The District Weekly - Latest Comments in POOP SCOOP | The District Weekly

Re: POOP SCOOP | The District Weekly

RBJ — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:25:52 -0000

This entire process is just hoops that the hiring department has to jump through to make it appear to be equal opportunity. They are obligated to interview all candidates and create a disposition indicating why he/she was not selected. That can be as easy as "lack of knowledge" in their opinion. Then select your pre-selected candidate and that’s what you call equal opportunity, get it.

Re: POOP SCOOP | The District Weekly

initialsource — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 01:26:06 -0000

Long Beach Animal Care Services “Pre-selects” Job Candidates

This is a violation of Civil Codes, City Charters, Civil Service Procedures, union MOU’s and most importantly…..your trust.

The City of Long Beach recently opened up a job titled “Public Health Professional II”. We bet you knew it was a job with Animal Control just by its name, right? NOT!!!! This strange position was written by the new manager at Animal Care Services, for a Lieutenant at Animal Care Services. This is what the city likes to call “Selective Certification”. This person is the only city employee who is qualified for this position. They are the only person who has experience in all the areas that this position requires. Other animal control employees probably did not apply because they knew they would have no chance in the world. They might be afraid someone might retaliate against them.

Considering that you have been forced to swallow that there are not enough officer’s in the field, would you be happy to hear it took three positions to create this one? Three vacant positions that, by the way, there are 2 current Animal Care Service Employees on the eligible list now! They have no idea why the positions got CUT!!!

We can prove that Long Beach Civil Service, Long Beach Health & Human Services and certain people at Long Beach Animal Care Services are attempting to select a certain candidate for this position before they posted the job bulletin.
This is illegal!

1. Non-Traditional, uncommon and hard to find title for this position. People with any kind of animal experience would not look under “Public Health Professional II” to look for a job with Animal Services.

2. A new position was created so job interest emails would not go out to people requesting “email me if jobs like this become available”. There will be no one interested, there never was a position classified like this before. The only people that would be emailed for this position would be people who are interested in public health jobs. Here’s something interesting – The candidate’s title will really be “Animal Care Program Coordinator”, not “Public Health Professional II”. Look at the application. They gave it an unrelated title so no one would find it, but the actual and more related title is more what a potential and qualified applicant might look under or recognize. This position has very little to do with “Public Health”, its “Animal Health” of “Animal Care” related.

3. Recruitment to other animal control agencies outside the City of Long Beach was not properly performed. Job bulletins were not sent to locations where qualified people work in the surrounding areas. Libraries do not count. The city’s recruitment consisted of putting a bulletin on the city’s website that would never been found by an interested or qualified applicant.

4. Current employees are not eligible. Whoever strategically put this bulletin together knew what they were doing. They picked all of the job requirements that only one person within the City of Long Beach would be eligible/qualified, it was given a non-traditional classification and they made sure no one at other animal control agencies in the area would even consider themselves for the position. If there was another Long Beach Animal Care Services employee eligible, they would be afraid to apply because of possible retaliation. They wouldn’t have a chance. This is just a formality or shall we say, a small hoop that Animal Care Services must jump through due to Civil Service Regulations.

Read the qualifications for this position. Who in the world has experience in all of this at Long Beach Animal Care Services? This is the same person that has made sure they are in control of every aspect of this shelter. I doubt there are too many other people outside this department that would be qualified except the few people that have been in charge of an animal shelter. These qualifications are of a higher expectation than those of the new manager.

Selective hiring like this is illegal and wrong for many reasons. It runs along the same concept as selective breeding in animals.

This is how:

If you use the same gene pool in any species, your offspring are born with the same problems, they tend to have the same characteristics and traits and there is not much variety. Now, use that bit of information when you think about selective hiring. The same type of “selected” employees tend to have the same selective nature, the same color, the same answers, the same resolutions and the same view of the workplace and the world for that matter. These selective people are able to select other selective people and so on and so on. You can compare it to Bulldogs with breathing problems and Rottweilers with Hip Dysplasia.
Narrow gene pools!!!!!!

Not much variety at “The Village” and selective hiring is how you get a 75-80% white workplace in Southern California.

If you doubt anything that is written here, come back in a few weeks and find out who actually landed the job. We know and it’s not because we are psychic.

Below is from the Union MOU.

Is this equal opportunity for advancement? Did they seek dissemination of notices of such vacancies?

