Comments on Ron Sims Defends KC Shelters, Accuses Consultant of Operating from "Playbook"

These are pit bulls? Fuck, why didn't you say so at the beginning of the post? Kill 'em all.

The first step is to admit that there is a problem. Denying that there isn't one and blaming the messenger isn't going to make it go away.

Hmm...new top-two primary system...Bob Ferguson making no secret of his long-term ambitions on the county executive's office...Sims out of step with substantial segments of his base. Could be an interesting 2009.

I have spent a lot of time at the KEnt animal shelter, and that place is pretty nice as far as animal shelters go. The seattle one on 15th though is a fucking pit.

Nathan Winograd has some grand ideas. The "no-kill" policy is certainly an ideal. If you read up on him, he has a lot of great ideas on ways to reduce the number of animals euthanized. But what he never mentions is the cost. All of the programs he suggests require more manpower, and therefor cost more money.

I think it's super if we had a "no-kill" policy in King county. But are we, as taxpayers, willing to shell out the extra money to make that happen? And since the county is facing a budget shortfall, and must cut spending, what other programs are we willing to cut from the county budget in order to throw more money at the shelters?

It always kinda sucks when pie-in-the-sky idealism has to face the reality of budget constraints.

Horrors! Ron Sims thinks it's just deplorable that the consultant they hired has an agenda to create no-kill shelters! Gosh - taking care of animals so they are healthy, happy and adoptable. What a concept! Sometimes your stupidity is breathtaking, Ron.

It's like he's just daring Bob Ferguson to run ...

List things we can do to help. volunteer info, shelter lists, phone numbers. I know if it was posted I would help out.

Sims has become the consummate bureaucrat. Responsible for nothing, accountable to nobody.

How come no one has asked why the King County Council used my tax money to hire a consultant at all, much less a consultant from California, and much less a consultant from California with a known bias in any direction?

I'm not making any excuses for Sims, but before I buy into the knee-jerk Pavlovian shit (SIMS BAD! SMASH SIMS!)that I see around here every day, I'd like an answer to my question.

Actually, it's not just Dow Constantine that's holding a hearing on this, it's Bob Ferguson.

Add that to Ron's anti-light-rail position and backing Sen Clinton, and you're looking at someone putting so many political targets on himself, you have to ask yourself: "What is going on in his head?"

Does he not get that Seattle is the block of votes you need to keep the King County vote?

Let's not forget the whole scandal with conditions and treatment at King County Jail.

Maybe this will seem important after Guantanamo is closed.

What other cities did this consultant do studies for? Where his findings similar in those places, and were any of his claims proven wrong? If Sims is saying this guy is biased, I think the press would examine his past to see if that claim has any basis. Of course, I do expect the press to do this for me, as I'm far to busy doing very important things to look for my self.

Sims' somewhat monarchical style and increasing incoherence is starting to wear on me. The idea of Ferguson as county exec is a refreshing idea.

Check out the shelter before making comments either way. I used to go in there weekly and the dogs were well fed and watered regularly and old poop was never there, with as many dogs as are in the shelter, it would be expected to have a pile once in a while.
Those volunteers are there exercising the animals, something not done at most shelters and there never at that time was an adoptable dog euthanized. I live across the mountains now but check out things before deciding what is going on.

I used to be a KC animal control officer, and for the record, while we were understaffed and waaaaay overcrowded, the animals didn't live in the conditions described. Either this isn't true, or things have really changed in the past couple of years. Somebody would go around at LEAST every hour and rinse waste out of the runs, and the runs and cat cages got a thorough cleaning every day. The critters were all fed daily, and nobody went without water for more than a few hours, max (sometimes they knock over their bowls. . . going without water for a few hours is not torture. . . how often do YOU actually drink water?) .

So, basically, I'm skeptical.

They do need a bigger, better shelter and more staff, though.

@10: The Council hired a consultant because a citizens committee report issued last September called shelter conditions "deplorable" and made 47 recommendations to improve shelter operations. Council members don't need permission from Ron Sims or even you, Ivan, to do their jobs.