The Franklin County Humane Society has plenty of dogs and cats, but board members are scarce after seven of the current nine-member board suddenly stepped down.
"This was a surprise to everybody," said Angie Stewart, Director of the Franklin County Humane Society.
The seven members listed in the letter sent to city and county leaders include: former President Gary Buchholz, former Vice President Trudi Johnson, former Treasurer Stephanie Bramblet, former Secretary Holly VanMeter, former Membership Chair Robin Buchholz, and members Kristy Standifer and Teresa Masters.
"In their resignation they said that they were doing what they thought was best for the shelter," described Stewart, "I hate [the resignations happened] it, but it that's what it takes to make things better here then we're okay with it."
In the letter of resignation, former President Gary Buchholz listed off the boards accomplishments including, "Vastly reduced the euthanasia rate resulting in more than 1,000 dogs and cats being saved."
It then went on to read, "Despite the many improvements over the last year and a half, progress has stalled due to seemingly constant distractions and negativity from a vocal few."
The letter added, "It saddens us greatly that it has come to this, but we feel it is best for the animals, for us and for our families."
In the Summer of 2010, the shelter was harshly criticized when the manager, at the time, identified a family's lost dog as a coyote and had it released into the wild. While it's not clear if this issue played a role in the current problems leading to the resignations, it was a widely criticized move.
"I really try to stay out of all of that stuff," stated Stewart, who did not want to go into the details of the negativity referred to in the letter, but she did say she just wants to accept that it happened and move forward.
Still with only two members remaining on the board, the Humane Society cannot make any major decisions until the board is restored. As it turns out, this Saturday an election was already set to vote in several new members, but now it appears there will be more seats to fill.
