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Dear Editor:
It has been an unfortunate stretch for the County's animals as the seven most senior staff at the Iowa County Humane Society (the "Shelter") resigned this month, including all three salaried managers. And an eighth resigned earlier this year.
My purpose here is to thank and publicly recognize those incredible hard working staffers, not vent about what caused the mass exodus. So, I will resist editorializing about what happened. Suffice it to say that I understand and respect their decisions to leave, and would have done the same.
As a past Officer and Director of the Shelter and County-appointed Humane Officer, this loss of experience at the Shelter saddens and concerns me.
I appreciate the value of the departing staff's over 50 years of collective service at the Shelter. They were the Shelter's most valuable asset.
They worked there year-after-year at below-market wages because they were motivated by their dedication to helping animals. They literally helped thousands of animals in need.
From 2016-2018, I served on the Shelter's personnel committee and know first hand how outstanding their performance reviews were each year.
You have been awesome, and will be missed.
SO THANK YOU-- Bonnie Zimmerman--Kennel Manager; Binga Manwiller--Office Manager; Joen Meylor--Fundraising Manager; Jeanie Sadlon; Danielle Rufenacht; Hanna Ramey; Kathy Murphy (effective after next week) and Kaity Kivikoski.
Mike Van Sicklen
Town of Dodgeville