For at least two decades, the Pratt County Humane Society limped along like a three-legged dog — surviving, at times barely, on a mixture of public funds and private donations in a sub-standard facility within earshot of the old city pound.
An ever-changing cast of animal lovers staffed the place, sometimes part-time, sometimes full-time, sometimes with a little pay, more often with none. A variety of campaigns and schemes were attempted in an effort to make the operation self-sustaining. Sometimes it looked like real progress was being made, but the volunteers —the animal lovers — never managed the long-term commitment that real progress required. Or, if they managed the commitment, they never managed the management skills
They tried hard. They did their best. But like the people on the Society’s board, they could not put aside their lives to devote all of their energy to meeting the organization’s many challenges.
The Society needed more. It needed someone to be a full-time advocate for the unwanted animals in Pratt County, someone to be their liaison with the community, someone with organizational skills, lots of time and an unwavering commitment. Mike Hill fit the bill in every respect.
When Hill stepped into the leadership role a few years ago, the Society was transformed. Many animal lovers helped. They gave of their time and money, but it was the animal advocate Mike Hill who gave the organization focus and direction.
Without Mike Hill the Humane Society would have continued to flounder, limping along in three-legged earnestness. Without Mike Hill, the Pratt County Humane Society would never have become PAHS, the cleverly named Pratt Area Humane Society. The new facility respected by and relied upon by state regulators would not exist.
That the board of animal lovers would dismiss their animal advocate, their most skilled and dedicated volunteer, is nothing short of foolish. The reason they did so hardly matters. They will not find someone of the same caliber to work for nothing.
The community is behind Mike Hill. The area’s unwanted animals, if they had a say in matters, would certainly support him. The public entities that fund PAHS are behind him.
Only stubborn pride will prevent the PAHS Board from reinstating Mike Hill as executive director.
Conrad Easterday
