I have been a volunteer and supporter for the Kootenai Humane Society since 2002, until now. I have been reading the letters and seen with my own eyes the degradation of what once was a cause for animals and prospering well until this last year and a half. First, the firing of Phil Morgan (which I was no fan of), but how do you fire someone and pay them a load of money and still have to pay another to take his place?

The new director, Rondi Renaldo, seems to know nothing of economics and research, i.e., an all-expense paid trip for her and three of her cronies to Reno, Nev., to do research? FOUR people to research when most of the explanation at the board meeting I attended of what was learned and acknowledged could have been found out over the Internet and through phone calls. Want the phone number? Yes, I do research too.

Then wasting thousands of dollars on upgrades at the shelter with the knowledge that they may be closing it down to move? That's like knowing a tornado is coming directly toward your house, but let me add the additional bedroom anyway - wasteful. Yes, I do research too.

Rondi has done nothing but shown she is a control freak and if it's not her way, it's the highway.

Look at the people she hired; how many are left? Most moved on because of her attitude and control, rather than allowing them to show their true colors and do what they were hired to do. Also I think she has a male superiority complex as she has either terminated or forced out every male that used to work for KHS. Maybe that's why every fundraiser and event has raised next to nothing or lost money to include Tails at Twilight at an all-time record low. Yes, I do my research!

These are all wrongs, but the worst thing is the laying off/termination of the Post Falls thrift store manager (Sean M.). Sean was nothing but the most professional, motivating, caring workaholic person with one goal in mind: make money for the animals - he always drove that point home. His store was always stocked, cleaned, organized with uplifting music for the best shopping experience possible. On any given day Sean and volunteer staff received nothing but accolades and he took a dying store to a 35 percent increase (more in most months) in sales and revenues in just two years time. When most businesses try to achieve 10 percent growth he broke all the records.

I recently visited the store after receiving all kinds of complaints and questions as to what the hell was going on and what happened to Sean? The store was a mess - unorganized, cluttered (you couldn't get to some items without stepping on other items). The staff was rude and uninformed, it smelled and the music was atrocious. They even had a volunteer there that was FIRED by Rondi; how's that work? The reason Sean was told he was laid off they said had nothing to do with his work performance at all and from what I know, they gave him a great letter of recommendation, but that it was economics and that they would be closing the store down between October and December. However, I asked the sit-in manager and she said they weren't closing at all? Yes, I do my research.

I miss and hope the best for Sean and others that were and are there truly for the animals. So now we know that Rondi and current board members laid off their hardest working employee in his midlife during the worst job market ever - shameful. Yes, I am an old lady who can still do research and knows the truth as I know many people in this town and I think my monies and time will be better spent with Best Friends; at least they are about the animals and appreciate their supporters and employees.

Theresa Clare is a Post Falls resident.