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Can't Hoover Ridge money go to Heller?

By Letter to the editor
Published: August 14, 2008

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Editor:

If past experience has taught us anything about operating an animal shelter, it is that managing a shelter is a difficult job, requiring the attention and commitment of a full-time person. The hiring of a full-time manager at the Madison County Animal Shelter six years ago was a real step forward.

Now after six years of competent management by Carol Heller, her position has been eliminated even though it was approved and funded by the Madison County Board of Supervisors in June.

During her tenure at the shelter, Ms. Heller managed it in a manner approved by state inspectors, was conscientious in enforcing the spay/neuter law of Virginia, gave many animals a second chance at adoption by placing them with rescue groups, and treated the animals with kindness and compassion.

So what does our board do with such a qualified person? It fires her, supposedly to save money, but how much more will be paid to the animal control officers who will now manage the shelter?

This from a board that is spending $1 million of taxpayers’ money on 11 – count ’em – 11 — athletic fields.

Carol McHale
Pratts