Excellent article Jeff. I know your articles have ruffled some feathers, but I appreciate reading a perspective that isn’t being reported in our local newspapers. You certainly have given people something to think about…
How can so many people get so many things wrong. I have to ask: Is anyone in Sequim qualified to do anything? The amount of incompetence at a professional level is dizzying. Luckily, CC has Jeff to professionally inform us about our community. Otherwise, we'd still be relying on the PDN. Great journalism, Jeff!
This is dizzying. Someone on the board needs to be the communications director and only info from that person be distributed. You don't need a PR firm to speak for the board. Clearly, Ms. Ireland is out of her element. No one associated with OPHS should be afraid to be out in the public at events. This fear is a direct result of the extremely poor leadership. Sad.
If OPHS is getting county tax payer money, why aren't the board meetings open to the public? We have a direct vested interest in their operations and a right to directly see what they are doing. How is this any different from an HOA or school board? Oh, and why are the board members paid? That seems like an unnecessary expense. Look at all of the county and city boards that do a lot of important work without compensation.
they also have two properties that are tax free. The problem isn't some "misplaced/mislabeled" figures on a tax return (although, questions come up, why weren't these errors fixed with an amended tax return) its the scrambling around, now. The books (full financial books) and the board meeting minutes are supposed to be open to the public (unless that's another typo on the last 5-6 years of tax returns, also). However, repeated requests have been met with silence. Ms. Ireland likes to say it's a "private non-profit" which is about as crazy as saying "dry water".
Thank you, Jeff, for all your meticulous investigative work. A public forum is an absolute must. In a county the size of ours, it's an abomination to not have a viable operating humane society. I received a solicitation in the mail from OPHS just a week or so ago. Are they asking us to throw good $ after bad when they're not even open? Schedule that open forum now!
Obviously there are problems. It appears to lack effective management. If it was a regular business it would fail. A competitor would fill the void and services would continue. So what happens next as this spirals into insolvency? Is there an organization that can fill the void that is running effectively and can be scaled up with more support?
This OPHS business is a prime example of what my son in-law calls a “Cluster-F*ck” only it’s not just an absurd, confusing, laughable cluster, it’s one that effects the welfare of hundreds of innocent animals. 😭 Perhaps the whole organization needs to be gutted and started over again - with total financial transparency.
Let's collectively envision that Ethics Board which will have enforceable supervision/accountancy for any and all "agencies" which receive ANY public funding!
Aristotle documented the different corruptions of 'the governance by man'...that's why we no longer study Greek and Roman history...because we would recognize the creeping fascism and correct it early on...this is why we repeat history...the real narrative is obscured over time and replaced with distortions and lies and... we are relatively short lived so wisdom is not easily accumulated and passed on. This is why we need "Higher Guidance". Humans as a whole are currently incapable of self-governance. Whatever we believe in, we need to believe there is a higher better source of knowledge/wisdom to tap into for guidance...not choosing IS also choosing... and the dark forces BELIEVE in their 'god' and are actively utilizing that form of 'higher guidance' for their own ends. Many who don't know they are/aren't choosing ARE being used by those choosing to use the (small g) god(s) 'service to self' dark energies. The struggle is real...Thanks Jeff...We are not all in the same boat but we are all in the same Ocean! Blessings to all.🤓
I have always loved your type of journalism Jeff. It’s the type we used to have most of the time. Journalists now a days are so afraid of reporting the truth, the facts for fear of being ridiculed, black-balled, investigated, loss of employment or jailed. Most news & publishing companies are politicalized & don’t want the truth or facts to be known. Yes our government all levels are capable of weaponization just like big business, they all have very deep pockets. This is not news to most people who question, challenge or engage in fiscal responsibility of tax payer funds. It is well past time we all ask questions, it is well past time we all remain quiet while waiting for resolution. We need more people like Jeff who does the deep dive & more people to speak up & speak out to support those who do. It’s well past time for those responsible for mistakes & misuse of taxpayer funds, those responsible must be held accountable either financially or criminally, no more excuses or passes.