Section IV – Selection Criteria for Graded Positions

It is understood that there exists distinguishing characteristics between graded levels
within classifications.
It is also recognized that selection criteria utilized for the selection
of individuals to these graded levels may vary throughout the City.
In order to promote
equal opportunity for advancement, the City and the Union agree to work together in an
attempt to correct any deficiencies in the selection process on an on-going basis, and to
seek dissemination of notices of such vacancies, when appropriate

Below is right from the Long Beach Civil Service Website

NON-DISCRIMINATION

Sec. 2.
Pursuant to Section 1104 of the City Charter, no person employed by or applying for
employment with the City shall be hired, promoted, demoted, dismissed, or in any way favored
or discriminated against for any reason

Service Commission adopts and subscribes to the City's Policy on Affirmative Action listed at the
beginning of these Rules.

Mission Statement

The Civil Service Department treats all customers with integrity, courtesy and respect, and provides quality candidates that reflect our diverse community through a fair and timely employment process.

Initial Source

myspace.com/initialsource

Re: POOP SCOOP | The District Weekly

skywalker ranch — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:12:35 -0000

QUIGLEY needs to be fired, 5 months is not a temporary job.

Re: POOP SCOOP | The District Weekly

karen — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 01:26:06 -0000

where are all the comments regarding LBAC

Re: POOP SCOOP | The District Weekly

?????? — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:08:06 -0000

what has happened did they get to the district and shut them down no more posts able to be put up???

Re: POOP SCOOP | The District Weekly

?????? — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:22:58 -0000

hellooooooooooooo

Re: POOP SCOOP | The District Weekly

RTE — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 01:47:48 -0000

Where are the new story's? The Gazette has a couple. Why can we not post????

Re: POOP SCOOP | The District Weekly

RTE — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 01:36:51 -0000

Animal Control Makes Changes, Investigations Ongoing

By Carla M. Collado
Staff Writer

Roughly two months after investigations began into two botched animal euthanasias and into operations at Long Beach Animal Control, the facility’s management has implemented several changes and plans to launch a revamped Web site to offer more transparency to the public.

Former Animal Control manager Roger Hatakeyama continues to work as part-time manager after Wesley Moore resigned from the position on April 7. Earlier that month, an e-mail was leaked to the media concerning an incident on March 13 in which Animal Control employees mishandled the euthanising of a pit bull. Reports of a second incident involving a feral cat later surfaced.

John Keisler, acting business manager at Animal Control, said an outside firm has been conducting an independent investigation into the pit bull incident, interviewing all of the staff involved. (He said some of those staff members no longer work for the city, but declined to comment on whether they were fired.) He said the final reports are still a few weeks away.

Keisler and Hatakeyama also have talked to all Animal Control employees to try to get a sense of operations there and to form their own recommendations on how things can be improved.

“It’s been a challenge, but also a good process for us to do an exhaustive, comprehensive analysis,” Keisler said.

One of the main things they have heard, not only from Animal Control staff but also residents and outside community members, is that the public does not have enough information available to them on what goes on at the facility, he explained. He said many people are confused as to what Animal Control and the spcaLA — which shares its P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village at the facility — each are responsible for.

In response, Keisler said the shelter is overhauling its Web site and plans to launch the new one by next week. The goal is to make it a one-stop shop for answers to frequently-asked questions, information on stray and lost animals and animals up for adoption, statistics, information on adoption programs through outside rescue groups and tips on how to be responsible pet owners, among other things.

“We looked at it and we said, ‘We can do better’,” Keisler said of the Web site.

Other immediate actions Animal Control has taken to improve operations include: securing its vet premise permit from the state to allow an on-site veterinarian; contracting with local veterinarians, including Dr. Lauren Eslinger of Belmont Shore; beginning the process of hiring a vet technician for support; and improving internal communications and training through regular weekly staff meetings.

The shelter’s staff also has met with community groups such as Friends of Long Beach Animals, the Greater Long Beach Coalition for Humane Animal Care, the local board of health and animal advocates like Justin Rudd, to discuss best practices. Keisler said he thinks that a combination of launching the new Web site and starting to have monthly meetings with community groups will help increase animal adoptions and decrease the number of euthanasias.

He said Animal Control staff morale hits a new low every time they see the number of animals that come through the facility.

“We need more help with spaying and neutering and adoptions,” Keisler said. “We’re still euthanizing too many animals…. It doesn’t have to be that way.”

