STOP THE NEEDLESS KILLING OF ANIMALS BY ROSSIE HAYES

On 17 October 2013 the following excerpt appeared in a post on Face Book concerning the Columbus County Shelter:

"Yesterday, with eleven open kennels (at the time), the shelter took in 15 dogs from one owner who had passed away. These dogs were beautiful collie mixes and were all up to date on their rabies vaccinations (which is incredibly rare for this county). The shelter manager put them in the rear quarantine area, presumably to hold them safely while Loretta made space for them on the adoption floor.

Shortly after their intake, Loretta went back to feed them and found that all 15 of the dogs had been euthanized and their bodies piled on the floor. She was given no indication that the manager intended to euthanize these dogs; the fact that this was done quietly and secretively is one of the many concerns we have.

TODAY, with many dogs safely out of the shelter, the manager went out early and picked up two dogs and, without Loretta's knowledge, euthanized them, too. We do not even know if these dogs were strays; if they were, they were not legally allowed to be put down.

SEVENTEEN DOGS ARE DEAD AT THE HANDS OF ROSSIE HAYES for no justifiable reason."
(Since the petition was started, we have learned that Mr. Hayes "missed" two of the 15 surrendered dogs, so the actual number killed at Rossie Hayes' hands was 15.) 

Rescues and volunteers have long had issues with Mr. Hayes. He threatens to close the doors to rescues if anything is said that he does not like. Rather than working with rescues and the public to place adoptable dogs and cats, as most of the Southeastern NC shelters have opted to do in recent years, Mr. Hayes has little interest in working with anyone and often treats those who volunteer and rescue with outright contempt.

Rossie Hayes has betrayed the public trust that should be afforded one in his position. With the authority this position carries, one should have temperance and regard for all life. Mr. Hayes has demonstrated that he possess neither.

We, the undersigned, as concerned citizens of the United States of America, ask that Rossie Hayes be immediately relieved of his duties as manager of the Columbus County Animal Shelter, and further call for his permanent resignation.