It seems like a perfect mismanagement storm that took down OPHS, agreed, and thanks for reporting on it! From someone that's been studying this issue and volunteering during this month gap for lost and abandoned dogs; it feels like it's combination of everything that did this. It's a systematic problem that starts at not even funding an animal control officer for Port Angeles, not prioritizing animal welfare at all. It's our community members not even bothering to pick up a $10 tag from Walmart to identifying their pet, so when it gets lost, hours aren't spent trying to find a volunteer to scan the pet (with outdated chip info) and running around trying to find the owner. It's the community attitude oh they just wander; leave them alone (1-5 dogs a day get lost and in the last 30 days approximately 8 dogs have been dumped). It's law enforcement saying, oh BTW you need to keep a dog 6 months if you pick it up; it's lost property. Hum how do you get a foster for 6 months? Impossible! That decreases our foster pool. Then what about funding at the system level for animal welfare? I don't see line items on any of the community grants for millions of dollars for the animals. Humans are just dumping puppies, that don't sell from their back yard breeding (which is not illegal), at the park. They are kidnapping and brutalizing loose pets with very little consequences. "oh that dog was stolen" or "that dog ran off I don't know what happened to them". What about stiffer laws and prosecution for animal cruelty? How about more supplement funding toward spay and neuter clinics? Vet care is expensive, we all know this. I see so many loose dogs that are not spayed or neutered perpetuating the problem of overpopulation. This is becoming the norm, not the exception. How about we train and spend time with our animals instead of dumping them; tying them up somewhere remote with no food or water? This is what the humane society has had to deal with people just dumping their COVID dogs, bringing in dogs from Jefferson County because OPHS didn't euthanize them, officials telling OPHS... hey just euthanize the dogs if you get overpopulated. Really? It has gotten that extreme. No wonder they broke. All our rescues are overfilled and now very little hope OPHS will reopen in this mass of confusion. So now what? As a community; I think we need to take responsibly for being good pet parents, we need to advocate with our city and county commissions to have money set-aside to fund animal welfare with a competent shelter (with oversight), financially supplemented spay and neater clinics, begin an effort to bring stiffer penalties for cruelty and back yard breeding; educate pet owners on training and support. And keep mind, these issues aren't just happening here, they are happening everywhere so we need to start looking at the entire system. It's not just one business that caused this! In my opinion, it's a breakdown of not making animal welfare a priority at the top level. Feels like an impossible task sometimes when you're out there volunteering.
On a note..there are a lot of what I consider to be strange,unusual, and weird " non profit" or" charitable organizations "" foundations" whatever that have just recently " popped up", recently in Clallam County,Port Angeles.Can I say definitively they are attached to scams scammers,tax shelters, other investment strategies that border upon schemes and frauds? No...I cant.But I am beginning to wonder.
Clallam County has Millions in "re-compete" dollars to hand out!! Jeff, have you thought about making CCWD a non-profit organization and seeing if OZ will give you any of those grant dollars?
Ozias heads the NODC, which categorizes me as a "colonizer" and says I didn't come from the right parents and my skin pigmentation isn't the right color.
I find it strange that a volunteer non-profit board would not just replace themselves, and let the new board hire a new executive director/kennel manager, whatever, and just beg forgiveness. Clearly they messed up -- and have been, for quite a while. Bad decisions (buying second building) and lack of oversight. Why not say "okay, we messed up, sorry sorry sorry". Open the books, open the meeting minutes and let the community see what they may. Why not? Its a non-profit for the public good -- not something that anyone of them OWN. It's owned by US, the public. It's why it is a non-profit, not a for-profit business.
Instead what we are seeing is amazing arrogance is to keep doing as they have been doing, and HIRE a PR firm, move forward with another fundraiser, and just spin defensive excuses, and lack of transparency. It's certainly Lady Macbeth-ish: guilt guilt guilt. You don't hire a PR firm unless you're trying to stay on top of the greased bull.
Inconsistent financial records, unusual behavior, reluctance to share information, high employee turnover (especially on the board), low morale -- all says white-collar crime, to me.
The OPHS board gave a sizable raise to their "executive director" from an average yearly of $72k to over $90k before this last "oh it was a bonus..and and and" nonsense. The records are clear. Who gets that kind of raise -- seriously? Around here... for a shelter manager, where in the country?
