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EDITORS NOTE: The phrases and opinions beneath belong to the writer. However, RCBJ has independently verified from testimony, paperwork and pictures that the Hi Tor Animal Care Center in Pomona was in a state of extreme neglect and cruelty to animals earlier than the Executive Director took the reins in January. In addition to vile bodily situations, the shelter was saddled with debt and unpaid payments, together with Debbie DiBernardo’s $30,000 authorized charges after being indicted for issuing fraudulent paperwork. DiBernardo left the board however continues to exert large affect over the shelter, in line with a number of sources.
By Rick Tannenbaum
From The Beginning
I used to be employed by Hi Tor Animal Shelter in January of 2023. When I began, I witnessed neglect, abuse and cruelty to the cats and small animals on the shelter. Ringworm and higher respiratory infections have been rampant, cats weren’t vaccinated, medical data scarcely existed, and the overcrowding was horrific – there have been usually three cats in cages appropriate for one cat. Cats needed to stand in dirty litter to eat, drink or get any daylight or consideration. I’ve photographed and documented the situations after I began and retain these pictures.
I instantly sought to treatment the issues, lowered the cat inhabitants by transfers to different shelters, engaged a veterinarian to convey our vaccinations present and to judge and deal with sick cats. I established protocols to make sure that the overcrowding and critical well being points didn’t recur.
I shifted employees round and introduced in new hires to verify the issues of the previous didn’t recur. Over the months, we upgraded the ability, began a pet meals pantry to assist aged and financially challenged neighbors preserve their animals at home, engaged with a number of group teams, laid the seeds for the brand new Vets for Pets program, introduced in bigger extra humane cages for the cats, improved employees morale, and stored Hi Tor’s fiscal home so as. I additionally realized early on that the issues on the shelter weren’t associated to an absence of funding. They have been primarily based on poor administration and Board interference.
I additionally realized early on that the issues on the shelter weren’t associated to an absence of funding. They have been primarily based on poor administration and Board interference.
The shelter was deep in debt with collectors searching for reimbursement from Debbie DiBernardo’s felony protection legal professional, an architect searching for cost for providers rendered, net designers who had not been paid, trailer rental invoices that have been ignored and different distributors (from utility firms to trash collectors) in search of cost.
Improper Interference
In August, I used to be approached by Board President Kim Von Hein who requested me to log off on some Community Service Verification Forms for a former worker’s kids who didn’t carry out the group service hours outlined on the varieties. She additionally demanded I signal a clean type testifying to hours for this particular person. I refused to falsify Hi Tor’s data, as a result of it was fallacious to take action and in addition figuring out that the past-president Debbie DiBernardo was indicted for doing simply that, and suggested Von Hein that I might not log off on something fraudulent. She continued to stress me all through August to signal the varieties by means of emails, phone calls and visits to the shelter, however I refused.
I suggested her that falsifying the shelter’s data was a felony act, and that disseminating these fraudulent data to a public authority was additionally against the law. Von Hein mentioned that she hoped to swap out pretend group service hour verifications in alternate for an settlement from an aggrieved particular person to drop a lawsuit already pending in opposition to the shelter.
Editor’s Note: Board President Kim Von Hein is the secretary of Gerry Damiani, Sr., Debbie DiBernardo’s protection legal professional. Von Hein and DiBernardo grew to become pleasant in the course of the authorized case; DiBernardo introduced Von Hein to the Hi Tor board.
Termination
Earlier in the summertime, the shelter had an outbreak of feline panleukopenia and plenty of kittens died shortly after their arrival on the shelter. Our contract with Rockland Green was “open admission” and required us to simply accept each animal that got here to our door, together with sick and injured animals, no matter our bodily capability. We have been compelled to consumption kittens already contaminated with panleukopenia, and discover a method to handle their care in our 60-year outdated outdated facility the place most cat rooms lack operating water. It took a number of weeks to handle the outbreak and defend the cats below our care, however we got here out the opposite finish, panleukopenia free.
In late August, Hi Tor was visited by representatives of the ASPCA to assessment the shelter, our procedures, our staffing, facility, and the final operating of the shelter below my management. On Friday, September 1, 2023, with Von Hein, co-Board President Gary Kogut, and Board Member Brett Yagel current, the ASPCA gave us excessive marks in all classes and guaranteed Rockland Green that we have been adequately staffed and the animals have been effectively taken care of. The ASPCA additionally really helpful modification of the “open admission” coverage that may allow us to handle our consumption below “best practices” going ahead.
Immediately after that assembly, Von Hein and Kogut terminated my providers with out giving me any cause. I used to be not given any warnings, discover or criticism of my administration of the shelter of any variety. I used to be requested to depart the premises instantly. My entry to my e mail, information and paperwork was minimize off as was my entry to the PetPoint software program that we use to run the shelter. I’ve not been in a position to return to the shelter.
Von Hein’s persistent efforts to get these fraudulent paperwork signed continues thus far as different employees members are actually being requested and urged to log off verifying group service hours that have been by no means carried out. My termination was unjustified and retaliatory. I found that no vote was taken on the Board stage on my termination and that the choice to terminate my providers was hidden from different Board members. One Board member instantly resigned upon discovering out what Von Hein and Kogut did and indicated that she wouldn’t have supported my termination. Another advisory Board member additionally mentioned that she was neither knowledgeable nor consulted and would have opposed my termination.
I thank these people who have been there on the bottom with me these many months for his or her many variety phrases and continued help. At the identical time, I concern for the way forward for the shelter and the animals there because the Board is within the means of re-installing people who have been accountable for the situations on the shelter previous to my time there. This needs to be a priority for all events concerned or who care about and are accountable for the care of the stray, surrendered and deserted animals in Rockland County.
