As well documented on this blog, a number of people from across the country have expressed their opposition to some of the city's animal control policies, especially methods of euthanasia. Our current policy states : "[S]taff at the Garland Animal Shelter will [use] injection of sodium pentobarbital for the vast majority of animals that must be humanely euthanized. Only vicious dogs, feral cats, wild animals, or other animals that present a significant danger to shelter staff when handled will continue to be humanely euthanized via respiration of carbon monoxide."
 
It is the latter method—carbon monoxide—to which they object, insisting it is inhumane. However, the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Humane Society of the United States recognize two forms of euthanasia as humane: sodium pentobarbital injection and carbon monoxide inhalation. Every inspection has verified that our shelter operates only within the guidelines. At least one member of the media has witnessed and reported on the method.
 
Over the past year, animal shelter staff and administrators have made a number of changes and focused additional resources to increasing adoptions. The Council increased the size of our Animal Services Advisory Committee and it has been meeting more often. They have been working on several recommendations to come to the Council. There is no question that there was room for improvements and further improvements are ongoing, but the constraints weren't inhumanity but shelter size, number of personnel, and budget limitations. Those impediments still remain as challenges but our animal staff has accepted the challenges and moved forward.
 
The city manager, as part of his 2010 Management Agenda, has committed to: Increase Animal Adoption Rate through the Animal Shelter.

• Increase Animal Shelter visitors through more public awareness; allocate staff time to enhance work with animal rescue groups and the community to promote animal reclaims, adoptions, and rescues,
• Present a departmental policy change that will regulate the enclosure requirements for pit bull terriers or crossbreeds thereof,
• Implement a new humane euthanasia policy that will minimize the use of carbon monoxide,
• Continue solicitation of donations to defer some budgetary costs of Animal Shelter operations, and
• Hold multiple community-wide adoption/registration events.

While some of the protesters may have been satisfied, it is apparent that others are not. Council members have been told they would try to unseat us. Unfounded supposition and misinformation are regularly spread in emails and on the Internet. It has been charged that we are damaging the reputation of the city yet they have attempted over and over to do just that.
 
A couple days ago, Council members received four emails with identical messages from the same company. I offered to company management to share factual information. I have since learned that those sending the emails did not represent company views and were violating company policies. Rather than react with contrition, their tactic has been to continue their attacks. This email was received today by the Mayor and Council:

 
THE REPREHENSIBLE DOUGLAS ATHAS
 
Yes, Mr. Athas’ bad behavior today has been widely circulated. For those of you not aware of his antics, Mr. Athas as many of you did received e-mails from a Garland Citizen and some of her co-workers asking that the Gassing be discontinued at the Shelter. They made the mistake of sending the messages from their work e-mail addresses.
 
Mr. Athas took it upon himself to look up the name of the CEO of this woman’s employer, make unsolicited contact with this CEO, and promise to forward any future messages to him. You may read for yourselves below.
 
"We seem to have a sudden rash of interest by your employees into our animal control center. Unfortunately, they seem to be poorly informed of our policies and the actual practices of our animal control department. If you would like factual information to share with employees, we would be happy to provide it. I will forward other messages from your company. Thank you, Douglas Athas."
 
By taking the time to look up the CEO of this company, and sending him this message unsolicited, Mr. Athas clearly demonstrates malicious intent. It is not the role of a City Council Person to endanger or put at risk the livelihood of a citizen. Nor, is the role of a City Council Person to engage in actions that could be considered intimidating, thus violating a citizen’s civil right to express their opinions. There is no excuse for Mr. Athas’ behavior.
 
At the very least, Mr. Athas owes this lady a written apology. Further, I am asking you, Mr. Mayor, and the Council to hold Mr. Athas accountable for this inappropriate behavior in the form of Public Censure. If you fail to do so, then you endorse his behavior and that would make you as reprehensible as he is.
 
Mr. Mayor, I expect no response from the Council, but I would like a response from you. You have always taken the moral high road since I have known you and I would be disappointed if you did not do so now.
 

 
The night before, I received a voicemail from a woman at a blocked number:

 
I don't live in your city—I live in Houston—and I'm very active in letting the world know that your city council gasses animals, and I just read on the gassing Garland website that you contacted a CFO of a company complaining because people in his company contacted your office regarding gassing animals. If that is not a Nazi...type...of thing to do, I don't know what is. We live in a free world and people are allowed to complain and you don't need to go the a CFO to let him know his employees are doing that. That, mister, is the worst thing any human being can do...besides gassing animals. You are a...worthless...piece of trash.
 

 
My entire message to the company is accurately presented above. No complaining. No attacking anyone. Everything that has been said is based on that single message. Obviously my offer to share the facts rather than emotion was not well received by some. It is point blank stated that I'm at fault for the improper actions of others; they are the innocents. You can see the other logical inconsistencies in the accusations—I don't need to dwell on them and choose not to.
 
Rather than ignoring scientific facts and blaming others, I would prefer to once again encourage those that want to help to do so in constructive ways. Our animal shelter is too small: help raise funds for a new one because there will be no bond packages for several years. We have limited personnel: work amiably with our staff to reduce their time constraints and burdens rather than the opposite. We have a very limited budget and it won't be better for several years: every bit of help to the animals goes a long way.