The purchase of the "kitty city" property is fraught with suspicion, as well. Why would ANY organization deplete reserve funds to buy a white-elephant property, to house CATS? Not that cats aren't cute and cuddly and furry -- but why does a county of 77k humans, need an 8,000 square foot monstrosity to house 70-something cats? And, if some of the building was for "future unregulated litter explosions" the county should have only given a full-property-tax-break to the portion they were CURRENTLY using, instead of for all of it.
Next, on every tax return on file (still viewable) with the IRS -- the form says (and this is something OPHS would put on the form" that they offer low cost spay and neuter services to the community. Heck, from what I've heard not only do they NOT do this, but the board is very resistant to ANY spay and neuter (and some animals go home without it). It costs upwards from $300 to spay/neuter (as MUCH as their adoption fee for kittens, when "not on sale"). Vet costs are high. So, given our subdued median income, wouldn't this service be more of a priority than the purchase of a palatial ex-driving-range clubhouse? It's supposedly their "mission statement".
Bad decisions -- indeed. However, this needs a full forensic audit, and a serious look at what has transpired. The full ugly view. Whatever duplicity and chicanery that has taken place -- should be exposed.
Not yet... I was down at Towne Road today, and it's going to be a nail-biter to see if I get that happy meal or not :) The guardrail is in, the surface is flat, and it looks ready for chip seal. We are down to two weeks of time left (paving season usually ends September 30th).
Another point the executive director hired makes $141K per year. That is more than a special secret service agent and a little less than a secret service director……UNBELIEVABLE HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN TO A NON-Profit IN LITTLE OLE SEQUIM???
Excellent article Jeff. I know your articles have ruffled some feathers, but I appreciate reading a perspective that isn’t being reported in our local newspapers. You certainly have given people something to think about…
Sometimes the truth hurts, right?
FIGURES DON'T LIE - LIARS CAN FIGURE
Thanks Jeff for your deep dives into county figures.
You're welcome Eric!
How can so many people get so many things wrong. I have to ask: Is anyone in Sequim qualified to do anything? The amount of incompetence at a professional level is dizzying. Luckily, CC has Jeff to professionally inform us about our community. Otherwise, we'd still be relying on the PDN. Great journalism, Jeff!
The world is full of dishonesty, Thank you for helping all of understand what can go on behind closed doors
You're welcome Diane!
This is dizzying. Someone on the board needs to be the communications director and only info from that person be distributed. You don't need a PR firm to speak for the board. Clearly, Ms. Ireland is out of her element. No one associated with OPHS should be afraid to be out in the public at events. This fear is a direct result of the extremely poor leadership. Sad.
If OPHS is getting county tax payer money, why aren't the board meetings open to the public? We have a direct vested interest in their operations and a right to directly see what they are doing. How is this any different from an HOA or school board? Oh, and why are the board members paid? That seems like an unnecessary expense. Look at all of the county and city boards that do a lot of important work without compensation.
they also have two properties that are tax free. The problem isn't some "misplaced/mislabeled" figures on a tax return (although, questions come up, why weren't these errors fixed with an amended tax return) its the scrambling around, now. The books (full financial books) and the board meeting minutes are supposed to be open to the public (unless that's another typo on the last 5-6 years of tax returns, also). However, repeated requests have been met with silence. Ms. Ireland likes to say it's a "private non-profit" which is about as crazy as saying "dry water".
Thank you, Jeff, for all your meticulous investigative work. A public forum is an absolute must. In a county the size of ours, it's an abomination to not have a viable operating humane society. I received a solicitation in the mail from OPHS just a week or so ago. Are they asking us to throw good $ after bad when they're not even open? Schedule that open forum now!
Obviously there are problems. It appears to lack effective management. If it was a regular business it would fail. A competitor would fill the void and services would continue. So what happens next as this spirals into insolvency? Is there an organization that can fill the void that is running effectively and can be scaled up with more support?
