Pocono News Section

SPCA Fires Manager, Moves Pets

SPCA Fires Manager, Moves Pets - Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 5:00PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Thursday, Jan 17, 2008 @05:00pm EST
STROUDSBURG - There are some problems at the Monroe County SPCA. That's why the organization moved about two dozen pets from the center in Stroudsburg to the center in Philadelphia Thursday.

Chad Weaver the Director of Adoption Centers said, "Certainly we want to find more homes for more adoptable pets. That's our ultimate goal right now - to get more animals into homes that could care for them."

Laurie Fishinger found a stray cat recently. She said no shelter would help her. She explained, "I've been trying to bring this cat to the SPCA. I've called a number of times, left messages, nobody calls back.

The office staff has been overwhelmed dealing with Monroe County's pet population explosion. There were other problems as well. The organization fired manager Lauren Radick this week, after SPCA officials say she decided to euthanize a dog that many believe could have been adopted.

Weaver said, "We feel maybe not all the staff members were maybe on board as far as the direction that the Pennsylvania SPCA wants to go with the shelter here."

This is the second time the SPCA has fired a manager in less than a year. Now the Monroe County office has just two staff members. They're cutting hours while they reorganize. The SPCA plans to spruce up the building, improve relationships with rescue groups and put less animals to sleep.

"Nobody likes the job of trying to euthanize and animal. The staff will be the first to tell you that that's the worst part of the job. The more we can get away from that the better," said Weaver.

For the next few months, the Monroe County SPCA will only be open three hours a day four days a week.