BARC (Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care

[banking214]

More BARC news:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metrop...rg/6507536.html

The bit of good news I reported last week from the city of Houston

[banking214]

The first 3 pertain to BARC.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/6510491.html

Heart-breaking

Regarding Lisa Falkenberg’s June 25 column on BARC, the city of Houston’s animal shelter (“Finally, a bit of good news out of BARC,” Page B8): The “good news” concerning the fining of two veterinarians is depressing. While it may be a start, it does not began to resolve the problem.

I have always admired Houston for its compassion and willingness to help organizations, but BARC (the Bureau of Animal Regulation and Control) is truly a blemish on this city. The city needs to step forward and take the necessary action.

It breaks my heart each time I read about the inadequacies of BARC and the injustice administered to the poor animals. Why does the city allow Dr. O (chief veterinarian Eunice Ohashiegbula-Iwunze) to remain? If this were a city official who omitted information on their application, he or she would be gone by now.

Who in the city is responsible for this situation? Someone needs to take the appropriate action to turn this around. BARC definitely needs a complete overhaul with new people who are caring and willing to try new options to eliminate the way it currently operates.

Thanks to columnist Falkenberg, as well as to Chronicle reporters, for keeping the situation at BARC in the news. Although the stories are usually heartbreaking, the public needs to know.

— P.F. Samford, Houston

Where’s mayor?

Thanks to Lisa Falkenberg for keeping the Houston public aware of the goings-on at BARC. I am ashamed and appalled that a city like Houston is so unconcerned and uncaring about its city shelter and the welfare of the thousands of cats and dogs that are brought in each year to this facility.

Mayor Bill White should get more involved in what is going on at BARC, and get some straight answers from the city’s health director, Stephen Williams. Williams has no clue as to what policies are in place at BARC and what is exactly going on out there (Falkenberg column, July 2: “Spoke too soon on BARC, Director has faulty memory”). Has Williams ever been to the facility and witnessed the enormous amount of euthanizations that occur?

It is time to fully investigate this department and its personnel, and find out why BARC is in such a sorry state of affairs.

Everyone, from the mayor on down, should be on the same page when it comes to the welfare and care of the dogs and cats that have been brought to BARC. So many of these animals have been through some type of abuse, whether from neglect by owners or actual physical abuse. They do not need to go through any more trauma just because they had the bad luck to end up at BARC. These animals deserve a chance to be treated with vaccinations so they can recover and then be placed in loving foster or permanent homes.

— Denise D. Bryant, Houston

Third World

As a taxpayer, I demand accountability from all personnel associated with BARC, and I expect workers to adhere to all policies in the care and treatment of animals.

We have a right to know how our tax money is being used. BARC should be a shining star for Houston, but it is run and operates like a Third World organization.

[banking214]

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-2918-Houston-Animal-News-Examiner~y2009m7d7-BARC-Bureau-Chief-cut-loose

As of 3:00 pm today Ray Sim, Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care, will no longer be employed at the troubled city pound.

Sim, hired just this May, had already been drawing fire from volunteers for spending the majority of his day in his office, or his lack of presence in general, while allegations of dogs being starved at BARC by kennel attendants sparked community outrage.

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2009/07/barc_chief_fired.php

BARC Bureau Chief Ray Sim was fired today, spokeswoman Kathy Barton confirmed. She would not give specific reasons, saying only "I think it was just an issue of timing...[it was] not the right time for this guy."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6518255.html

Ray Sim, who took the helm of the city of Houston’s troubled Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care less than two months ago, has been fired, city spokeswoman Kathy Barton said today.

She declined to elaborate on why he had been terminated, noting that the city would not discuss “personnel issues.”

“It just wasn’t a good fit for us,” she said. “It’s obvious that we have some pretty dynamic needs at BARC, and we’re in a hurry to make some changes. That is not a negative reflection on Ray Sim at all.”

Edited July 8, 2009 by banking214

[sheeats]

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-2918-Houston-Animal-News-Examiner~y2009m7d7-BARC-Bureau-Chief-cut-loose

As of 3:00 pm today Ray Sim, Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care, will no longer be employed at the troubled city pound.

Sim, hired just this May, had already been drawing fire from volunteers for spending the majority of his day in his office, or his lack of presence in general, while allegations of dogs being starved at BARC by kennel attendants sparked community outrage.