This OPHS business is a prime example of what my son in-law calls a “Cluster-F*ck” only it’s not just an absurd, confusing, laughable cluster, it’s one that effects the welfare of hundreds of innocent animals. 😭 Perhaps the whole organization needs to be gutted and started over again - with total financial transparency.
Let's collectively envision that Ethics Board which will have enforceable supervision/accountancy for any and all "agencies" which receive ANY public funding!
Aristotle documented the different corruptions of 'the governance by man'...that's why we no longer study Greek and Roman history...because we would recognize the creeping fascism and correct it early on...this is why we repeat history...the real narrative is obscured over time and replaced with distortions and lies and... we are relatively short lived so wisdom is not easily accumulated and passed on. This is why we need "Higher Guidance". Humans as a whole are currently incapable of self-governance. Whatever we believe in, we need to believe there is a higher better source of knowledge/wisdom to tap into for guidance...not choosing IS also choosing... and the dark forces BELIEVE in their 'god' and are actively utilizing that form of 'higher guidance' for their own ends. Many who don't know they are/aren't choosing ARE being used by those choosing to use the (small g) god(s) 'service to self' dark energies. The struggle is real...Thanks Jeff...We are not all in the same boat but we are all in the same Ocean! Blessings to all.🤓
You're welcome Robert :)
I have always loved your type of journalism Jeff. It’s the type we used to have most of the time. Journalists now a days are so afraid of reporting the truth, the facts for fear of being ridiculed, black-balled, investigated, loss of employment or jailed. Most news & publishing companies are politicalized & don’t want the truth or facts to be known. Yes our government all levels are capable of weaponization just like big business, they all have very deep pockets. This is not news to most people who question, challenge or engage in fiscal responsibility of tax payer funds. It is well past time we all ask questions, it is well past time we all remain quiet while waiting for resolution. We need more people like Jeff who does the deep dive & more people to speak up & speak out to support those who do. It’s well past time for those responsible for mistakes & misuse of taxpayer funds, those responsible must be held accountable either financially or criminally, no more excuses or passes.
I appreciate your words.
It seems like a perfect mismanagement storm that took down OPHS, agreed, and thanks for reporting on it! From someone that's been studying this issue and volunteering during this month gap for lost and abandoned dogs; it feels like it's combination of everything that did this. It's a systematic problem that starts at not even funding an animal control officer for Port Angeles, not prioritizing animal welfare at all. It's our community members not even bothering to pick up a $10 tag from Walmart to identifying their pet, so when it gets lost, hours aren't spent trying to find a volunteer to scan the pet (with outdated chip info) and running around trying to find the owner. It's the community attitude oh they just wander; leave them alone (1-5 dogs a day get lost and in the last 30 days approximately 8 dogs have been dumped). It's law enforcement saying, oh BTW you need to keep a dog 6 months if you pick it up; it's lost property. Hum how do you get a foster for 6 months? Impossible! That decreases our foster pool. Then what about funding at the system level for animal welfare? I don't see line items on any of the community grants for millions of dollars for the animals. Humans are just dumping puppies, that don't sell from their back yard breeding (which is not illegal), at the park. They are kidnapping and brutalizing loose pets with very little consequences. "oh that dog was stolen" or "that dog ran off I don't know what happened to them". What about stiffer laws and prosecution for animal cruelty? How about more supplement funding toward spay and neuter clinics? Vet care is expensive, we all know this. I see so many loose dogs that are not spayed or neutered perpetuating the problem of overpopulation. This is becoming the norm, not the exception. How about we train and spend time with our animals instead of dumping them; tying them up somewhere remote with no food or water? This is what the humane society has had to deal with people just dumping their COVID dogs, bringing in dogs from Jefferson County because OPHS didn't euthanize them, officials telling OPHS... hey just euthanize the dogs if you get overpopulated. Really? It has gotten that extreme. No wonder they broke. All our rescues are overfilled and now very little hope OPHS will reopen in this mass of confusion. So now what? As a community; I think we need to take responsibly for being good pet parents, we need to advocate with our city and county commissions to have money set-aside to fund animal welfare with a competent shelter (with oversight), financially supplemented spay and neater clinics, begin an effort to bring stiffer penalties for cruelty and back yard breeding; educate pet owners on training and support. And keep mind, these issues aren't just happening here, they are happening everywhere so we need to start looking at the entire system. It's not just one business that caused this! In my opinion, it's a breakdown of not making animal welfare a priority at the top level. Feels like an impossible task sometimes when you're out there volunteering.
