Have to say the N&R did a pretty good front-pager on conditions at the Guilford County animal shelter that resulted in indictments against former director Marsha Williams and two other employees in Davidson County, where the nonprofit United Animal Coalition ran the animal shelter there.
The Rhino’s Scott Yost digs up more infor in this week’s edition. Long read—here’s a highlight:
It has also come to light that, before the scandal broke, Williams was pleading with the UAC board to pull out of Davidson County because of what Williams said were continued racially based threats from some in that county. Williams became especially upset after an incident at the Davidson County shelter where a Davidson County resident brought a lunch of fried chicken and watermelon to Williams and her predominantly black staff.
Some UAC board members claim that the investigation and prosecution that came out of Davidson County resulted largely due to racial motivations of those intent on driving Williams and her staff out of that county. However, state and local authorities seem to have had plenty of legitimate reasons to intervene.
Guilford County Sheriff B.J. Barnes continues his investigation and has decided to present all of the evidence and charges to the district attorney’s office in “one package.” Among the evidence —admittedly the least of law enforcement’s concerns given the condition in which many animals were found at both shelters—is court-ordered volunteers sent to the shelter as part of their sentence didn’t do anything. Imagine that.