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2009/07/barc_chief_fired.php

BARC Bureau Chief Ray Sim was fired today, spokeswoman Kathy Barton confirmed. She would not give specific reasons, saying only "I think it was just an issue of timing...[it was] not the right time for this guy."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6518255.html

Ray Sim, who took the helm of the city of Houston’s troubled Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care less than two months ago, has been fired, city spokeswoman Kathy Barton said today.

She declined to elaborate on why he had been terminated, noting that the city would not discuss “personnel issues.”

“It just wasn’t a good fit for us,” she said. “It’s obvious that we have some pretty dynamic needs at BARC, and we’re in a hurry to make some changes. That is not a negative reflection on Ray Sim at all.”

Obviously, if they couldn't even give someone two months to implement or effect change. I'm not siding with Ray Sim, but...damn. Two months? To me, that's a clear indication that NO ONE over there knows what they're doing (i.e., they shouldn't have made that hire in the first place). *sigh* What a clusterf***.

[EMME]

Obviously, if they couldn't even give someone two months to implement or effect change. I'm not siding with Ray Sim, but...damn. Two months? To me, that's a clear indication that NO ONE over there knows what they're doing (i.e., they shouldn't have made that hire in the first place). *sigh* What a clusterf***.

This is such good news, however, it is but treating the symptom not the problem. The problem is Stephen Williams. He has gone through four directors in five years. This is unacceptable. At the last meeting with BARC volunteers (a couple of weeks ago) he made it clear that he was upset about the leaks of BARC problems to the media. His next statement was that he would not hesitate to "fire" volunteers. His version of transparency. He was a liability to the current mayor and city council. He was not an improvement. Hopefully, this time, they will take their time, vet the resume, and hire someone that will reflect what the citizens of Houston want to see out of their Bureau of Animal Regulation and CARE. No Kill is the ideal we would like to go toward, but immediately, no unnecessary suffering. Fire the kennel techs that don't feed the dogs so they will have less to clean up. Move the staff that don't like and/or are afraid of dogs to another agency. replace the head vet who has a record of animal neglect and malpractice in her private veterinary practice. Vaccinate dogs on intake or prior to intake, national standard.

Just to name a few.

Hopefully, this is good news. But that remains to be seen. We'll know more once we see (if we see) what the process is going to be for his replacement.

[banking214]

http://blogs.chron.com/lisafalkenberg/2009/07/barc_needs_some_white_whoopass.html

Yet another startling development today from the compound of chaos that is the local animal shelter.

Ray Sim, the guy hired just less than two months ago to get the the city's Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care back on track, has been fired. The city won't give details on why, but insiders suggest Sim just didn't have the skills to handle the colossal challenges BARC presents

Edited July 8, 2009 by banking214

[banking214]

Selected quotes from, In the Doghouse – The Houston Press

By Wendy Grossman

November 7th 2002

We want to rebuild our image. We want to create an image of respect so people will cease to think of humane officers as just a bunch of dog killers.

Dr. John W. Williamson, director of veterinary services, May 4, 1969

We are terribly overcrowded. We just don’t have enough pens to segregate all the sick dogs from the healthy ones.

City veterinarian Dr. H. Don Rouse, March 14, 1971

If pounds were rated on a scale from zero to ten, Houston’s rating would be zero. I didn’t see anything being done right, from the way dogs were unloaded from trucks to the way they are put to death..

Belton Mouras, founder of the Animal Protection Institute, May 13, 1973

Dogs were held up by their front legs over the pile (of dogs) and the veterinarian stabbed them in the chest with a syringe containing the euthanasia solution. No attempts were made to find the heart, the proper site for intra-cardiac injections.

Sean Hawkins, executive director of the Houston Animal Rights Team, November 28, 1991

Quote from, Are Problems At City Pound Causing Pets To Be Put Down?

KPRC Troubleshooters story that aired Thursday, July 6, 2006.

“They came back and they return them because they have distemper or parvo, and you have to look those people in the face and say, “I’m sorry. I don’t know what else to say. The city is not giving us the money that we need to buy the drugs that we need to treat these animals.”

Michelle Haberland

Former BARC employee

Quote from, City Worker Defends Actions in Pound Truck Dog Deaths

By Stephen Dean, September 4, 2008

Beverly Tucker, who described herself as an animal lover and veterinary technician of 16 years, fought back tears as she tried to clear her name in the heat-related deaths during last week’s 95-degree Houston temperatures.

. . .she emerged from her break, she found the air was off and most of the dogs were unconscious or in distress.

Edited July 8, 2009 by banking214

[banking214]

As you are aware by now, BARC fired its most recent bureau chief yesterday afternoon. This means that BARC is now on its way to having five directors in five years (seven if you count interim directors). In this time, the Department of Health's, Stephen Williams, has fanatically convened a host of distraction tactics in an effort to keep you quiet on the problems at BARC.

