🌟 **Attention Spokane County!** 🌟
Have you heard about the upcoming event? The one-year remembrance protest is just around the corner, and we need your support!
Please take a moment to RSVP to the event, then share it and invite your friends and family. Your participation means the world to us.
Let’s come together to show that these lives will never be forgotten. We stand with the voiceless, now and always. 💪💙
Thank you for your support!
#WeWontBeSilent
ANNOUNCEMENT: We have received the euthanasia list for March 1st to April 1st. The numbers are as follows: 22 kittens and cats, 16 puppies and dogs, and 1 rabbit.
ANNOUNCEMENT: We have received the euthanasia list for March 1st to April 1st. The numbers are as follows: 22 kittens and cats, 16 puppies and dogs, and 1 rabbit.
Among the dogs, 2 were deemed dangerous by law, and 1 confirmed medical humane euthanasia. Therefore, 13 dogs were identified as having an irremediable prognosis.
As the community knows, Mars and Mister were on the list. The video we are sharing includes footage of 4 other dogs that we were able to identify using various methods we employ to keep track of activities at SCRAPS. We currently do not have complete records for these dogs, and as of now, we believe they were not given names.
March 8th, 2024, dog 63508 was killed. We know he was abandoned on Dishman Mica Road, and members of the community witnessed a truck speeding away. They rescued him and made several posts in Facebook groups seeking help before taking him to the humane society. However, on the same day, the humane society transferred him to SCRAPS, where he was killed. We urge the community to contemplate the situation. While we do not know if this dog was terminally ill, it was evident that he was not suffering. Additionally we do not believe he was a threat to the community, because strangers were able to pick him up, drive him around town without issue. We are curious to explore the justification SCRAPS management has for his death.
We do not have much information about the other three dogs we were able to identify; however, they were not classified as Deemed Dangerous or Potentially Dangerous.
Dog 63756 was euthanized on March 12th.
Dog 63063 was euthanized on March 15th.
Dog 30979 was euthanized on March 29th.
To provide context, from January 1st, 2023, to April 1st, 2024, SCRAPS has killed 149 dogs.
Notably, only 47 dogs were killed between January 1st and August 31st, 2023.
This means that SCRAPS has killed 102 dogs from September 1st, 2023, to April 1st, 2024.
#AdoptDontShop #ShelterPets
#WeWontBeSilent #AnimalWelfare #Shelt
🚨 URGENT PSA: We urgently need everyone's support at the City of Spokane Valley meeting on March 12th. This meeting will be different from others we have attended as SCRAPS will be on the agenda. This means that there will be no opportunity to speak during the open forum, and we will be requested to hold our comments until after SCRAPS has spoken. Your presence is crucial to show support for the speakers.
⏰ Time: Please arrive by 5:45 pm. However, we cannot predict the duration of the meeting or when the speakers will present. Please be prepared to stay for as long as you can.
📍 Location: Spokane Valley City Hall, 10210 E Sprague Ave, Spokane Valley, WA 99206.
Thank you for your support and participation! 🙏
🔊 Important Announcement! Your Support is Needed at City of Spokane Valley Council Meetings!
We need EVERYONE who can come to show up and wear black and red to support. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT MEETING AND WE NEED A SHOW OF SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY. Bring as many people as you can.
📌 Location: 10210 E Sprague Ave
⏰ Time: Sign up between 5:30 PM
🗓️ Date: February 27th
💻 Virtual Participation: Those wishing to give testimony virtually can sign up starting at 5:30 p.m. We will provide the access link once it is available.
🔍 Topics to Address:
1. Review of City of Spokane Valley Contract. Share your thoughts.
2. Violations of the contract. Provide evidence.
3. Identify where SCRAPS falls short in exploring all revenue avenues. Present evidence.
📢 Please note: If you wish to speak, contact us directly via messenger for more detailed information on the listed topics. If you prefer not to speak, your presence to support those who will is crucial. There is strength in numbers, and we must show that this is what the community wants. Change starts here, change starts with us!
The video showcases speakers from last night's meeting, some of whom were planned and others who were not. Nevertheless, we are grateful for the community coming together to address the growing need for change within our county. The animals deserve better, and as taxpayers, we deserve better too.
🔄 Feel free to share this post and spread the word. We can't wait to see you next week!
