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Finally
Petaluma Animal Shelter Manager Nancy Tavares
Resigned!
I think it was a serious mistake for the City of
Petaluma to employ Nancy Tavares to care for our
animals - an opinion shared by many residents.
- A feral cat ordinance written by animal
shelter manager Nancy Tavares and Petaluma
wetlands docents was presented to city
council with misleading information and council
passed a very bad ordinance in 2004. Since
then cats have been trapped and killed by the
hundreds each year. The same ordinance
also punishes feral cat caregivers who were
forced to abandon their colonies out of
fear. Nancy Tavares has an obvious disdain
of feral cats and she should never be in charge
of animals. She has spoken publicly
several times against feral cats and why she
thought they should be trapped and killed.
After the 2004 city ordinance the shelter was
responsible for killing almost 600 cats a year.
- Petaluma Animal Shelter accepted two
seven-year-old pure bred German shepherds last
July, 07. The dogs had never been
separated their entire lives and they were also
caged together at the shelter. Yoyo, the
male dog, was very dependant on his mate Wicket
and he showed severe anxiety when
separated. Shelter manager
Nancee Tavares adopted Yoyo and took
him home leaving Wicket alone. Ms. Tavares
euthanized Yoyo soon after she
adopted him and the reason she euthanized Yoyo
was due to "separation anxiety," she
said. Nancee mentioned no other medical
reason. (I have this conversation on video
tape and on a recorder). Petaluma Animal
Shelter did not contact the breed rescue in an
attempt to save these dogs' lives.
A starting
point to making Petaluma an animal friendly
city:
Animal shelter
employees need to take courses in humane treatment
of animals and if unwilling to conform, they
should be terminated. Animal Shelter
employees need to set an example for the rest of
the population by promoting TNR for homeless and
feral cats, educating the public about spay and
neuter their pets, teaching respect for all
animals.
People Making
a Difference
Since the
departure of the animal shelter management as
mentioned above, new management has changed
policies at the Petaluma Animals Shelter and our
animals have a better chance to a good
life.
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