Meanwhile, City Manager Pat West has started the process of hiring a new full-time manager for Animal Control, something that will take several months, Keisler explained. He said they are trying to get feedback from the community on where they can find good candidates for the position.

Re: POOP SCOOP | The District Weekly

RTE — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 01:35:33 -0000

Weak Economy Tough On Pets, Too

By Carla M. Collado
Staff Writer

For those who think the poor economy is only affecting people, think again. In a news release sent out last week, the spcaLA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles) said it is overwhelmed with animals that have been abandoned by their owners due to money woes. That, combined with currently low adoptions rates, does not spell a good situation for pets.

Recent data from Long Beach’s Animal Care Services Bureau shows the shelter is facing similar challenges. Compared to the same time last year, data shows that from May through July 2008, there’s been a 5.4% increase in the total number of animals entering the shelter, according to John Keisler, acting business manager for Animal Care Services.

Though that’s not a big increase, he pointed out that the number of people who’ve dropped off animals during those months claiming they are strays (and not theirs) has risen — 37.6% for cats and 27.8% for dogs.

“More people are not claiming responsibility at all, they’re claiming it’s a stray,” Keisler said.

Of those who do admit that it’s their pet, many claim that financial hardships have made it hard to keep their animals, he said. Keisler explained that shelter staff members make sure to remind people that pet ownership is a responsibility and to consider the costs of caring for a pet before adopting one.

“Times are tough right now, but the pets are not expendable,” he said. “Ultimately, they need to try and stick it out…. We’re not their first option, we should be their last.”

Keisler also noted that adoptions have been dropping since May, with July being the worst month so far.

In July, a total of 1,685 dogs, cats and wildlife (including dead ones) entered the shelter, but only 379 animals were adopted out (either given to the spcaLA, redeemed or “other”), he said.

“Just because you drop them off here doesn’t mean they’re going to be able find a home somewhere else,” Keisler reminded pet owners.

With more animals coming into Animal Care Services, the shelter also faces capacity problems.

The shelter tries to house 190 animals daily, but that number tends to fluctuate (one day last week it peaked at 275), Keisler said.

Limiting the number of animals housed at once helps shelter staff maintain a healthy animal population, he said.

“It puts a lot of pressure on us if people are not spaying and neutering their cats,” he said, pointing out that on any given day, more than 50% of the animals at the shelter are cats. “We have limited capacity…. We want to make sure the population we do have here is healthy.”

In its news release, the spcaLA stressed its need for more financial support and foster volunteers to offset the influx of animals in its care. The nonprofit also advised pet owners who are hurting financially to consider looking for rental properties that allow animals and to ask friends and relatives to care for their pets temporarily.

For more information, visit www.longbeach.gov/acs or visit www.spcala.com.

Re: POOP SCOOP | The District Weekly

glad your not my mama — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:59:24 -0000

I sure hope readers are smart enough to know that Banes Mom is out to lunch....
Not all that post are kooks...just some who make things up...Rage, pschosis, grandious....you must be using the thesaurus for those big words.
No tazering occurred.....no lying took place to impound those animals (look at the pictures)..

Re: POOP SCOOP | The District Weekly

initialsource — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 03:10:17 -0000

Happy to report, change is a commin'....slowly. Our new mantra is "Answers and Accountability". Chant along with us now. Oh, we have some news to report, this is where we divert you to our new blog location and hope you join us. We are currently seeking supporters, friends and like minded people, though, all are welcome.

http://www.myspace.com/init...

Re: POOP SCOOP | The District Weekly

Info only — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 02:51:53 -0000

The POOP SCOOP IS..BUSINESS AS USUAL, NO INVESTIGATION, NO MR. LOPEZ, NO NOTHING. WE ALL HAVE BEEN LIED TO.

Re: POOP SCOOP | The District Weekly

fond of hounds — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 01:55:29 -0000

Well, Ms. Q is taking a Vaca, nice to know she cares about the animals enough to leave the country, right when they are going to announce that she is the one guilty in the investigation. I'm placing bets now that she becomes "shark chum" in Mexico. God we are hoping she looses her passport and the federals cart her off to mexican prison so she can feel how the dogs at the shelter feel. They are leaving Dumb and Dumber (not as dumb) in charge of the LB side. No experience, no education, lazy, short cut takers. Nothings changed, good job! Still the good o'l boys club. At least they are now picking employees that actually DO sleep with everyone at the shelter. Kudos' !!