While animals languish at BARC without proper feeding and care, Williams has wasted your time with:

1. Mayor's Task Force on Animal Protection

2. Mayor's Working Group on Animal Protection

3. Committees of the Working Group on Animal Protection

4. Evaluation Committee with Deoniece Arnold

and more recently...

http://www.examiner.com/x-2918-Houston-Animal-News-Examiner~y2009m7d8-Stephen-Williams-what-have-you-done-for-us-lately-Noahs-Ark-PAC-answers

With yesterday's firing of BARC Bureau Chief Ray Sim, Mayor Bill White has called for a "change agent" at BARC, according to the Chron's Lisa Falkenberg. Hair Balls hereby submits our application. We would have liked to talk about Hair Balls becoming that change agent (an expression we totally love, by the way) with White's spokesman, Frank Michel, but he hasn't returned our call yet.

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2009/07/barc_hair_balls_applying_for_j.php

[banking214]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ellen-susman/animal-welfare-and-the-do_b_241680.html

In Houston, there is a beleaguered section of road called the Corridor. A valiant team of people headed by Deborah Hoffman patrol that area and tries to help the animals that are dumped there. That's' right. Just dumped.

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2009/07/barc_filing_false_report.php

The Harris County District Attorney's Office has charged a BARC volunteer for filing a false police report regarding animal abuse he said he heard while at the city's animal control facility.

Shelby Kibodeaux was charged July 1 with the class B misdemeanor, which carries a penalty of 180 days in jail and/or a fine up to $2,000.

http://www.examiner.com/x-14953-Houston-Pets-Examiner~y2009m7d21-BARC-spends-200K--but-not-on-animal-care?#comments

But what he has done seems to have absolutely no relation to what BARC does. From what I could find, he has absolutely no experience in either animal control facilities or any municipal or government operations. Even Mr. Fusco's non-profit affiliations have nothing whatsoever to do with animals. He concentrates his pro bono time with faith-based organizations that help people find executive employment.

[banking214]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6544743.html

A Houston man charged with filing a false report said he is a victim of retaliation for complaining that an employee abused a dog at the city's animal shelter in January.

Shelby Paul Kibodeaux, 38, could face six months behind bars and a $500 fine for reporting that he heard a Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care worker dragging, manhandling and abusing a dog behind a wall.

“Absolutely, I feel targeted,” Kibodeaux said. “I just had to stand up for the animals. That place is a hellhole. There's no place worse that you could bring an animal.”

[banking214]

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2009/07/barc_puppy_down_drain.php

A stray puppy at BARC was placed in the wrong cage and washed down the drain last Thursday night, Health and Human Services Spokeswoman Kathy Barton confirmed today.

http://blog.bearshope.com/2009/07/27/more-dogs-down-the-drains-at-barc.aspx

What would a Monday be without more news regarding the troubled Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care? Last Thursday evening, a puppy fell into a drain at BARC and was unable to be recovered. According to the email I received, "A female and her three puppy litter had been improperly placed in a regular cage in the north kennel. Several staff members worked very hard to retrieve the puppy but were unsuccessful."

[4thGenHoustonian]

When is this madness going to stop? I hope their expensive consultant takes this as a big giant clue about the problems at BARC.

[banking214]

http://www.click2houston.com/news/20199452/detail.html

HOUSTON -- A puppy died after falling down a drain in a Bureau of Animal Regulation and Control kennel, where officials said it never should have been placed, KPRC Local 2 reported Monday.

[banking214]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6556823.html

One moment, Brad Lovelace's beloved dog, Coltrane, was in his garage, getting a weekly bath. The next day, he was in the agonizing throes of a fatal case of heatstroke.

What happened in between has become a bitter dispute between Lovelace and the city of Houston. The Kingwood man says his dog, a Labrador-German shepherd mix, escaped his backyard for about 15 minutes after a meter reader left his fence gate open. In that time, Coltrane was picked up by police and turned over to animal control, where he was caged inside a truck for six or seven hours.

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2009/07/barc_dog_being_hit.php

But don't worry. Bill White says he cares about what's going on at BARC. Williams said the same thing. Some City Council members have claimed, here and there, to care as well. Between a puppy being sucked down a drain to its death last week, and an employee with a history of criminal violence punching a puppy repeatedly in the head, Hair Balls has a question: We know it's not possible for city leaders to care any less about the animals in BARC's care; but could they maybe -- just maybe -- care a tiny bit more?

