One volunteer was banned from the Hi-Tor Facebook page when she pushed for information about delays with the new building. Some former employees say their hours were cut without explanation and volunteers say they were dismissed without cause. In January 2021, Sanducci and another former employee, James Joseph, filed a discrimination suit against Rockland County and the shelter’s board for discrimination against Joseph who is Black. He was immediately fired by the board and accused of job abandonment. In November 2018, apparently fed up with what he considered deplorable conditions at the shelter and inaction on the part of the board, Michael Santucci, the center’s longtime manager, left the facility to, he says, complain directly to Rockland County Executive Ed Day. Former employees and volunteers say the shelter’s board is opaque, defensive and unresponsive to the needs of salaried employees and dismissive of complaints from volunteers. Rockland County, the owner of the Pomona land and building, has promised to build a new facility with state and county funds set aside in 2018, but the project remains plagued by delays.īut a new building won’t solve Hi-Tor’s internal management problems.
A large pool of volunteers collects donations and helps with the care and training of animals.įor years, Hi-Tor’s building has been recognized as decrepit and overcrowded, and the shelter has failed numerous inspections. The board is currently eight volunteers, and the shelter is run by a paid staff of 20 employees, many part time.
The rest is covered by donations and grants. Fees paid by Rockland County’s five townships cover about 40 percent of the shelter’s approximately $900,000 in operating costs.
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