So, when do we get to actually see the investigation. Is Q really NOT coming back???

Re: POOP SCOOP | The District Weekly

initial source — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:37:04 -0000

The investigators report is done and it is in the city's hands now.

#559 describes the stressful and busy job of an ACO. These people have a hard job and rarely get the respect that they deserve. LB Animal Control covers a large area, the ACO's are overworked and have to rush through their calls because there are not enough of them.

The Answer:
* Increase the number of qualified ACO's at the shelter
* Train them properly
* Treat them with respect so they stay

Re: POOP SCOOP | The District Weekly

Wag the Dog — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:57:17 -0000

To posters 558 and 559: I think that any caring person who works for an animal shelter has one of the hardest and most heartbreaking jobs around. The ones who don't care can take the suffering and fear in stride, and never think about it twice. On the other hand, I have known ACO's who were kind, dedicated, smart and sensitive people. They faced the daily horrors of their job with the same grace and compassion as a pediatric oncology doctor who has to deal with a dying child and a terror-stricken family.

The problem is that when there a few bad apples in the barrel, it reflects badly on those of you who are doing the best possible job under very difficult circumstances. In my heart I don't think Mickey Dees was trying to disparage the entire group of A/C officers; rather, this person was pointing to a single individual who really needs to find a different career. We all know who this person is. Sometimes authoritarian personalities can arise from the very conditions outlined in post 558. It is easy to take out anger and frustration on those who have no rights, no recourse, and no hope; namely impounded animals. Perhaps this is why cats are killed so readily at LBAC. By temperment they are not going to grovel before anyone. This does not appeal to the authoritarian type, who is much more receptive to the more ingratiating behavior of many dogs. Things won't get better until this person realizes that she is not doing herself or the animals any favors by remaining in her chosen line of work.

I am beginning to think that John Keisler is a weenie, a la Wesley Moore.

Also, what is Roger doing? Taking orders from Officer Q?

Re: POOP SCOOP | The District Weekly

alright already — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:39:46 -0000

#558 Not anyone can be a Animal Control Officer, you are very insulting to those of us who have picked this career. Why even use the word "dog catcher"! We do alot of things, rescue injured and abused animals. Pick up abandoned dog's and cats left behind by their owners because they lost their homes due to foreclosures. The mail carriers call everyday to report stray and aggressive animals. Because fisherman are irresponsible, we are called to rescue beautiful sea birds with fish hooks and line entangeled so bad they can not survive. We are out at car accidents helping victims with the animals riding with them, we go into the most gang infested areas late at night,dark alleys looking for that suffering animal at 3:00am. We are asked to write reports and testify in court to speak for those who can't and because of the way the justice system is set up, the punishment often doesn't suit the crime.We get calls from the public wanting us to eradicate the coyotes because they defecate and ruin their beautiful lawns.When you are asked to face a vicious dog and capture it with nothing but a long pole and a noose, and not get hurt that is a skill. We do so many things and it is just a shame that you have to call us "dog catchers". Every one in the public complains about response times, yes if we had emergency lights and sirens and the same authority as police and fire, maybe we could up that response time. But we don't and we do the best we can. So Micky Dee I'm curious if you use the old word "pigs" when refering to police, it's as old as the dog catcher phrase.

Re: POOP SCOOP | The District Weekly

Mickey Dee's is calling — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:29:37 -0000

People can walk through that door everyday and demand their animals be put down immediately, sane or not, and the law would still not allow it. No, folks, not even the animal owner can make that decision in a shelter system, only at a Veterinarian's office. So only a Vet can make that decision, not two crazy o'l gals that were just doing what Quigley said so they wouldn't go to jail. She intimidated those poor o'l gals, but she knew it still was not enough to have legal rights to kill them so she diagnosed them herself, doctored up the forms then ordered staff to cary out the deed to keep the blood off of her hands. This is not an isolated incident, she makes up "her" rules as she sees fit. She has quite a reputation in the Spca grape vine.

I'm not sure where her ego came from. She was an isolated and abused child, a social leper, unpopular, kind of funny looking and no special talent (just like the LB Spca manager!!). In high school the girls beat her up every day and stole her chocolate milk. That explains the stunted growth and extreme anger, but not the ego. Someone must be lying to her about her looks.

