Dear Editor:
Approximately one week ago, my family went to the Hudson County SPCA, formerly known as the Assisi Center, to volunteer our time. We had volunteered numerous times in the past except this was the first time we were volunteering since the Board of Directors removed the former shelter director, Tom Hart. In any event, we were excited to spend our afternoon walking the dogs, playing with the cats and cleaning up wherever it was needed. Our previous experiences with the Assisi Center were great ones. My daughters thoroughly enjoyed themselves and were proud of their volunteer work.
Unfortunately, my family never had the opportunity to volunteer at the SPCA. The gentleman in charge, Stanley Rotopel, abruptly informed us that we could not volunteer. Apparently, volunteers were no longer welcomed. Mr. Rotopel even refused to let my daughters see any of the animals. Needless to say, my daughters were heartbroken! They could not understand why they were permitted to volunteer in the past but were not permitted to do so now.
My oldest daughter aspires to be a veterinarian and loves working with the animals. Volunteering at the shelter was an activity that we did as a family. It was an activity in which we would spend a day together doing something that we all loved – caring for homeless animals. If Mr. Rotopel was concerned with the shelter’s liability in the event of an accident, we would have gladly signed the appropriate waivers. In addition, my daughters would have been just as happy sweeping up the holding rooms or cleaning up outside, as they would have been working directly with the animals.
Unfortunately, Mr. Rotopel did not even take the time to explain to us why we were no longer allowed to volunteer. In fact, he barely spoke to us at all. Considering that there has been an extraordinary amount of controversy surrounding the shelter, I cannot believe that the Board has put someone like this in charge. He has no time for questions or inquiries regarding the animals that are housed there and obviously wants no volunteers working at the shelter. He does not even permit people to go into the holding rooms to see the animals. That, in and of itself, makes me extraordinarily suspicious. That will make the public suspicious. If a person cannot see the animals, how can they adopt one?
It is common knowledge that an animal shelter needs to be an open and friendly place. In addition to focusing on adoptions, a shelter must also work in conjunction with the community to increase awareness regarding the pet population. An animal shelter needs to exude a sense of warmth and comfort in order to invite prospective adopters in. This is especially true with the SPCA, which has struggled with allegations of animal abuse and unsanitary conditions in the past. A cold and rude employee will only discourage people from coming to the shelter to adopt.
Could it be that the Board wants the SPCA to be a pitiful, depressing shelter where animals are simply housed temporarily before being killed? It is possible that getting animals adopted is not the Board’s top priority? Are volunteers being turned away in order to hide what goes on at the shelter? I would simply suggest that Mr. Rotopel spend less time turning volunteers away and more time on making the SPCA a warm and inviting place where animals have a decent chance at getting adopted. That is Mr. Rotopel’s job, is it not?
Disappointed and Confused