Over a dozen volunteer dog walkers have left the Humane Society of Sedona over what they see as a lack of communication and respect from management and the board.

The volunteers left the society through voluntary or involuntary means during previous executive directors and said they’d like to see the relationship change going forward so that what they allege to be a dwindling core of volunteers is bolstered once more.

Suzanne Fuqua was director from April 2013 to May 2015, followed by Mark Thompson from June 2015 to May 2016.

A lack of input was cited as one of the main reasons communication broke down. Dog walkers would notice certain things throughout the course of their day and when brought up, they claim they were ignored. Additionally, staff they were allowed to speak with regarding these matters became limited to the volunteer coordinator, they said.

Another issue was the restrictive nature of what volunteers could say to anyone as the result of a nondisclosure agreement they had to sign.

The group of volunteers worked under previous executive directors but not under current Executive Director Austin Gates, who has been in the position since the end of July. Though not all volunteers are willing to go back, they all said they hope Gates will be able to stop the bleeding.

The volunteers claimed leadership was ineffectual at fixing these issues and that a new board of directors may be needed.

The volunteers came up with a list of solutions they think would help address the issue, including a volunteer-comprised steering committee to enroll more people and retain those on board, as well as creating an official system wherein volunteer issues are heard and addressed. The point, according to one volunteer, was to emphasize welcoming input from the dog walkers in order to benefit the overall care of the animals.

After Gates’ hire, the group went into the city’s mediation program, where they met with her as well as separately with three board members. The volunteers claim that nothing was accomplished, and that the Humane Society seemed in denial of stated problems.

Gates saw things differently. She said that the mediation she had Sept. 7 went well and she was grateful to get a chance to hear some of the issues.

“Most of it was already done before I got here,” she said. “I think it went really well …. We had a nice time getting to know each other and I got to hear some of the concerns they had and explain some of the new changes we’ve made. They seemed happy with the changes.”

Gates said the society has implemented a COSMO Memo communication system, where clear memos of changes are posted for all to see. She also said that both she and Liz Olsen, the volunteer coordinator, have open-door policies.

“I’m new so I have new ideas to try and I want people to be informed,” Gates said.

One of the new changes was that the offices in the building are now occupied by cats, both to increase animal welfare as well as bring the downstairs, where animals are kept, and the administrative upstairs, together.

She did admit, however, that after mediation, she still doesn’t believe that the group of volunteers will come back, but was glad to see that they continued their passion at the Verde Valley Humane Society in Cottonwood, which several have done.

“I, personally, am so thankful for what they have done,” Gates said. “Another way to look at this was Verde Valley Humane Society was in great need of help.”

As far as the current dog walking situation, Gates said it is going great, though the society always needs more people.

In addition to the program, volunteers are training for animal care, receptionist and cross-training between departments along with staff.

“We’re removing all barriers and just working as a team,” she said, adding that the level of appreciation is quite healthy.

President of the board Paul Claus has previously stated that while he understands that prior issues have led to volunteers leaving, he hopes the hire of Gates will help solidify forward progress.

“I am so impressed with the board. They are helpful. They are engaged,” Gates said. “They’re willing to come here and help and do whatever they need to do.”

Cheri Baldwin is a dog walker as well as volunteer in other capacities that stayed on throughout the past two directors and into Gates’ tenure.

“Austin is absolutely wonderful. The problem was that the previous director hated volunteers and that trickled down. But that’s history.

“We’re allowed to assist more as volunteers than we were before,” she said.

Baldwin said that the board is also becoming more interlaced, describing the society as one big community, a change from when she saw the board as more of a top tier.

Baldwin said she knows most of the volunteers who had left, and said that it became somewhat difficult to work with them at times but also noted that their grievances had been ignored.

Thompson, the most recent former executive director, has stated he was bewildered by his firing, stating he received a bonus for his performance just prior to his termination.

To become a volunteer at the Sedona shelter, go onto the website or call to find out when the next orientation begins. Training is provided to new volunteers. Volunteers can decide their area of
interest.