On a note..there are a lot of what I consider to be strange,unusual, and weird " non profit" or" charitable organizations "" foundations" whatever that have just recently " popped up", recently in Clallam County,Port Angeles.Can I say definitively they are attached to scams scammers,tax shelters, other investment strategies that border upon schemes and frauds? No...I cant.But I am beginning to wonder.
Keep wondering. If your instincts are telling you to be skeptical, then definitely follow those instincts.
Great advice for many aspects of life.
Clallam County has Millions in "re-compete" dollars to hand out!! Jeff, have you thought about making CCWD a non-profit organization and seeing if OZ will give you any of those grant dollars?
Ozias heads the NODC, which categorizes me as a "colonizer" and says I didn't come from the right parents and my skin pigmentation isn't the right color.
What a shit show.
I find it strange that a volunteer non-profit board would not just replace themselves, and let the new board hire a new executive director/kennel manager, whatever, and just beg forgiveness. Clearly they messed up -- and have been, for quite a while. Bad decisions (buying second building) and lack of oversight. Why not say "okay, we messed up, sorry sorry sorry". Open the books, open the meeting minutes and let the community see what they may. Why not? Its a non-profit for the public good -- not something that anyone of them OWN. It's owned by US, the public. It's why it is a non-profit, not a for-profit business.
Instead what we are seeing is amazing arrogance is to keep doing as they have been doing, and HIRE a PR firm, move forward with another fundraiser, and just spin defensive excuses, and lack of transparency. It's certainly Lady Macbeth-ish: guilt guilt guilt. You don't hire a PR firm unless you're trying to stay on top of the greased bull.
Inconsistent financial records, unusual behavior, reluctance to share information, high employee turnover (especially on the board), low morale -- all says white-collar crime, to me.
The OPHS board gave a sizable raise to their "executive director" from an average yearly of $72k to over $90k before this last "oh it was a bonus..and and and" nonsense. The records are clear. Who gets that kind of raise -- seriously? Around here... for a shelter manager, where in the country?
The purchase of the "kitty city" property is fraught with suspicion, as well. Why would ANY organization deplete reserve funds to buy a white-elephant property, to house CATS? Not that cats aren't cute and cuddly and furry -- but why does a county of 77k humans, need an 8,000 square foot monstrosity to house 70-something cats? And, if some of the building was for "future unregulated litter explosions" the county should have only given a full-property-tax-break to the portion they were CURRENTLY using, instead of for all of it.
Next, on every tax return on file (still viewable) with the IRS -- the form says (and this is something OPHS would put on the form" that they offer low cost spay and neuter services to the community. Heck, from what I've heard not only do they NOT do this, but the board is very resistant to ANY spay and neuter (and some animals go home without it). It costs upwards from $300 to spay/neuter (as MUCH as their adoption fee for kittens, when "not on sale"). Vet costs are high. So, given our subdued median income, wouldn't this service be more of a priority than the purchase of a palatial ex-driving-range clubhouse? It's supposedly their "mission statement".
Bad decisions -- indeed. However, this needs a full forensic audit, and a serious look at what has transpired. The full ugly view. Whatever duplicity and chicanery that has taken place -- should be exposed.
Excellent journalism as always. Keep up the good work, Jeff. In other words…give em hell!
Oh! Has the fat lady sang yet?
Not yet... I was down at Towne Road today, and it's going to be a nail-biter to see if I get that happy meal or not :) The guardrail is in, the surface is flat, and it looks ready for chip seal. We are down to two weeks of time left (paving season usually ends September 30th).
I believe the deal was that it be vehicle worthy, no hard end date. :)
I believe that is "calorically challenged"
Another point the executive director hired makes $141K per year. That is more than a special secret service agent and a little less than a secret service director……UNBELIEVABLE HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN TO A NON-Profit IN LITTLE OLE SEQUIM???