Please prepare to stay for the entire meeting and to mingle a bit after the meeting as well.
#WeWontBeSilent
In memory of Mai, a sweet and sensitive boy, who entered the shelter on June 19th, 2022 as part of a bonded pair with Tai. Mai’s file presents various complexities, but we would like to take a moment to highlight the positive aspects and delve into the factors that led to him being labeled as potentially dangerous. Firstly, Mai was an affectionate dog who was highly attuned to the emotions of the people around him. His file contains numerous notes confirming his gentle nature, such as “Mai leashes up and returns to kennel well. He is non-reactive to other dogs when walking by.” Another entry states, “Brushed Mai for the 2nd time today and he responded positively to the touch and attention from all officers and visitors while in the APO office for an hour. New note: Mai sometimes hugs tightly around legs and/or body with his front legs and releases when given a positive reaction with a gentle push off. Mai redirects easily and can now be handled all over the body and head.” These statements validate his strong ability to understand and please humans. Secondly, let’s analyze the circumstances that led to his classification as potentially dangerous. In short, Mai bit a volunteer without provocation while he and Tai were being taken out to the play yard. However, when examining the details, it becomes clear that there were specific factors that may have contributed to this sudden, out of character, behavior. Despite the volunteer having previously taken him out on multiple occasions. Mai had only been in the shelter for 21 days, and the shelter is an extremely challenging environment for dogs to adapt and settle into. Additionally, the shelter was bustling with people that day. A local news station had reported that the kennels were full and SCRAPS was in desperate need of adoptions to free up space. Both Mai and Tai were visibly distressed when being taken out of the kennels, likely due to the high volume of visitors. When the shelter is full of people, the
Decoding Data
SCRAPS Statistics 2016-2023
2023 Euthanasias
January 2024 Euthanasias
Today marks one year since Amelia's life was taken, despite having dedicated fosters committed to providing her a safe haven.
Today marks one year since Amelia's life was taken, despite having dedicated fosters committed to providing her a safe haven.
Today marks one year since the stark realization of the uphill battle we faced, and the impending challenges to come.
Today marks one year since SCRAPS began a calculated, disingenuous transformation, veering from true No Kill practices.
Today marks a year of tireless, but necessary advocacy for the voiceless, as we strive to bring them the justice they deserve.
Today marks a full year of SCRAPS management's relentless efforts to reclassify dogs, casting them as threats to justify unspeakable fates.
Today, we honor Amelia: a loving, affectionate, and eager dog let down time and time again by human hands. Today, we stand in unity with Amelia and the many others who have suffered due to this backward practice and mindset of death as a solution.
Let us reassert our stance: we will not waver, we will not be silent, we will press forward until progress and compassion reign.
#WEWILLNOTBESILENT
We regret to inform you that over the past three weeks, we have confirmed the tragic deaths of three dogs that we had been concerned about for quite some time now.
We regret to inform you that over the past three weeks, we have confirmed the tragic deaths of three dogs that we had been concerned about for quite some time now.
Reggie (ID 51374), Gemma (ID 57964), and Joey (ID 44038) have all been lost to us. It is suspected that there may be more cases, but we are unable to confirm this at present.
It is important to emphasize that we do not have access to their most recent records, and therefore cannot provide a complete account of what has occurred in the months since we last received files on them.
However, we do know that Gemma had been making remarkable progress in learning to trust humans during her time in the shelter. Many saw her as a prime example of transformation, as she entered SCRAPS super fearful, but did a complete 180 in her ability to trust. She became easy to leash, started to show her personality by doing zoomies, enjoyed snuggles and affection, and reciprocated the love being shown to her. We believe that someone may have startled her by inserting their fingers into her kennel, resulting in a bite and, tragically, her subsequent death. We urge everyone to never engage in such behavior. The shelter environment is highly stressful for dogs, and their behavior inside the kennel does not accurately reflect who they are outside of it. Regardless of how a dog may appear as you approach the kennel, please do not be quick to judge them, and certainly DO NOT put your fingers in the kennel.
Reggie did not display strong kennel behavior but would calm down once outside of it. It is ironic to note that SCRAPS is currently promoting the idea that not all dogs who display barrier reactivity are aggressive, yet Reggie's case presents a stark contrast. The last time we requested his file was in September 2023, and there were no reports of bites at that time. We are unable to confirm what has transpired since then.
