At Contra Costa Animal Services, various volunteers who speak out for shelter reform are being ‘fired’, rescuers have been denied the ability to save animals, volunteers have been questioned about private donations made to our organization, and management brazenly denies potential volunteers by citing social media comments questioning shelter policies. These actions are clearly illegal, but more importantly, they get in the way of progress. ............. This is a violation of federal law, so-called Section 1983, which applies to anyone who is acting as an authority under state law – including our county shelter management. Section 1983 protects our right to freedom of speech, the right to advocate for reform, and to do so without injury or the loss of the ability to rescue and volunteer. Litigation elsewhere has confirmed the law’s application to public animal shelter situations in which officials retaliate against volunteers. Let this serve as a warning: volunteers and rescuers ARE winning these lawsuits.
Posted on: Fri, 02 Jan 2015 17:47:47 +0000
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