Shelter has not filed for bankruptcy
In the wake of a $96,000 civil judgment filed against the Fayette County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), the shelter has not filed for bankruptcy, attorney James Warmbrodt said Thursday. “The shelter has not, as of this date, filed for bankruptcy, although that is the reason they have contacted me,” said Warmbrodt, who handles bankruptcy cases.
Although the current board of directors has voted to dissolve the SPCA, Warmbrodt said he is not certain if the reported May 15 closing date is still in effect. The 42 municipalities serviced by the SPCA for animal control issues were sent letters notifying them that their contracts would not be honored as of May 1.
But even though the SPCA’s closing seems imminent, the board met Thursday with county commissioners Sean M. Cavanagh and Ron Nehls to discuss possible ways to keep the shelter open, said Cavanagh.
In an effort to keep the SPCA afloat, Cavanagh said he called John J. and Ruth A. Tabaj, the husband and wife who sued the SPCA and were awarded the $96,000 judgment earlier this year. He said he hoped that the Tabajes could come to an agreement with the shelter in which they would forego part of that award so that the organization could stay afloat.
“I don’t think the Tabajes are in this for money. Their rights were violated,” said Cavanagh, noting that John Tabaj said he would consider settling for less money.
The suit stemmed from an April 1993 incident in which shelter officials illegally came onto their property. The Tabajes sued the shelter and Allegheny County-based Tri-County Humane Protections Inc. for invasion of privacy and malicious prosecution.
Tri-County was ordered to pay the couple $105,000.
Attorney Thomas Bowlen, who represents the Tabajes, declined to comment on any type of lesser settlement the couple may be considering. Bowlen said that there is still an unresolved post-trial motion filed by the SPCA asking the court to lessen the amount awarded.
While Cavanagh has taken to mediating with the Tabajes to help keep the SPCA afloat, it was learned Thursday that Robin Moore is no longer working as the SPCA’s public relations and marketing director.
Moore said she and a group of employees from the SPCA, are working to form Noah’s Ark of Fayette County Humane Society, hoped to be a no-kill shelter built like an ark.
Even if the SPCA does not close, Moore said she would forge ahead with Noah’s Ark, claiming that the county shelter often failed inspections. Moore produced several inspection reports from 1999 through this year that indicate the SPCA failed on various fronts, usually with records keeping.
Cavanagh said board members classified Moore as a “rouge employee” who did things without permission and did not follow orders given to her.
Moore hotly disputed that, noting that she always received exemplary reviews during her employment at the shelter.
“For somebody who is supposedly so disgruntled, how could I have been so loyal (to the SPCA)?” asked Moore, who said the recent turn of events makes her feel like “a victim and a fool.”
Moore said last week that Nehls had pledged his support to making Noah’s Ark a reality. However, Nehls said he has washed his hands of both the SPCA and Moore’s hopes for another shelter. Since meeting with the board Thursday morning, Nehls said he determined that the conflict is a personal one between the board and Moore.
“I don’t make decisions based on personalities. Whichever way both of these groups go, I wish them both good luck,” said Nehls. “I will help either of those groups when they’re dealing with real issues.”
Nehls said he did initially offer Moore his support on the Noah’s Ark project – because he thought she was spearheading the effort for the entire SPCA, not just a few of its employees.
Warmbrodt, meanwhile, said he planned to meet with members of the SPCA board within the next week to discuss if bankruptcy is the next step.