FAYETTEVILLE — Fayetteville's human resources director is concerned about mental and emotional fatigue for employees at the city's animal shelter and is taking steps to provide counseling and useful reading material.
Missy Leflar said a weeklong investigationinto how the shelter is operated, which led to the termination of three employees - including the director, opened her eyes to the syndrome of compassion fatigue.
Compassion fatigue refers to a gradual lessening of compassion over time. It is common among victims of trauma and individuals who work directly with victims of traumaand was first diagnosed in nurses in the 1950s. Sufferers can exhibit stress, anxiety and a pervasive negative attitude, according to medical and bar journals.
"These are people who love animals, and it takes a toll on them. We're going to be more proactive in helping employeesdeal with this," she said.
Leflar and Yolanda Fields, community services director and the department head over the shelter, talked extensively with 16 of the 17 shelter employees during the investigation. One wasn't available at that time.
"We did a lot of listening and learning, and in the course of that, some facts came to light that we weren't anticipating. We had to act on these. Some things we learned surprised us, and we took disciplinary action," Leflar said.
Jill Hatfield, animal services superintendent, Mitzi O'Dell, animal services coordinator, and Je rr y Lennox, animal caregiver, were terminated from their positions during the past 10 days as a result of the investigation.
"No animals were harmed by any of their actions," Leflar stressed on Thursday. "This had nothing to do with mistreatment of animals or euthanasia. These were employee behaviors thatcould occur anywhere."
Shelter veterinarian Dr. Robb Jones is serving as temporary supervisor for the shelter until the superintendent position is filled, Leflar said.
Leflar said she doesn't believe information about the firings of Hatfield and O'Dell should be released under the state's Freedom of Information Act, as there is no compelling public interest. She is asking the Arkansas attorney general's office to confirm her decision.
Lennox is a different matter. Fields said other employees reported he made threats to them, and his actions were investigated by the Fayetteville Police Department.
The case was turned over to City Prosecutor Casey Jones, who was not in the office Thursday.
The investigation began when city officials received complaints from citizens and animal shelter employees about euthanasia procedures at the shelter. Mayor Lioneld Jordan instructed Fields to do a thorough investigation. Based on findings, some procedures are being updated but are unrelated to the terminations.
The shelter uses guidelines from veterinarians and the Humane Society of the United States in setting euthanasia procedures.
"Yes, the guidelines were being followed, but that doesn't mean they can't be taken to the next level," Leflar said.
Leflar said she purchased books on compassion fatigue and donated them to the employee library at the shelter. She also contacted Ozark Guidance, the vendor for the city's employee-assistance program.
"They will come to the shelter periodically and proactively to talk about compassion fatigue," she said. Individual counseling sessions are also available.
Shelter employees were also asked to compile a wish list, based on money being no object. She provided that list to city officials.
"Invariably they talked about how to make things better for the animals before they talked about how to make things better for themselves. I had respect for them before, but I really did after we went through this process."
News, Pages 1, 5 on 09/25/2009