First, a note from ADL-LA:

ADL-LA applauds Jennifer Pryor for FINALLY being assertive about the horrific atrocities going on inside the six LA shelters under the leadership of Ed Boks. In the past, Jennifer was supportive of Boks and one of his biggest allies when he first arrived on the scene here in LA. In fact, she was critical of ADL-LA for not giving Ed Boks more of a chance (ADL watched him for six months before becoming an outspoken critic of his failure to implement the programs required to stop the needless killing of companion animals). Another individual, Shannon Keith, a prolonged Boks supporter, refusing to allow during a press conference/toy drive she organized, two ADL-LA members entrance to the East Valley shelter to ask Boks some hard hitting questions about his previous work history. The press release sent out regarding Keith's event stated how wonderful Ed Boks was as General Manager of LAAS and other misconceptions regarding him. For the animals being slaughtered inside LAAS, this was a grave disappointment to activists throughout LA. But, those opposed to Ed Boks simply focused on exposing him and refused to allow those who were protecting him to get in their way. 

Unfortunately, an individual who ADL-LA thought was an animal protectionist, is not only remaining silent about truths she knows regarding Boks, but went as far as to state that if she ever went "public with things she was told by Ed Boks, he would be fired from LA immediately." This individual has never come forward because of her own self-interests that include a personal relationship with Boks. 

ADL-LA's question for all of you reading this is: How many animals were MURDERED while some, like Jennifer Pryor, were giving Boks "a chance", long after his intentions and methods were obviously ineffective? If it were YOUR dog or cat, or any other family member imprisoned inside LAAS when Boks took over, and with your knowing about Boks' history of being incompetent and failing to implement easy No Kill solutions at his previous jobs, would you have been so open to giving him a chance in LA???

Thousands of animals who could have been adopted through daily off-site adoption venues and other easy, cheap or free outreach programs implemented by Winograd's No Kill Solutions at other city shelters could have saved many of these innocent lives. But this was not to be. Unfortunately, this is STILL happening since it appears now, almost THREE YEARS AFTER Boks was appointed by Villaraigosa and his staff, that the most basic, practical and standard programs included in Winograd's No Kill Equation have NOT been implemented here in Los Angeles. 

We should ALL feel guilty for allowing this slaughter to have continued and not risen up more strongly to demand that Boks be replaced two years ago. This is, unfortunately, exactly what many Germans did during World War II. They simply wanted to give Hitler a chance and then stayed silent when they realized the mass murder he was undertaking. Are we really going to allow this needless and senseless killing under Boks to continue? We should all ponder this question and come to our own conclusion, which will indeed bear witness to our character, our compassion and our wisdom. 

If not YOU, then WHO?

If not NOW, then WHEN?

ADL-LA

From: Jennifer
Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2008 10:01 AM
To: Ed Boks
Subject:  As per our phone conversation Ed!..overcrowding and inhumane conditions at all the LAAS shelters!

Ed-

You accepted the position of General Manager of LA Animal Services and pledged to be the architect of a no-kill Los Angeles .  Your incompetence and lack of vision (not the staff's) has left you with no alternative other than warehousing animals, which has become so extreme as to be inhumane. 

True “no-kill” reserves euthanasia ONLY for animals who can NOT be rehabilitated.  You, however, do an “end around” by warehousing animals until after a time, healthy and treatable animals become "irremediably suffering" or "aggressive" and are killed.  Statistically you look like you have done your job.  After all, no animal was killed for "time and space".  But let's be honest, Ed, this is a numbers game played out on paper.  The animals are dead, and the majority were healthy or treatable when they were impounded into your “care.” 

You told me you are working on a "responsible" plan for the "alleviation of the stress" of overcrowding at the shelters.  I just went on the LAAS website and saw your so-called "responsible" plan --- you have nearly TRIPLED the number of redlisted animals on the New Hope Alert List.  Great solution, Ed!

Given the current crisis at the shelters, I understand the need for euthanasia. What I don't understand --- what none of us understand --- is the need for inhumane warehousing of animals while you are doing NOTHING to increase adoptions, increase owner retention, and implement educational and volunteer outreach programs (even programs created and presented to you by the humane community at no cost to the City).   In addition, promised spay/neuter services are still not operating.

In an article you wrote some time ago, you stated "No-kill is achievable only if we work together to implement bold new strategies and interventions that get results." Inspiring, but empty words when not followed by ACTION.  You have managed to alienate everyone who has offered you help (including me), and instead of taking responsibility, you blame your staff and the public for the overcrowded and inhumane conditions at the shelters.  Stop pointing fingers, writing blogs, and schmoozing with the entertainment industry at every opportunity and start doing your job.  Animals are suffering and dying, Ed, and no matter who you try to blame it on, the buck stops at YOUR desk.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Lee Pryor
Director, Pryor's Planet
www.PryorsPlanet.com