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City Council Meeting Minutes September 18, 2018 <br />"My name is Jennifer Hayes and about 17 years ago, I started helping local <br />animal shelters and rescues as a volunteer photographer. I'm blessed that my <br />passion for animal welfare has resulted in employment, and now I've worked <br />for over a decade for Best Friends Animal Society, currently as their web <br />content editor. <br />Because of my involvement with Hays County Animal Advocates, in February <br />I signed up to volunteer at the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter. <br />Unfortunately, my photos weren't uploaded for up to a week after I provided <br />them. For months I've asked to take over that task and post my photos <br />directly to the shelter's website, bypassing staff, thus saving the city both time <br />and money. For months I've received no response - that is until last Thursday. <br />When I arrived for my weekly photo shoot, I was told I needed to meet with <br />the shelter manager Kara Montiel. She informed me that due to policy, <br />volunteers and even unpaid interns, don't have that authorization. <br />Additionally, they were eliminating the volunteer photographer positions and <br />replacing them with a paid photography internship. She told me to not return <br />this Thursday, but since I was already at the shelter, could photograph animals <br />that day. <br />For over six months, I've been photographing the adoptable cats, dogs and <br />even guinea pigs, supplying the shelter with over 1,800 edited and <br />ready -to -publish images within hours of them being taken — for free. We're <br />repeatedly told how the shelter is understaffed and underfunded, yet now I've <br />been instructed to stop offering my time and talents at no cost, despite my <br />desire to continue. That breaks my heart. <br />However, the real losers in this scenario are the animals. It's my understanding <br />that shelter staff will supply photos until the new position is filled. I urge you <br />to take a look at the shelter's website now and guarantee you'll be able to tell <br />the difference between my and the other volunteer photographer's images vs. <br />the staff's intake photos. If not, I'll be more than happy to email you some <br />examples. <br />In fiscal year 2017, 26 percent of the dogs and 69 percent of the cats who <br />entered the shelter were killed. Those animals deserved homes with loving <br />families. While it's too late for them, it's not too late for the animals at the <br />shelter now ... and next week ... and next month. <br />clyolsan Marcos Page <br />