Disqus - Latest Comments for KDRoad

Re: My Turn | City manager's compensation package reasonable - Kirkland Reporter

KDRoad — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 19:38:06 -0000

I am not a fan of Mr. Triplett, in his time working under Ron Sims and as interim exec he worked an insider game protecting areas of the county such as animal control and DDES that were in desperate need of reform. As a result these agencies are suffering in the downturn.

That being said his salary is just barely competitive with what a typical brick and mortar executive would make and lags behind fields such as technology, law or medicine. The key is making sure his performance meets city standards. (Assuming of course the city has clear standards and metrics for him.)

Re: Bellevue will fine people for unlicensed pets - Bellevue Reporter

KDRoad — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:55:11 -0000

So they close the only county Bellevue shelter at Crossroads and now they want more money from local pet owners? Does this money go to the Humane Society or other groups that actually serve the east side?

Re: Kent animal shelter is focus of lawsuit in dog’s death - Kent Reporter

KDRoad — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:59:51 -0000

From the vet's comments it almost sounds as if a dog is expected to die if kept in the shelter for more than 10 days. What kind of excuse is that?

Re: Pet advocates eye animal shelter’s end - Snoqualmie Valley Record

KDRoad — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:13:43 -0000

If this paper is going to publish an opinion piece by Kim Howard and Nancy McKenney, they should do that and not cloak it as a "news" piece. KCACC is being closed because of serious, long term and intractable problems there. These are well documented, any fair treatment would at least touch on this.

Re: Cat fight: Humane Society battling union over workers, bad raps - Bellevue Reporter

KDRoad — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:19:52 -0000

I'm not sure it's fair to call volunteers disgruntled for a number of reasons. They are well meaning, they aren't being compensated, they began with no agenda except to help and what they say is being mirrored in other reports including the King County Auditor's report that came out today.

Re: Cat fight: Humane Society battling union over workers, bad raps - Bellevue Reporter

KDRoad — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 03:23:33 -0000

I work with folks who have spent thousands of dollars and hours fostering and volunteering for KCACC cats and dogs and they remain critics of KCACC. There are volunteers out there who have first hand knowledge and are disturbed by what they see, even recently. And yes, they are vocal - sometimes very, but they are also friends and we trust their judgement.

I do think that Mr. Diel had an opportunity to explain his good deeds and instead showed contempt in the town hall meeting. That doesn't mean he's a bad person or ill intentioned. However this, and the state of KCACC do lead to reasonable questioning about his effectiveness and how well our shelters are run. If you were to read a management book such as "First Break All the Rules" that looks at organizational efficiency how do you think KCACC would rate? What factors would you attribute to this?

Re: Cat fight: Humane Society battling union over workers, bad raps - Bellevue Reporter

KDRoad — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:37:20 -0000

I thought Viola was a character in 12th Night:). Darn my public school education.

I think we agree, if there were a focus on execution and tracking data (i.e. monthy numbers of intakes, adoptions, deaths, etc) this could have gone a dramatically different direction. I remember at one point early on Mr. Diel had 2 minutes to speak during a town hall attended by hundreds and he simply stood there mute and looked at his watch to make sure he got his fair amount of time.

To some that may seem cool and defiant, but where I work I'd be fired for that. He effectively planted a bullseye on the ACOs - many of whom don't deserve to be associated with such conduct.

Re: Cat fight: Humane Society battling union over workers, bad raps - Bellevue Reporter

KDRoad — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:26:54 -0000

For the record there are officers and staff at KCACC that really do care and work for the welfare of animals, the whistleblower is an obvious example of that. Unfortunately they have been let down by poor management, a contemptuous guild, and a number of bad apples among the staff.

Re: Cat fight: Humane Society battling union over workers, bad raps - Bellevue Reporter

KDRoad — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:55:00 -0000

Folks, this is what's happening. You have a whistleblower from KCACC repeating stories we've been hearing for years from audits and investigations including a report from UC Davis. It is credible and backed by literally hundreds of pages of previous findings.

Then "voila" just as the Seattle Humane Society makes a bid to shelter animals, the KCACC guild finds a whistleblower of their own claiming its "just as bad" over there. Worse yet are claims that somehow shelter critics (including volunteers, auditors, vets, UC Davis, council members and now a whistleblower) are not concerned for the animals and are just conspiring against the KCACC guild.

If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, it is a duck. We can't let the same folks continue to run the show.

Re: Whistleblower letter alleges shelter neglect - Kent Reporter

KDRoad — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:21:03 -0000

It's refreshing to hear that the whistleblower would face no retribution, but it's counterintuitive that in the same breadth you skewer him.

We can all agree that those concerned should volunteer and foster. It's needed now more than ever.

Re: Whistleblower letter alleges shelter neglect - Kent Reporter

KDRoad — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:01:19 -0000

I agree with the apologist for KCACC on one point. This is the responsibility of council. Once they got involved, they added resources and were promised results. Then it got worse, as this brave person can attest. Instead of euthanizing they let animals die in cages. You don't throw good money after bad and you don't reward cruel behavior. Why council has waited so long is indeed a mystery.

As hinted above, one guess is that larger and more influential King County Labor Groups don't want to lose one and are involved. These suffering cats and dogs may have become Labor's hockey pucks as has this whistleblower.

Re: Whistleblower letter alleges shelter neglect - Kent Reporter

KDRoad — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 23:20:12 -0000

This is unbelievable! More of the same, this time from an insider fearful for his/her safety. Am I reading it right or are they trying to put the same people back in charge???

We need a criminal probe. Animal abuse should not be legal just because government employees are involved.