Fairness now

Published 12:00 am Saturday, September 9, 2000

L’Observateur / September 9, 2000

DEAR EDITOR: From the time Melissa Vial was a child up until she left home to attendcollege, animals were always a part of her life. It seems she always had aspecial place in her heart for all types of animals, particularly those thatwere left abandoned. During the ages of 8 to 16, we lived in a rural areaand people would often drop their pets off and they would find their wayto our house. Melissa always found a way to convince us to keep them. Shehad pets ranging from the typical goldfish bowl to horses to spiders andferrets. It did not surprise me at all when, as an adult, Melissa chose towork with animals.

We moved to Louisiana when Melissa was a sophomore in high school. Ialways encouraged our children to become part of the community. We wereinvolved in sports and civic activities individually and as a family.

Melissa married and is a current resident of Louisiana.

This visit during the Labor Day weekend is the first time in over a yearthat she and Nick, her husband, have come to visit her family due to hercommitment to the job she had at the St. John Animal Shelter. Melissaworked for a year, plus or minus, for the Humane Society while they ranthe facility.

Her job was not glamorous, to say the least. She had to clean cages, batheanimals and feed them seven days a week. She went for an extended periodof not having a day off for approximately a year. She would call me onoccasion when she was at the end of her rope, discussing conditions,physical at the shelter as well as working conditions, and I would listenas a father and offer encouragement. I often asked her why she put up withthe hours, conditions, lack of support by her supervisors, etc., for a jobthat demanded so much of her time and was physically challenging, withlittle support.

Her answer was: “I love working with the animals and making sure theyare taken care of properly.” She worked at the shelter for several monthsafter that by performing all tasks herself.

After heat from the media, things did begin to progress favorably for awhile. She finally received some needed help to perform the duties.

Without exception, whenever we visited Melissa and Nick in Louisiana, shewould have animals at her house from the shelter that needed a littleextra attention.

I would ask her on every trip why she would spend the time to care for theanimals, basically 24 hours a day. She stated she brought the animalshome to get them in condition so that they had a chance for adoption. Theanimals she brought home were in such poor health and/or the condition ofthem would not be attractive to someone open for adoption. She would getthem in shape and take them back to the shelter, hoping they would beadopted.

I have been in a senior management program for several years, and I cantell you to have an employee as dedicated as Melissa is to her job is rareand very refreshing. I was shocked when she told me she resigned from herjob as kennel master at the St. John Parish facility. I know how much itmeant to her and how hard she has worked over the last year in making it asuccess. I mentioned earlier in my letter, her family did not see her forover a year unless they went to see her because she would not take offwork, wanting to make a favorable impression and assure the animalswere cared for. I cannot imagine how deplorable conditions must havedeteriorated to that led to her resignation.

As a father, I have continually encouraged Melissa to do the right things,give 100 percent and treat people fairly. I have told her if she does thesethings, circumstances will always turn out for the best. I hope the issueat St. John Parish and the animal shelter will be resolved to enforce herand my ideologies. If circumstances cannot be worked out favorably toresolve the issues, the big losers will be the animals she cares so muchabout. Her confidence in humanity may be shaken but she will recover andgo on in life.

Does sense of fair play and reward for efforts still have a place in oursociety? The answer to this question as it relates to administration by St. John Parish officials will be forthcoming.

Jack PenleyMissouri City, Texas

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