AN animal welfare boss has been sacked following claims of cruelty to animals.
Peggy Langle, the executive director of the Santa Barbara Humane Society in California, USA, was axed with no official explanation.
But there have been persistent rumours about how humanely the well-funded society has been sheltering animals and how much money was being spent on them.
In the wake of the claims Langle was sacked in late August by the board of directors.
Board President Randy Douglas said: “The board became less and less confident with Peggy as the executive director.”
Since then, Langle has not responded to requests for comment.
The Santa Barbara Humane Society is not linked with the Humane Society of the United States which is based in Washingdon DC and is a national body.
However, it is hugely well funded having benefitted from a $30million endowment.
Langle, who had been in charge for 10 years, was the subject of complaints about low number of animals accepted, the overly restrictive pet admission and adoption policies, and the outdated facilities that don’t match up with the organisation’s glossy fundraising materials.
Others shelters in the area on much lower budgets had been performing better according to other animal welfare groups.
“When people donate their hard-earned money to nonprofit organisations, they expect their dollars to be put to good use fulfilling the organisation’s mission,” said Angela Rockwell, executive director of Animal Shelter Assistance Program (ASAP) cat shelter, which neighbours SBHS.
“To do otherwise is a violation of public trust.”
And Lee Heller, a longtime animal rescue activist, suspects that local donors to SBHS may believe they are donating to the Humane Society of the United States.
In fact, each humane society is an independent nonprofit operating under its own charter, with no affiliation to the Washington nonprofit organisation or other humane societies.
The 130-year-old Santa Barbara Humane Society’s five-acre complex boasts manicured green lawns and cheery yellow buildings with white trimming, including a spacious wood-lined front office, an expansive education building, and a veterinary clinic.
