September 14, 2010

Breaking News on SD Humane Society

San Diego Humane Society to cancel contract with Oceanside

By The Associated Press,
Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 7:07 a.m.

OCEANSIDE, Calif. — The San Diego Humane Society said it will not renew its animal control contract with the city of Oceanside next month because the agency has been criticized for euthanizing animals that could be saved.

The Humane Society's contract expires at the end of October, leaving the city with no way to pick up and care for stray animals.

The agency on Monday notified city officials of the decision via e-mail. Humane Society President Mark Goldstein said the criticism from some former volunteers about its actions was a distraction.

Goldstein said he's willing to work with Oceanside during a six-month transition period if needed.

Information from: North County Times, http://www.nctimes.com/

AND FROM CHANNEL 10 NEWS
(FOR VIDEO GO TO http://www.10news.com/news/25012116/detail.html)
Humane Society Won't Renew Oceanside Contract


POSTED: 4:53 pm PDT September 14, 2010
UPDATED: 9:12 pm PDT September 14, 2010

OCEANSIDE, Calif. -- Thousands of stray animals from Oceanside will no longer be welcome at the San Diego Humane Society's north campus because Oceanside's contract for animal control services has been canceled.

The canceling of the contract by the San Diego Humane Society came as a shock to Oceanside city leaders. Since the 1960s, the city's stray animals have been brought to the shelter.

The San Diego Humane Society took over shelter operations in January and with that took over the contract negotiations for Oceanside's animal control services.

"We thought the negotiations were going fine," said Oceanside city real estate manager Douglas Eddow until he received an e-mail from San Diego Humane Society Director Dr. Mark Goldstein.

"They indicated that they wanted to pursue what they normally do as a humane society and they thought it would be a little more difficult if they continue the animal control animal sheltering services for Oceanside," said Eddow.

In recent months, the San Diego Humane Society has been under fire by animal rescue groups who have called into question the nonprofit's policies, especially how many animals they euthanize.

Kris Nelson, a former volunteer, has since formed an Oceanside-based rescue group.

"Was the money coming in from the $700,000 dollars contract enough to put up with the disruption? People asking questions about his operation? He's not used to that," said Nelson.

The director of San Diego’s Humane Society was unavailable for an interview but in a written statement to 10News, the human society said the change is an effort to focus on their "core services and education programs" and that "we believe we can have an even greater positive impact on the animals and Oceanside community."

The contract is set to expire October 31 but the animals' future remains uncertain.

"It means that the strays will be running in the streets," said Nelson.

The humane society has promised a transition period.

"We need to negotiate the terms of that six-month extension to transition," said Eddow.

Nelson has already been out searching for a new shelter facility alternative and said she remains hopeful.
"There are lots of things we can do that San Diego Humane refuses to because it does not bring in money," said Nelson. "We want to do things to help the animals. We want to be a true humane society and we can do it."
The San Diego Humane Society also contracts with the city of Vista for its animal control services, which they plan to continue

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