The St. Croix Animal Welfare Center sent out a cry for community help Friday after receiving no response when they inquired about a new contract and after many late payments from the government to partially cover work for which the V.I. Government is responsible.
The appeal was emailed and included names, addresses, and phone numbers for St. Croix senators, announcing the closure of the Pets from Paradise, limited services, and asking supporters to write government members to ask for financial support.
Becca Hughson, director of public relations and marketing for the animal shelter, told the Source Saturday that the non-profit organization started inquiring about a new contract at least a month before it was due, but received no reply. The previous contract expired Monday and since payments are usually weeks late, they didn’t want to leave anything to chance.
SCAWC has been under contract with the V.I. Government’s Department of Agriculture for many years. It performs a contract that is ultimately the responsibility of the V.I. Government according to the V.I. Code.
Currently, the $175,000 government allocation pays for 250 animals a year. However, the actual annual intake is between 2,500 and 3,000 dogs and cats, according to shelter statistics. Under the GVI contract, SCAWC is supposed to be an open-door shelter and welcome every animal delivered to them – even if they are sick or aggressive. Another $50,000 helps fund the spay/neuter program.
According to SCAWC Executive Director LaToya Petty, the organization is “in the hole $500k every year trying to fulfill the contract” taking on the stray animal population on St. Croix. She has been trying to communicate with the VIDOL for months, she said, to begin negotiations on the new contract, without success. Recently, she received an “aggressive email” stating the shelter will get the same funding as last year but said nothing about discussing the document.
Petty said she had to borrow money to pay staff this month and will try to raise $200,000 at the end of the year to catch up. They will depend on donations and fundraising to make ends meet.
Until something changes financially, the executive director said SCAWC will continue to do what it can but only will accept animals on a case-by-case basis, and spay/neuter surgeries will only be offered during specific privately funded events.
The SCAWC’s goal is to give all animals the best outcome possible, stated Petty, but “we don’t guarantee it with buckets of puppies being dropped off.” It’s impossible when we’re overcrowded, she added.
“We have been getting the grant for a lot of years, but haven’t gotten a raise. It’s not appropriate or possible to fund the entire thing,” Jackie Goodyear-Johnson, co-president of the SCAWC board, told the Source. “We don’t feel safe depending on it without a signed contract or money in the bank.”
