Dear Mayor Nassif, Mayor Pro Tem Cusack, Councilmembers, and Messrs. Rice, Robertson & Acevedo:
Thank you for the opportunity to address you this evening in writing. I would like to discuss the Town's responses to two recent incidents concerning the welfare of companion animals in Apple Valley: (1) the unsanitary kennel conditions recorded on video by a networker in the small dog/puppy room at Apple Valley Animal Shelter approximately two weeks ago; and (2) the physical and mental abuse of a citizen's pet dog by its owner recorded on a neighbor's Ring security video camera early last week.
The Town's responses to both of these incidents has one key component: the imposition of a narrative on the public that excuses the Town from any failure or omission, and instead points the finger at and attacks residents and civilians who serve as a voice for companion animals in Apple Valley. For example, instead of acknowledging that shelter staff were unable to timely clean dog kennels that were encrusted with blood and diarrhea, Gina Whiteside and those who present themselves at your meetings to speak in support of the shelter, blamed the networker for supposedly obstructing kennel access. Bear in mind that this is a networker who has a cooperative relationship with kennel staff; that the kennel conditions had clearly persisted for some time; and that kennel staff patiently waited for 33 seconds for the networker to finish recording the kenneled puppies.
Please encourage Ms. Whiteside and shelter management to cease the deflection, fact manipulation, and fact withholding from the taxpayers of Apple Valley.
By way of another example, following the release of both the AVAS kennel video and the Ring camera video referenced above, the individuals who attend these meetings to speak in support of the shelter, have taken to social media to speak out against the networker and other advocates for change at your shelter. This same group of individuals has been trolling Facebook, Instagram, and Nextdoor, attempting to doxx networkers and advocates; calling them liars; accusing them of having personal vendettas; and calling for the institution of legal action against them.
Please encourage shelter supporters to cease the name-calling, doxxing, gaslighting, and other pettines that they have incited as it is unproductive and uncalled for.
Thank you, and I look forward to speaking to you in person at an upcoming meeting.
Sincerely,
Chelsea Trotter
SoCal Pets In Need