We come in on the middle of this campaign, but the blog has to start somewhere.
Backstory: BARC is the Houston Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care and, despite the cute name and web site, a horrifically mismanaged city department under the Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS) ultimately answering up to Mayor Bill White (who aspires to the U.S. Senate). A BARC director has been hired and fired within a few months, ditto for the chief veterinarian. Long-time BARC volunteer Shelby Kibodeaux has filed an animal cruelty complaint against BARC only to be charged with filing a false police report, causing our Proubasta to organize a protest on the courthouse steps. Kibodeaux's trial date is in four days (Aug. 28) and the Mayor has responded to this mess by appointing business consultant Gerry Fusco who claims direct appointment by God (I am not making this up).... CLL
*******************************Backstory: BARC is the Houston Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care and, despite the cute name and web site, a horrifically mismanaged city department under the Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS) ultimately answering up to Mayor Bill White (who aspires to the U.S. Senate). A BARC director has been hired and fired within a few months, ditto for the chief veterinarian. Long-time BARC volunteer Shelby Kibodeaux has filed an animal cruelty complaint against BARC only to be charged with filing a false police report, causing our Proubasta to organize a protest on the courthouse steps. Kibodeaux's trial date is in four days (Aug. 28) and the Mayor has responded to this mess by appointing business consultant Gerry Fusco who claims direct appointment by God (I am not making this up).... CLL
Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Mayor:
You are obstinately forging ahead in the matter of Gerry Fusco. An animal shelter is not a business; no agency taking care of the dispossessed is! The money to run it must--must!--be used to provide the greatest comfort, best medical care, level of rehabilitation, and chances for adoption. Animal regulation and control is not a business, but a mandate of a civilized society. In his perception of the problem, Mr. Fusco is wrong from the start.
There is rarely sufficient money to run an efficient -- and let's not forget humane -- animal shelter. So can we afford to squander $208,000 on restructuring,
Either way, you the Council Members and the future Mayor, will have to continue dealing with me and a growing number of others. We will keep doggedly after you, as long as it takes, bringing national attention to this issue if necessary, until we are satisfied that the animals are properly cared for. Fusco and his predictable failure to resolve matters will only be another bone of contention between city officials and the voters.
Respectfully,
Dolores Proubasta
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