The only thing she accomplished in her entire life was becoming a dog catcher (this is where you praise and stroke her) Any one of us can do that with one arm and a lobotomy. (You can win the race in the special olympics, but you are still a retard) Stop praising and stroking now. Have you seen the Dog Catcher Bell Curve??? Look at the piece of work they had managing that place. Not much of a crop to pick from, and here they go again. To be left with another clueless, inept, sub standard Poodle Pouncer. Grab an extinguisher and put her fire out! I think it's time to put a high ranking police officer in there. At least he would know the law and have the spine that shelter has never seen.

Re: POOP SCOOP | The District Weekly

initial source — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:23:10 -0000

How can someone with a mental illness make a sane decision?

This would be the same as giving an alcoholic a bottle of booze for Christmas.

The cats were not properly diagnosed AND they were considered "suffering" by some people that are not legally permitted to make that decision.

The cats were said to be "suffering" by the insane owners and MQ.

Who is the only one qualified to make that decision?

A Vet would be the answer and the shelter did not have one. Don't think for a minute that AC sent all those cats to the vet for evaluation and diagnoses before they killed them.

Re: POOP SCOOP | The District Weekly

666 — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:13:30 -0000

A funny thing happened on the way to Quigley's birthday a couple of years ago. it was 6-7-06. I had an epiphany, she was born on the wrong day (one day late) or on the wrong end of the earth. It was as close to Hell as one can get, Jersey. she dons the mark of satin. 666

Re: POOP SCOOP | The District Weekly

AC comments — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:02:27 -0000

sorry, didn't mean to stutter there at the end.

Re: POOP SCOOP | The District Weekly

AC comments — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:01:03 -0000

Oh, the good o'l days of listening to broadcast journalism, huh Wag? Q may, (sorry) will not, talk to any reporters with the directness of Murrow. She goes with the fluff, coverup, coverage. She has bought into the same belief system as corporate american media, that the general public is uneducated and can be manipulated into what to believe. Cream rises to the top. Her oily (crude) character does not mix well and will soon separate her from her from the others, and her job.

Re: POOP SCOOP | The District Weekly

Wag the Dog — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:18:47 -0000

Great post, AC comments, Officer Q won't talk to the DW. She only talks to her pals at the (gag) Press Telegram and (double gag) Long Beach Post. Officer Quigley will pose for Long Beach Post and PT, but she won't answer LB Reports or the DW.

The mental health guy should never have written that letter--very poor judgment on his part. It's a reporter's job to uncover the news, but a mental health worker has a duty to protect the privacy of his clients.

I'm still praying for our 21st Century version of Edward R. Murrow.

"Good Night and Good Luck!"

Re: POOP SCOOP | The District Weekly

AC comments — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:04:52 -0000

Nicole, the PT put out two fluff pieces in as many days, well, in the past few days anyway. Where is the real story, it seems to be here. Have you spoken to anyone of authority at AC regarding these issues? How about calling another press conference. Heather Reagar got a lot of info from several people before they put a squelch on everyone, can you get any of that? Might be a starting place. Or how about the story about post #542. I read the previous posts, just like everyone else, and the confirmation from LBAC employees. the PT letter is a blatant lie. I am sure Quigley lied to him though, that's her MO. Have you called Quigley yet??? (that should be fun for you) then call Culhno for the real story. It certainly was not Quigley that put the truth out about previous issues, and she had plenty in her arsenal prior to Culhno's report. She didn't want to taint her image so she did nothing. Someone should tell her that it's too late......taint it?
Better yet, why don't we all start calling her and asking for the truth, though we know we won't get it, at least we get to watch her squirm.

Re: POOP SCOOP | The District Weekly

Wag the Dog — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:03:39 -0000

Hi backatcha, #540. Sorry for the delay. In your post 540 you asked the question: "Who is Mr. Lopez?" The name Lopez came up in Post 510 written by "Info Only". Lopez is part of the investigation team and was supposed to contact "Info Only", except that he has not done so. Why he hasn't contacted "Info Only" is one of the hundreds of questions that have gone unanswered. I'm hoping Nicole will dig around a little and let us know what happening with this "investigation" Three months into this and still not a word from City Hall. Nice work, Pat West.

Re: POOP SCOOP | The District Weekly

from the PT comments — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:37:13 -0000

Mr. Limoges:
hlimoges@mhala.org

His boss:
marthalong@village-isa.org

Quigley:
michelle_quigley@longbeach.gov

Her boss:
ron_arias@longbeach.gov