We’re grateful to Indianapolis Star journalist Brian Eason for his expose on the woes of Indianapolis Animal Care and Control on Sunday, November 16. Headlined “Animal neglect? For years, Indy ignored recommendations”, the front-page article called attention to the long-standing problems at IACC…..again. And sadly, the city administration’s response was the same as it’s been every time the issue has been raised.
“The problem,” Valerie Washington, deputy director of the Department of Public Safety, is quoted as saying, “is that money isn’t easy to find.”
The sad fact is that Ms Washington apparently is either unaware of what is going on with the city’s slush fund (read tax payers’ money) or she is thinking the audience is naïve and is purposely misleading the public. Perhaps she needs to follow the mtA blog? Had she read the mtA blog post, “Ask your Councilor – where is the money going?” she would be aware that plenty of taxpayer money has been found to fund all sorts of pet projects.
It doesn’t appear that money is hard to find. It’s only hard to find for agencies and causes that lack high-profile advocates.
Will having a new director at IACC make a difference?
No, not if he or she has to battle the union, a micromanaging city administration, and hear ad nauseam the fabricated excuse city officials feed the public and city division staff as to why the administration can’t fund the agency.
In a November 15th letter to the editor, Susan L. Gerhart shines a light on the administration’s resistance and response to advocates who in 2009 dared to bring attention to and hold accountable those responsible for the agency’s dysfunctional management and performance.
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What needs to happen and when?
Those in city administration who display a “despicable lack of concern …” need to be excused from any budget misallocation and deprivation decisions so IACC and its caring staff can be funded to operate as it should, focusing on the humane care and treatment of the animals who find their way to the doors of IACC.
Is that going to happen? Only, as Gerhart says, when city officials recognize that failure to adequately feed, house, and humanely care for homeless animals lessens our humanity.