We also want to mention that Joey had a few confirmed bite incidents attributed to his finder. However,
Addressing Tragic Circumstances: After Hour Services at SCRAPS
We are grateful for everyone's patience as we took the time to thoughtfully arrange the posting of this audio and carefully articulate the necessary description of this situation. As previously mentioned, we can confirm that in this instance, neither the after-hours service nor the on-call Animal Control Officer advised anyone to release the dog onto the streets.
To prevent any misunderstandings stemming from the call, we would like to address a few points. Firstly, we will explain that all City contracts with SCRAPS have limited services outlined for after normal hours of operation. For the City of Spokane, these services are as follows:
"Protection and enforcement services provided after normal hours of operation, referred to as Emergency Services, include the following requests for services depending on individual circumstances/severity:
• Abandoned animal
• Animal bite
• Animal cruelty
• Check on conditions
• Confined unsafe
• Dog at large threats (if dog still at large)
• Illegal tethering
• Injured animal
• Law enforcement or fire department assist
• Patrol for aggressive dog
• Sick animal"
We will provide a brief breakdown of our understanding of the circumstances that seem fitting for this situation and why the situation did not meet the requirements:
If you explore RCW 16.54 for an abandoned animal, you’ll find that a dog must be "in the custody of a veterinarian, boarding or kennel owner, or any person for treatment, board, or care.”
Additionally, this situation did not meet the requirement for "law enforcement or fire department assist" because the dog was found by law enforcement but was not a law enforcement situation. For example, if someone were to be pulled over for drinking and driving, with a dog in their car, and were to be arrested, that would be considered a “law enforcement assist”.
Another crucial piece to point out is that APOs are limited to what they’re allowed to do if the shelter policy is set. Meani
📢 Important Update: Ensuring Transparency and Addressing Concerns
Dear Valued Community Members,
As always, we take pride in our commitment to honesty and transparency. We acknowledge the delay in posting this update, as we needed ample time to research and create an appropriate response.
We would like to share with you some clips from the County Commissioner meeting held on October 10th, 2023. During this meeting, we had several speakers, and towards the end, after the open forum, Scott Simmons presented some information regarding the job requirements for the Director position of SCRAPS.
We have certain concerns regarding the statement made by the County CEO, as well as the timeframe in which this information was shared with us and the wider community.
Allow us to outline our concerns:
1. Since May 2023, we have consistently presented statements suggesting that the individual in question did not meet the job requirements. It is disconcerting that it took six months for a different narrative to be provided, which raises questions about transparency. The County claims he was interim Director for the first period of employment, however the hiring announcement sent by Cat Nichols and his own email signature do not have the word "interim", nor “intern” - which, we will discuss further in this document
2. Simmons claims, "there is no requirement of any of our employees to have WA state residency, that was changed by the Commissioners back in 2021. If it existed on any job specs it has been subsequently corrected on all of our job specs. Missing maybe a couple that are still hanging out there. So I want to repeat no residency requirements in WA state for any County Employees, it says the possession of a valid driver's license."
However, as of October 24th, 2023, a brief review of the county website indicates that there are at least 17 current job openings that do require applicants to possess a valid Washington state driver's license at the time of hire and throughout their employment. Consequently, these listings also imply
📢 Attention everyone! 📢
We wanted to take a moment to apologize for our recent silence. We've been extremely busy attending important meetings and working diligently to address and refute the wild accusations made by our CEO, Scott Simmons. You can find the first statement made on 2023.09.26 in the county consent agenda, and the second statement made on 2023.10.05 during the study session with the City of Spokane Valley. (Check the comments for links to both statements.)
Although our responses are still a work in progress, we believe it's important to share the information that was discussed in the most recent meetings: the 2023.10.09 City Council meeting and the 2023.10.10 County Consent Agenda meeting. We're committed to keeping you informed!
We would love to hear your thoughts on this matter. Drop a comment below and let us know what you think. 💬
We assure you that our commitment to the safety and well-being of the animals in Spokane County remains unwavering. We will not rest until justice is served for the wrongdoings that have occurred at SCRAPS.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support!
