Agency officials pledge change

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WAILUKU - Maui Humane Society officials said they will respond to issues raised at the agency's annual meeting and will begin making changes recommended in an investigation spurred by the departure of longtime animal control director Aimee Anderson.

Responding to questions at the end of the nearly three-hour public meeting Monday night, board members said they wouldn't release the report by Business Consulting Resources Inc., an Oahu firm hired last fall to investigate circumstances surrounding Anderson's departure.

"We cannot share the report itself," said Candy Aluli, first vice president of the board. "But we can certainly make a list of the directions we're going to be taking, the things we feel like we need to change."

Asked how many recommendations would be followed, Aluli said: "We're doing everything that was identified in the report."

When some in the audience asked about reinstating Anderson, Aluli said: "They did not recommend reinstating Aimee."

Board member David Cain, an attorney, said former employees and others interviewed as part of the investigation were promised confidentiality and told their comments wouldn't be shared.

Among those interviewed was Peter Tierney, a former director of development, who said he was fired after complaining about Chief Executive Officer Jocelyn Bouchard's management practices.

"I'm happy to have what I said be public knowledge, just like my personnel file," Tierney said. "I challenge you, David."

Anderson, who was applauded when she spoke, said: "I did not deserve to be fired. I was silent in the press for months because I chose to take a higher road. I'd like to think I have been a professional, and I don't think that's always been the case with the CEO or the board."

More than 150 people, including Maui Humane Society employees, showed up for the meeting, which turned contentious at times. Some people sat on the floor and others stood inside and outside the meeting room at the Cameron Center in Wailuku.

The turnout followed recent public criticism about the agency's operations. Some former board members and former employees have said Bouchard and board President Anthony Levoy exert too much control over the organization.

The nonprofit agency's euthanasia practices also have come under scrutiny, after a Wailuku family's pet dog was mistakenly euthanized last August.

Despite a Maui County law requiring stray dogs to be held at least 48 hours, the 5-year-old blue heeler named Lady was euthanized the day after she was brought in to the shelter when she was mistaken for an aggressive male dog of the same breed.

Nancy Fisher, chairwoman of the Maui County Animal Control Board, urged owners to leash their dogs and have them identified with tags or microchips.

"If any one of those things had been done, Lady's tail would still be wagging, and we would not have any more tragic accidents which no one wants to happen," Fisher said.

With room for 210 animals on any given day and 27 new animals being admitted daily at the Puunene shelter, about 60 percent of animals were euthanized last year.

"The thing the community needs to do is get the word out about spaying and neutering," said Hana resident Tom Nunn.

Dr. Miyo Kim, the Humane Society's director of veterinary services, said the agency has increased low-cost spaying and neutering surgeries from about 40 animals a month in 2004-05 to 87 a month this fiscal year. It has also worked with the nonprofit Feline Foundation of Maui to increase spaying and neutering of feral cats, more than doubling the number of monthly surgeries to 55 this fiscal year, up from 25 the previous year.

"We feel that kitten season's gotten a slow start," Kim said, crediting other spaying and neutering efforts by the Feline Foundation and the nonprofit 9th Life Hawaii. She said 9th Life has partnered with the Humane Society to take underage kittens that need to be bottle-fed before they are ready for adoption.

Bouchard encouraged people "to focus on the many, many positive things our agency accomplishes."

"Mistakes and missteps are being addressed," she said. "We need to be able to move forward."

Some in the crowd took applications for the volunteer board of directors, which currently has nine of its 21 positions filled.

"I think that the meeting was productive in that the community had a chance to air a lot of grievances that they feel with the Humane Society," Cain said afterward. "I was disappointed with a lot of the reaction of some people. It just wasn't the proper place and time."

He said he was pleased the agency received a top rating in its financial audit.

Bouchard said some people at the meeting raised past issues that don't apply for current employees.

"A lot of what was said was tough to hear and was hurtful. I think it brought everybody closer together," she said Tuesday. "The way I see it, clearly people are upset with me personally and have lost some faith in me personally. That's my responsibility to build that faith back up. I'm getting a lot of support from my peers, my staff, my board.

"I also hear that these people feel otherwise. That's a challenge for me to overcome and a challenge for our agency. We're all up for the challenge."

* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.