We have failed in our responsibility to care for the animals of our city - well over ten-thousand animals are killed every year in Philadelphia, and I can’t understand how anyone can feel anything but absolute outrage.

I have never experienced an environment more hostile and fragmented than what exists today in  the Philadelphia animal welfare community.  I am writing this letter in hopes that you will consider the important role of the PSPCA in changing this environment to a positive one.  You now have a unique opportunity to make significant and landmark changes in animal welfare, animal control and animal rescue.  We must all join together to save the lives of our homeless and abused animals.  We must create and foster a new partnership between shelters, animal control, rescues, government and most importantly, the public.  This partnership was allowed to fail before, but it must not fail again.  The killing of innocent animals has gone on too long and too many lives have been needlessly lost because of the inability to work together.

I am asking you to consider including community input in your search for a new executive officer -  for that person to be someone with a proven track-record of collaboration and bridge-building - to be someone who is concerned with openness and transparency, a dedication to truth and most of all a sense of responsibility to all of the animals of Philadelphia.  I am asking you to allow members of the Philadelphia animal welfare community, citizens and other shelters to participate in the process of nominating and confirming the new CEO of the PSPCA. This approach will set a national standard for community cooperation and demonstrate a renewed dedication to the animals of the city with the  understanding that our combined efforts are paramount to our success and the future of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania's animals.

Thank you for your consideration and thank you for everything you do.

Sincerely,

Garrett Elwood

Citizens for a N0-Kill Philadelphia