#TransparencyMatters
#CommunityEngagement
#WeWontBeSilent
#animalrightsactivist
#AnimalRights #JusticeForSCRAPS
July 30th marks the 6 month anniversary of Amelia’s death. We ask that you stand with us during this peaceful protest in hopes to :- Have an approval for an independent review of Amelia's case with the no kill ideology as a focus. - Reinstate volunteers who were wrongfully fired.- Allow the adoptions of Cooper and Bambi who have qualified adopters waiting for their release.- Do away with appointment only hours and open to the public on Sundays. - Terminate current management and replace them with experienced staff that will abide by a true no kill model.Things to keep in mind, and/or bring:- Protest Sign with a picture or catchy saying, please refer to example post- Water to stay hydrated- As much as we love animals, it will likely be too hot for them to join - A respectful and peaceful attitudeThis is a PEACEFUL protest. No violence, threats or aggressive behavior is welcomed. To learn more about Amelia’s story, check out our page. #animalrights #dogsofinstagram #shelterdogsofinstagram #nokillshelter #animalprotection #rescuedogs #spokanedoesntsuck #shelterdogsrock #adoptdontshop🐾
Oatly’s story is one with a happy ending, but would not have been without the persistence of his new owner. The first duration of his stay at the shelter was under leadership that dedicated themselves to make sure they would become the first No Kill shelter in Spokane, WA. However, things changed rapidly under new leadership and now dogs are being killed despite contracts obliging No Kill policies. Within a day of his new owner’s decision to adopt Oatly he was removed from the adoption list, and then listed, “awaiting behavioral assessment”. Heart broken yet hopeful, his tentative adopter knew to act fast and with tact. The shelter had already killed dogs by making up false behavioral problems. By attending an adoption event, his hopeful owner was able to out smart leadership that was dead set on killing dogs who had been there too long, had too much anxiety, or medical conditions. Oatly has been happy and thriving in his new forever home since May 19, 2023. Yet, many dogs in the care of SCRAPS are not as lucky. They have since listed over a dozen more dogs as “awaiting behavioral assessment”, with neither a set date nor behavioralist on staff to do an evaluation, and assessments models which research has shown to be ineffective in predicting behaviors outside of a shelter environment. Our goal is to spread awareness on this problem and ask that you stand with us! To learn more and access documented proof go follow our page and join our group. #explosingthetruthaboutscraps#dogs #adopt #dogrescue#animalprotection #scraps#breeder #rescue #shelter #animalshelter#dogbreeder #rescuedogs #rescue #dogsofinstagram #dogsoftiktok #Spokane #spokaneCounty #dogsoffacebook#Spokanedoesntsuck #spokanimal#spokanehumanesociety #animalcontrol#animalcontrolofficer #nokill #euthanisia#noethics
SCRAPS Leadership want to reduce access to pet food assistance for the community members in need. People down on their luck or in a hard place in their lives are having a hard enough time trying to get down to SCRAPS for pet food, and then to only be given a small bag full of food, that is absurd.
All because the Shelter Operations Manager Nick Hobbs-Doyle doesn't want to have to answer the door!
From an email sent by Nick Hobbs- Doyle"Today I had groups of people stop in for cat and dog food, which is what we would like to happen but several times today, I was asked for more and more. Yesterday, I had a man say his dog just had puppies and that's why he needed food. Maybe l'm grumpy from my cold or just from the up/down from the door bell, but I think that we have an issue with people expecting us to feed their animals.
So this leads me to my question, should we reduce and limit what people can take from us at one time? We give away gallon bags for dog and cat food and sometimes more than one.
My recommendation would be:
1. Reduce the size of food bags to maybe a quart bag. a. Its still enough to feed a cat for more than a couple days. b. Should feed a dog for a day or two.
2. Limit the bags to 1 per person. I want to say 1 per group but if two people come in together, I don't want to assume they are together.
a. I recognize that this may cause issues with people bringing their friends to take as many bags as they can.
My hope is by forcing them to come back more often, we become just inconvenient enough that only those who really need it will visit us.
I would like to hear your feedback. My understanding is that we are required by contract to maintain this, but I think we can play it smarter by using our resources for those who really need it."
People getting pet food from a pet food bank already shows the need. This mindset is going to cause further harm to already struggling people in our community.
The Spokane County Community should not be paying a w