[4thGenHoustonian]

And here's another:

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2009/07/barc_dog_being_hit.php

When BARC volunteer Nela Brown accused a kennel attendant with a long criminal history of punching a puppy June 9, she assumed the matter would be investigated and the man would be dealt with accordingly.

Craig Malislow is doing a good job keeping up with all of this.

[banking214]

Craig should get some sort of award for all of his hard work he has put into covering BARC. No other reporter dedicates as much time or effort into the joke that is known at BARC.

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/local/090803_barc_meeting

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=6946501

http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou090803_mp_barc-consultant-worth-it.a5cbfaba.html

[kylejack]

These people should be bludgeoned to death with a baseball bat. I'm not even really that big into the animal rights movement but the things that are happening are just horrifying.

[banking214]

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2009/08/bailey_barc_bye-bye.php

Murray Bailey, the BARC kennel attendant accused of punching a puppy in the head in June, is no longer working at the facility, Health and Human Services Spokeswoman Kathy Barton tells Hair Balls.

We're waiting to hear if there's an official explanation, but Barton said Bailey was still on his probationary period and was therefore subject to at-will termination.

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2009/08/barc_firings.php

BARC went through some housecleaning yesterday -- in a big way.

In addition to the firing of veterinarian Eunice Ohashiegbula-Iwunze, other BARC personnel issues Wednesday included the resignation of Administrative Supervisor Dorian Strickland and a "disciplinary procedure in process" for vet tech Abiga Arredondo.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/breaking/6562361.html

The chief veterinarian at the city of Houston’s Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care was fired Wednesday, the latest incident to beset the beleaguered agency.

Eunice Ohashietbula-Iwnze was notified by letter Wednesday of her termination, said Kathy Barton, spokeswoman for the city’s Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the agency.

Barton did not know the specifics of why Ohashietbula-Iwnze, known as “Dr. O,” was fired.

“It was related to performance,” she said.

[kylejack]

New update from Malisow excoriating the Chronicle for failing to ask the right questions and maintain journalistic skepticism again: http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2009/08/fusco_falkenberg.php#more

[banking214]

Annise Parker sent out an email today titled, Controller's Newsletter. In her newsletter, she mentions BARC and gives some great ideas.

By so many accounts, turnaround expert-BARC Interim Director Gerry Fusco is doing an excellent job, but the city can save more than $100,000 and possibly find the right permanent BARC director if we start now, City Controller Annise Parker suggests.

“I recommend that City Council reject the pending four-month $158,500 contract extension and accelerate the search for a new permanent BARC director," she said.

Noting that city departments have cut budgets 3% in less than a year, she recommends: "Let's see if we can hire a permanent director in a month without slowing the positive momentum. If we can't, perhaps we can negotiate a lower month-to-month rate with Mr. Fusco."

Read more here: http://www.houstontx.gov/controller/mail/Newt0809i.htm

[gto250us]

Annise Parker sent out an email today titled, Controller's Newsletter. In her newsletter, she mentions BARC and gives some great ideas.

By so many accounts, turnaround expert-BARC Interim Director Gerry Fusco is doing an excellent job, but the city can save more than $100,000 and possibly find the right permanent BARC director if we start now, City Controller Annise Parker suggests.

“I recommend that City Council reject the pending four-month $158,500 contract extension and accelerate the search for a new permanent BARC director," she said.

Noting that city departments have cut budgets 3% in less than a year, she recommends: "Let's see if we can hire a permanent director in a month without slowing the positive momentum. If we can't, perhaps we can negotiate a lower month-to-month rate with Mr. Fusco."

Read more here: http://www.houstontx.gov/controller/mail/Newt0809i.htm

I don't know. Will the dogs suffer more because the city sped up the process in order to save a buck, or is the city just being prudent and not throwing more bad money down a rat terrier hole? Either way something needs to be done and folks held accountable.

[EMME]

I don't know. Will the dogs suffer more because the city sped up the process in order to save a buck, or is the city just being prudent and not throwing more bad money down a rat terrier hole? Either way something needs to be done and folks held accountable.

I worry the same thing. While $208,000 is a lot of money, it is money that should have been spent all along. I don't care the pricetag, if it can turn things around, I am for it. I am seeing and hearing good things from Fusco, regardless of the ridiculous slant of a story Lisa Falkenburg did in the Chronicle. I have the same feeling about him as about the money, if it takes a narcissistic messiah complex guy to get it done, give that man a mirror!