PLEASE READ: There will be a press conference tomorrow CALLING FOR THE RESIGNATION OF DIRECTOR HARRIS AT 10:00 AM ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF THE REGIONS BUILDING AT 333 TEXAS STREET IN SHREVEPORT. If you can attend, please do. We need every person to be there in support of his firing or resignation. The Director of Caddo Parish Animal Services CAN NOT be allowed to continually threaten, harass, and discourage volunteers. This is not at all the first time, but we can sure try to make it the last! Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2014 3:25 PM Subject: Threatening Incident at CPASMC Dear Commissioners, I ask that you please read my written statement on the events that occurred today and I beg that you take action. On August 13, 2014, at 10:30, I had a meeting with the Shelter Manager and Adoptions Coordinator at Caddo Parish Animal Services shelter. As I sat down with both of them, Mr. Harris, Director, walked into the room, grabbed a piece of paper off the table that I had tried to pass to the shelter manager, and asked what I was trying to do. I responded that I was simply trying to meet with and make some small suggestions to help get more animals out of the shelter alive. He responded with Reed, dont you ever walk your butt in here again and tell the workers how to do their jobs, meeting over. Mr. Harris then stormed out of the room with both workers following him. I asked one worker, the adoptions coordinator, to ask Mr. Harris to come talk to me so I could apologize for the miscommunication and simply tell him what I was trying to do. He started walking back, stopped at the door, and addressed Chuck Wilson, the Assistant Director, and stated in a very loud tone Chuck, did you know what they were trying to do. He came in and sat down with the assistant director and the shelter manager. From there, I apologized repeatedly to Mr. Harris and stated that I was simply trying to make some small suggestions to help get dogs out of the shelter alive, and that I never tried to tell any worker how to do their job, just make constructive suggestions. He stated that if I wanted to help him, I should go talk to the general public and not the shelter staff. I stated from there that I have done so, going door to door in Caddo Heights, and explaining the current targeted spay/neuter initiatives that he refused to partner with us on, which I stated was okay. He proceeded to tell me that I could help him by taking 300 dogs right now, then, when I said I couldnt do that, he proceeded to harass me, by lowering the number again and again, and asking me if I could take that many. He also told me that they had schooling in shelter management, and that your butt, coming off the street, isnt going to tell us how to do things. I explained that I was simply attempting to make minor suggestions to help get more dogs out alive, based on my experiences with rescues and being at the shelter for more than a year as a rescue volunteer. Later, he told me that I would never set foot in his stray hold area. Despite the fact that I am granted access to the cat stray area multiple times a week, he told me that I would never set foot in the dog stray area, after I had suggested that there were dogs being euthanized that we could find rescues for. I stated that, same as our policy for cat stray hold, we could simply put a note on a dog’s kennel that said if this dog isnt redeemed or moved to adoption, instead of euthanasia, we could move it to a rescue, saving money and a dog’s life. At first, Mr. Harris specifically told me it was against the law for me to set foot in the stray area. I corrected Mr. Harris, stating that no law prohibits me from setting foot in the stray area, and he then said Well then I am telling you, you will NOT set foot in the stray area of this facility. I asked for a reason why, and he stated that I had selective hearing, that no matter the reason why, I was not going to be allowed into the stray area as an animal rescuer. Lastly, he told me that one day, when I was older and wiser, I would realize that what I was doing was a waste of time. Lastly, Mr. Harris accused me of having one of my cronies, as he referred to her as, of taking pictures of animals in stray hold and posting them on Facebook, attempting to find the owner. Not only was this not true, I was the person who, after finding out about the pictures, went out of my way to have them removed from Facebook, to contact the woman and tell her this was against the rules of the shelter, then I went even further and called Mr. Wilson to apologize and let him know that not only was she not affiliated with me, I corrected the situation to the best of my ability. I, in fact, did not even know the woman. Mr. Harris then asked if I had any more questions, I replied that I did not, and he and the staff all left the room, leaving me alone in the conference room, breaking Mr. Harris’ own policy of escorting all visitors around the facility. From there, I had to find my own way out of the facility. Throughout the 20 minute conversation, Mr. Harris repeatedly made disparaging remarks aimed at my youth, which I found quite insulting. I found his raised tone of voice, hostility, and demeanor very threatening, especially considering I was only there with good intentions, and to make small suggestions aimed at helping the shelter and the parish save lives and money. Even if the suggestions were denied, I felt as though the least Mr. Harris could have done is treated me with respect, not made disparaging comments aimed at my age, my job, and me in general. I also found his mocking of my attempts to get dogs out alive, rather than through euthanasia, very insulting and unprofessional. Lastly, I found his hostility and threatening demeanor toward a person who has worked with the shelter to find more than 350 animals homes through rescue pulls, saving the parish hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, highly unprofessional at the least, if not grounds for removal. I believe that Mr. Harris should not speak to any member of the public in a threatening manner, as that also breaks his own policy, and in many work places, is grounds for immediate removal. I am currently the Vice-President of Companions of Caddo Parish Animal Shelter and the President and Chief Executive Officer of Shreveport Bossier Animal Rescue. Between the two groups, we make up nearly every rescue pull from the shelter, and are currently two of the very few organizations that work with Caddo Parish Animal Services. I have personally been at the shelter coordinating rescue pulls more than 100 times over the past year, and this is not the first time I have been subjected to harassment and unprofessionalism by Mr. Harris, but it is the first time I have spoken up, due to his threatening nature. I have been able to pull more than 350 animals from Caddo Parish Animal Services, and am constantly doing anything I can to help the shelter. However, I am afraid of returning to the shelter, and likely will not do so for some time. This is due to the threatening nature of the director, and my own safety and well-being. If I do return at any time, I would do so only with escort. I beg of the commissioners to please do something to help me. I simply want to get dogs and cats out of the shelter alive, and be allowed at the shelter without fear of my own well-being. Sincerely, Reed S. Ebarb Vice President Companions of Caddo Parish Animal Shelter & President & CEO Shreveport Bossier Animal Rescue
Posted on: Thu, 14 Aug 2014 00:30:01 +0000
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