The Inhumane Humane Society Is At It Again

A contract between the City of Salisbury and the Wicomico Humane Society was drafted back in 1970, (40 years ago) stating the City would be responsible for 1/5th of the overall operating expenses of that facility.

Since that time, the Humane Society charter has changed and quite frankly the City is no longer responsible for that original agreement, yet they have fulfilled their end of the deal over the past 39 years.

That being said, considering all of the recent budget cuts, the City and County have reduced their funding to the Humane Society. In fact, the County has reduced their funding by well more than $100,000.00 a year. I'll get back to that later.

The City had paid the Humane Society $67,000.00 last year. In this years budget they reduced that funding down to $48,000.00. Now, rather than Pam Oland keeping tabs on this matter, the Mayor did not keep tabs on this agreement and considering the funding paid out to the Humane Society actually goes through the Salisbury Police Department Budget, Chief Ivan Barkley was told he had to reduce any and all expenses throughout the department and he did exactly what was asked. The SPD chose to reduce the HS budget by $19,000.00. Oland and Ireton screwed up.

Last week Linda Lugo sent a message to Chief Barkley telling him he had until the end of the month to come get his animals, (5 of which are quarantined by court orders) which also included other stray animals as the City had not fulfilled their end of the 1970 contract agreement.

The letter apparently went on to say that the Humane Society would no longer take in ANY animals from residents within the City of Salisbury. They demanded the Salisbury Animal Control also turn in ALL keys to the HS. WAIT A MINUTE, AREN'T CITY RESIDENTS CONSIDERED COUNTY RESIDENTS AS WELL? DON'T CITY RESIDENTS PAY COUNTY TAXES TOO? I DO!

Chief Barkley received this letter and immediately tried to make contact with HS Director Linda Lugo. Someone answered the phone at the HS and said that Linda had just stepped out but if he'd wait a second they'd go get her. They came back on the line and stated that Linda was now on vacation but she'd be calling in for messages and she'd return from vacation on the 1st of the month. Chief Barkley stated that this wouldn't work, according to Linda's letter. Mind you, the letter could have come from the Board, but it doesn't really matter and we'll have copies of the letters tomorrow.

What everyone needs to also understand is that the HS has REFUSED to deliver the services normally provided to the City of Salisbury for quite some time and they have also refused the normal services to the County, hence the Sheriff's Department picking up stray animals and so forth. This is something we posted quite some time ago.

Nevertheless, even though the HS has been PAID for certain services agreed upon by both the City and the County, they are refusing those services, (other than housing the animals) yet YOU the taxpayer have paid in advance for those services. The HS is stating due to budget cuts they can no longer provide those services.

Chief Barkley has been digging as deep as he can to find out just where the 1/5th of the City Taxpayers money is going. Linda Lugo claimed that she had provided that information but as the City has been digging into this for quite a while now, there's no evidence whatsoever that Linda Lugo has in fact provided such mentioned information. The City wants to know, WHAT ARE WE PAYING FOR and how does it equate to 1/5th in expenses. This is a fair question and this information should be made available to the City.

In the end, who loses what. Well, it goes right back to the old, people have forgotten where they came from. Bridges are being burned and the HS is not accountable to either the City or the County, yet between the two they provide almost 90% of their operating expenses. Linda Lugo has become way too big for her britches and quite frankly the woman needs to GO.

This is about the ANIMALS! Bribing the City Taxpayers and telling them as of tomorrow morning you will no longer take in any animals coming from the City of Salisbury is ridiculous. In these times, (especially when it is CLEAR that several people have miss communicated on this matter) it is a time to work TOGETHER. It is about the ANIMALS! Giving an ultimatum and forcing your hand has left a horrible taste in every one's mouth.

It should be known that the SPD Animal Control has been covering most animal related cases for the State Police, Wicomico Sheriff's Department and the Fruitland Police because the HS claims they don't have the money to cover it.

Here's a wake up call for you Linda, not that you'll care. I will start working on a plan immediately tomorrow morning in which I will consider building a brand new facility that will compete with the Wicomico Humane Society. I will accept the reduced funding offered by the City and County. I own 32 acres in Willards that will work just fine for such a facility.

We will do everything we can to relieve all taxpayers within the City and County from any more additional funding within a 5 year period. We WILL be accountable to the taxpayers and we will provide an unconditional service to those animals in need. Should the City and County agree to work with us on this new facility, I will front all the money necessary to make this a reality and again, after 5 years we can renegotiate new terms to better suit the City & County residents. Again, the goal is to remove any and all expenses to the taxpayer through donations and fundraising efforts.

I mentioned earlier the County had reduced their funding by $100,000.00 over the past couple of years. The County is responsible for 3/5th of the Humane Society's budget. Will Linda Lugo and the Humane Society Board be threatening the County next, or is their $250,000.00 a year worth of funding far too much for them to threaten the County with? One thing is for sure, the County has reduced a whole lot more than the City has, yet they haven't been told the HS will cut their services by September 1st.

I have spoken to County Executive Rick Pollitt on this matter and he assures me he'll be on top of it first thing in the morning.

In my honest opinion Folks, while I'd love to say stop making any donations to the Humane Society, that would make me out to be the same kind of monster Linda Lugo and the Humane Society Board have become. What you do is up to you. However, I will get the ball rolling tomorrow morning on a new facility and deliver a proposal in a very short period of time to the City and County.

One thing I can assure you of. There are quite a few unhappy former employees and volunteers from the Wicomico Humane Society that would be willing to help us out in any way, shape or form with a new facility. I firmly believe competition is a good thing but I need to know if we will have your support as well.

Please let Mayor Ireton, Chief Barkley, Sheriff Mike Lewis, Chief Mike Phillips and County Executive Rick Pollitt know that you support such a facility. My Wife served 18 years as the Vet Tech at the Salisbury Zoo and has even worked at the Wicomico Humane Society. We have rescued a multitude of animals over the years including fawns, eagles, 35 foals, ducks, geese, loons and yes, dogs and cats.

Unfortunately, (IMHO) the City will probably be forced to pony up the additional funding the HS is demanding. However, if there's another option out there the City and County can consider, my guess is that they'd welcome it with open arms.

Salisbury News has provided a rescue haven for hundreds of animals. We feel that if we were to participate in a new facility and post dogs and cats up for adoption they would easily find homes to the tens of thousands of people visiting this Site each and every day. When the Humane Society worked with us in the past we flat out emptied their facility at least twice. Other colleagues within the MSM have also agreed to participate in promoting our animal adoptions, should we create such a facility. Folks, it's all about the animals, not the almighty dollar.

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