Thanks to a board of directors that just sits back and watches, SPCA Tampa Bay, once a robust agency, continues its progressive and painful demise under the management of its current CEO. And as always, the losers are the suffering homeless animals.
The annual Pet Walk, once a successful fundraiser and adoption event, was held on October 11. SPCA/TB brought NO dogs to the event to showcase for adoption. The walk raised only $155,000 of the $250,000 goal. Reportedly, that $155,000 included “in kind” donations as well as cash.
A former volunteer who works in the financial industry observed: “They raised about $220,000 in 2008. That means the SPCA raised 30% less this year than they did in 2008, which was one of the worst years for all charities due to the recession.
“I know the economy hasn’t fully recovered, but it is better than six years ago (couldn’t be worse). Yet the SPCA is doing worse. Says it all.
“As an aside, if they got $155,000 THIS year, they didn’t raise $100,000 too little. They raised $155,000 too much.”
Clawing to survive
Soon after the poor performance of the Pet Walk, three members of the top-heavy management team were released from the payroll: Bibi Goeddert, Managing Director/Business Administration; Nora Hawkins, MBA, Managing Director, Guest Services; and Janet Valles, Development and Special Events Director.
The current CEO’s number one goal is to protect her six-figure salary. Caring for the animals has never been a priority. Now it would appear that further belt-tightening will also affect her bloated administrative staff.
Indianapolis, déjà vu.
Warning — hoax alert
According to Wikipedia, a hoax is “a deliberately fabricated falsehood made to masquerade as truth”.
Are you familiar with the national ASPCA slow-motion video, featuring lyrics by Sarah McLachlan, that tugs at your heartstrings to open your wallet and donate?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO9d2PpP7tQ SPCA/TB has invested in its own slow-motion, heart-tugging video. “Calling out for you” tries to convince potential donors that opening their wallets to donate to the agency will be helping animals in need. For example:
“As a donor, you can be sure that your dollars stay local and that you will be providing animals in need with a new forever home, each and every day.”
If only donors knew that the sole reason for the fundraising effort is to meet payroll. One wonders how these people can sleep at night.
To learn the REAL story about what goes on at SPCA/TB, go to SPCA/TB Behind the Kennel Doors:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/SPCA-Tampa-Bay-Behind-the-Kennel-Doors/541883669224768
There, the agency’s tragic dysfunction and disintegration are documented by those who have watched it happen, and are shining a light on the agency’s actions.
Mutually exclusive:
Caring for animals in need and the actions of the SPCA Tampa Bay.
Addendum 7:05pm
Organizations in the Pinellas County area that are reported to be genuine in their care for at-risk animals and use donor dollars respectfully are:
Pet Pal Animal Shelter http://www.petpalanimalshelter.com/
Suncoast Animal League http://suncoastanimalleague.org/
Humane Society of Pinellas http://humanesocietyofpinellas.org/
Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue http://www.nateshonoranimalrescue.org/