Courtney is the Shelter Manager in Kingwood, WV.
She needs our help to keep her job. A Job she's dedicated to.
Courtney started a facebook page to advertise animals at the shelter.
This past year she had a 100% success rate at getting every adoptable animal out, either to rescue or adoption.
A few weeks ago, she posted a comment about how the shelter was without heat and water. This was during one particularly cold spell.
The commissioners, one Vicki Cole in particular, felt it made them look bad in the ey...es of the puplic and demanded Courtney hand over her Facebook page to them.
She refused, and rightfully so.
Today the first of Feb 2013, they suspended Courtney from her job.
This shows an absolute disregard for the safetly of the animals entrusted to these elected officials.
Over some petty image issue, 3 commissioners will endanger over 100 animals currently being held at the shelter.
This must not be allowed to take place.
Dear Preston County Commissioners,
Today I write to you having heard of the suspension of said Courtney from her position. I hope that I have heard wrong. It is so difficult to find a director that cares and that finds solutions leading to tangible results as she has done over the past year.
For too many years animals in your and many other shelter were wantonly killed for lack of effort or care. It has always been easier for some to blame others for an overpopulation and avoid finding a solution that works.
Together with all the animal loving voters in your county, I will be following the activities at the shelter very closely during the next weeks and months.
I would like to commend you as member of the Preston county commission for your service to your community. I am aware that there are always more problems than resources and that you stepped up to this position to do the best that you possibly can for the residents of your county.
In particular I would like to thank and commend you for the incredible service you have provided through the Preston County Animal Shelter. The whole state and animal groups nationwide have been impressed with the manner in which you turned a high kill rate shelter into one where no adoptable animal was killed for a whole year period. This is indeed an accomplishment and proves yet again that wanton killing of shelter animals is not necessary
I have personally seen the dedication of Courtney Austin, your shelter manager in this regard. I was very active in voicing my admiration for the Preston county commission based on their record this year. I will be equally active in support of those in your county that want to prevent a regression to a high kill shelter.
I hope that I will hear from you that all of this was just a misunderstanding and that your overworked underpaid star employee will be back at work, making you look good.
Yours sincerely,
