the Burlington County Animal Shelter, for example, had this response: “This is a case of [a] humane society not being so ‘humane’, not even when you are talking about the essential needs of running a shelter.” They added that this latest revelation only serves to highlight even more the new NJ SPCA lawsuit alleging animal abuse.

For details regarding the new charges, former charges and other abuse and corruption, please see http://compassionforcamden.org/newsletters.html or see our other website www.pawsnj.org. At this point in time, the Camden County Animal Shelter has received truckloads of food donations, but they are in desperate need of proper county funding, please see Action Alert, page 6.

For the animals! -Scott Stanfield

Compassion For Camden

Page 4

cont. from page 2
Setting it straight!

The AWA acquired the mobile s/n van in 2001. The van’s mission was to serve the people of Camden on a daily basis. Weekend time was to serve needy suburbs. In September 2000, the Dodge Foundation writes to AWA with a copy to us: “Knowing that your Camden Project 2000 focuses on bringing animal shelter endeavors into the City of Camden via a number of programs, the board of trustees has authorized me to send you a check for $250,000 to purchase, staff and equip a spay/neuter mobile unit. We look forward to learning more about how you and Mrs. Churchill guide this work towards reducing the suffering of thousands of companion animals in and around Camden.” Whatever change of direction, if any, was decided on later is insignificant, this in fact, was why the money was given.

At the time another director was in charge of the shelter. Compassion for Camden and the former director had made extensive plans as outlined in the grant application. This director left the AWA shortly after the money was granted. It was a major blow for us as we were completely unsure if the hard-won van would ever reach its goals. As the new director, Karen Dixon, formerly of the Gloucester County Animal Shelter, took over our worries were quickly confirmed.

But, we remained upbeat and set out to establish rapport and offered guidance. One such source for help was in form of hiring Charlotte Diaz of PawsForACause, a professional marketer for animal groups. Diaz and CFC visited the AWA on some occasions. We set up meetings and encouraged dialogue with seasoned s/n van users across the country, and so forth. Costing CFC thousands of dollars, Diaz completed an extensive study regarding van usage everywhere and provided other important data. Whatever became of these efforts to get the van rolling, we don’t know.

AWA and CFC made arrangements with the Camden Fire Department and the city’s community centers for the usage of their property. At the time, we were comfortable that the van went into Camden at least twice a week. We were hoping that this trial period would quickly lead to more.

But, suddenly, it seems, AWA came forth with unfounded and ridicules fears of parking the van in front of community centers. Their horrors had to do with the center’s, as opposed to the fire stations, lack of enough staffing to “protect” the van and its staff. We found this laughable, no matter the drugs in the van - the city has drug stores all over. Sure, Camden is different from Voorhees. But then, why appeal for a grant to serve the city in the first place? Center employees added, “we’re here, too. Who “protects” us?”

But we kept on going anyway and placed bi-monthly ads in the local Courier-Post and Al Dia, a Spanish language paper, announcing all locations, dates and other info.

A city community group allowed the use of their mailing list for extensive, full-color mailings with the same information. Posters were placed across town on a weekly basis.

All in all, CFC put lots of effort and money into an undertaking for which we were not funded. We continued to do so for over a year. In the meantime, AWA showed little interest in our advertising, and to the best of our knowledge, did no marketing of their own. We decided to stop. But, it’s even more heart wrenching to see the example below.

Note the s/n van schedule below as it appears on AWA’s current, November 2004, website. The following is the September 2003 schedule:

“September 2003 Schedule
(This program is open for Camden residents only) 1023 Reeves Ave Sept. 3
9th & Morgan Sept. 10
27th and Federal Sept. 17
Boardway and Liberty NA
3rd and Federal NA
New Jersey and Merrimac Sept.24”EN TO
(end AWA website)

We believe that the AWA is misguided if by chance the web site is overlooked because it’s seen as unimportant for Camden residents. While it may be that Camden people have fewer computers in their homes, many take advantage of computers at libraries or schools, others have computer-owning relatives elsewhere in the county, and so on.

If we are to make changes in Camden, then we must approach its residents equal to all others in the county. This, in fact, has always been our automatic reaction with each person we have ever encountered, it’s far from a motto. It’s not as though this common courtesy works with all people, but it is what we do. No rocket science here.

It should also be noted that on many occasions the s/n van traveled out of state to fetch West Virginia, or other, animal shelter puppies. In a setting like Camden County the importation of pups is not needed. Think globally, act locally, because all one has to do is travel to the city and pick them off the streets, backyards, abandoned buildings, basements, etc. Of course, these pups and their moms are always in need of extensive vet care.

The AWA shelter sits directly across the street from a post office we use. On my way out of the post office parking lot I can’t help but see the AWA parking area. I have rarely been to the post office and not seen the s/n van parked there.
-Marion Churchill

Here’s what you can do:
Please, see Action Alert, page 6

Broken Bubbles
No question, Bubbles the cat wasn’t very happy, or bubbly, last October. According to her person Karen, someone in the household dropped a heavy object on her, leaving Bubbles with a broken leg.

Karen’s forwarded call to my cell phone explained the situation. The cat was in immense pain, but it got worse. She didn’t have any money for vet care, plus she didn’t have transportation. I tried to think and calm her down at the same time. But, none of my suggestions would work. It all came back to the same urgent need of money and transportation.

I was out of town, thereby, picking her up would take several hours just to get there. “We can help with vet care - but how to get you there?” I said to her, cursing silently that I didn’t have my trusty volunteer contact info with me. “Bubbles is in so much pain, I just have to do something, even if I have to walk,” Karen said, her voice trembling. She lived in a low-income high rise in the middle of Camden. It would take her more than an hour to walk. It was out of question.

I said, “OK, what about a tax…?,” Karen immediately interrupted, pointing out the money thing again, but I continued, “...you call a cab. I’ll call the hospital. I’ll tell the staff to give you the money for the fare.”

Our story brings this to mind: No other local organization that we know of would provide for extensive, private vet care, let alone cab fare. Still, unusual situations arise and accidents do happen. Camden’s ethical companion animal community will always do the best that can be done. Though, sometimes what’s needed is a helping hand. Thank you, for allowing us to extent it!

Karen was at the hospital in less than half an hour. Talking to her at the hospital, I made sure she understood that we do the best we can, have had predicaments like this before, but would not be in a position to provide for such costs on a daily basis. We need to be repaid. She assured me that things will work out and that she’d somehow find the money.

Bubbles recovered nicely, her cast came off on time and her leg is in fine shape again.

Some weeks later Karen held her promise to repay us by sending what she could, with more to come, she said and added, that she’s spreading the spay/neuter message, also as pledged.

-Marion Churchil

Proper funding needed for the Camden County Animal Shelter, Blackwood, NJ!

Under no circumstances should taxpayers let the county freeholders get away with the improper funding of the Camden County Animal Shelter.

Freeholders offer a mere $150,000 per year and have gotten away with it since 1997!

No other county shelter is funded this poorly. Shame!

The Camden County Animal Shelter needs $625,000 in annual funding to save lives, operate properly and make changes for the future.

Write, call, it works!

The animals need your voice.

You’ve done it before, do it again! Write, call, it works:

PLEASE NOTE:
Typewritten letters and phone calls are best. Emails may not be read for days, or may be deleted before being read. Also consider reading your letter during a public freeholder meeting. Thank you for making a difference!