Animal rescue leadership changes in Jasper County cause controversy

Significant changes to the board of a prominent animal rescue cause tumult in Jasper County.

Ridgeland, South Carolina, has been at the center of a controversy following recent leadership changes at the Jasper Animal Rescue Mission. After the organization expanded their board, the executive director got terminated, and several members of staff left in solidarity.

Shakeups at the Jasper Animal Rescue Mission

Caitlyn Schake, the former executive director who served in her role for nearly a decade, was taken aback by the board’s decision to let her go. “I thought it was fantastic, I was going to have a board that was going to help me get some positive changes done at the shelter,” Schake told HERE News Network. “I thought we were all going to work together, and it was going to be great. Then when they told me this news, I was crushed. Honestly, it was heart-breaking.”

According to Schake, the board explained that they had eliminated her position to save funds. However, Keith Hughes, the board’s president, suggested that she wasn’t fulfilling her duties, leading to her dismissal. The organization had faced issues with the board’s membership number, which had deteriorated to below the required minimum for the non-profit to continue operating.

Previous Board Forced to Resign

Schake painted a rather different picture of the circumstances leading up to these controversial changes. “Our old board of directors who were there for many years were basically forced out of their positions, forced to resign,” she said. Schake added that the previous board had been very inactive, leading to difficulties in implementing necessary changes at the shelter.

Even so, she had initially held high hopes for the new leadership and the possibility of positive changes. That belief was shattered when she found out about her dismissal. The board’s president, however, insists that while they indeed are implementing positive changes, it was necessary to part ways with Schake due to her lacking in several duties.

Mass Exodus After Schake’s Termination

Schake’s termination led to a mass exodus of staff members, including the shelter manager, the medical coordinator, and six kennel technicians, who left the organization in support of her. The absence of these vital staff members is causing a significant strain on remaining staff and volunteers.

When asked about the resulting struggle in obtaining necessary staff, Hughes responded, “We will admit that we are struggling getting actual staff in place. Those duties are currently being handled by multiple, multiple volunteers,” adding that addressing the staffing issue remains a top priority.

Meanwhile, Schake appealed for her job back and requested an investigation into the formation of the board by Jasper County officials.