The yearlong crusade for reform at the Smithtown Animal Shelter has prompted Smithtown Council Members to band together, in support of taxpayers and animals alike. Outcries from Shelter Volunteers requesting wet food, cleaner facilities and an improved record keeping system, have been demanded, repeatedly at every Town Board meeting, in the last year. At the March 3rd board meeting, an unanimous vote was adopted to transfer the necessary funds to provide shelter animals with wet food, cleaning supplies and a bookkeeping system that will track Veterinary treatments, medications, spay/neuter and other surgical procedures as well as provide financial accountability. In addition to the adopted resolution, weekly progress reports from the Animal Activist advisory committee included a strategy to assure a 100% adoption rate. Videos, photos and social media campaigns are currently being collected to open awareness and encourage rescuing a shelter animal from Smithtown.
Councilman Ed Wehrheim ensured us that he and his fellow council members are listening at every meeting, cutting through red tape to help the animals.
“It’s our civic duty to really hear what residents are saying, during the public portions of Town Board meetings. We brought in a top Animal Shelter Architect to improve conditions at the Shelter. We moved funds specifically for a quality of life improvement for the animals and brought in the toughest animal rights and shelter critics on Long Island to meet weekly with Councilwoman Nowick’s action committee. We are hearing all of our community members concerns… and we are taking action for them.” -Councilman Wehrheim
While some residents are pleased with the headway towards shelter rehabilitation, many are looking to cut off the proverbial head, demanding the resignation of Director Beatty. At the February 26th board meeting, two separate affidavits from Smithtown residents were served during the public portion. Each complaint, to be investigated by the Town Attorney, cited a series of alleged civil and criminal violations, carried out by the shelter’s Director. Allegations included official misconduct, civil rights discrimination toward individuals with disabilities, unlawful harassment/intimidation, misappropriation of funds, animal cruelty and failure to provide animals with proper sustenance. Each affidavit must include legitimate evidence/exhibits supporting allegations, for an investigation to be founded.
Despite these allegations and the ongoing movement which targets the Director specifically, George Beatty is cooperative with Councilwoman Nowick and the Animal Shelter Advisory Council and is working to set up record and accounting systems, supply wet food and maintain a cleaner environment for the animals. This collaborative effort, originally began for innocent creatures in need of a second chance… stop by the Animal Shelter to view its progress or help rescue a loving new friend, or visit online adoptions.