It is time to explain the current disruption within the Humane Society Building Fund.

The plans to build a new shelter began prior to the formation of the building committee in October of 2007. At that time, the fund had a balance of around $18,000. The renewed effort began in November of 2007, and my job as chairman of the building fund was to organize and determine the best way to raise $750,000.

I personally received a $100,000 donor commitment for the first year followed by a 10-year pledge toward operations, contingent upon showing the donor a business plan of how the new shelter would be run. The board declined the offer saying the shelter could not afford a new management plan, and they were unwilling to accept a conditional donation.

The current conflict is concentrated on whether to build a shelter on donated land using the rendering of the building plan presented at all building fundraising events, as originally planned, or to follow a new proposal as outlined by the current Humane Society Board to build on land that will be purchased.

A total of $565,000 plus additional pledges were raised to build the new shelter based on the original plan. The board has changed the plan without properly informing those who made the pledges or explaining why the course has been changed. Ultimately it does not matter which shelter is built, a new shelter is what is needed and it is needed now.

The board, many of whom have served for well over 30 years, operates the shelter. The conditions are deplorable. There is no money to operate on and often no money to pay for food and labor, which results in 65 percent of the animals being euthanized year after year. Building a new shelter is a small but important component of the overall goal to provide care of animals.

Although the recent unrest regarding the shelter has been presented as a dispute regarding a change in building plans and location, I am here to tell you it’s not about a building or location, it is about how to run a successful nonprofit and maintain the Humane Society operation.

Building a new shelter will certainly help the current animal situation, but a change in leadership and in the way the shelter board operates is necessary.

Otherwise the shelter is destined to continue on the same path as it has been on for many years. Bylaws must be followed, leadership succession must be implemented and meetings held as dictated by those guidelines. When one stays on a nonprofit or a for-profit board too long, they begin to believe that no one else can do their job as well or run things correctly.

However, history has proven that running this shelter the same way as it has been done in the past simply does not work.

The Natchez-Adams County Humane Society is no doubt one of the most worthy causes in our area.

To my knowledge, there has never been a question of any misappropriated funds, and there is no question that each dollar goes directly to the care and welfare of the animals.

But with their donations, donors to the building fund, as well as dues paying members of NACHS, have a right to ask how their money is spent and to demand results from their contributions.

The Humane Society Board needs to address any concerns in an open meeting in which donors and members should be allowed to participate, ask questions and express concerns.

Members should be allowed to nominate and vote on board members, as well. With that said, the manner in which this issue has been handled — back and forth accusations thrown at one another — and allowed to continue to fester is a clear example of poor communication and decision making on the part of the current board. The board has continued to decline repeated requests to have an open general membership meeting.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. The Humane Society needs changes and a new direction.

Hopefully, the current board will accept and welcome change, which has not been the case in many years.

Vidal Davis is a Natchez resident and the person originally responsible for the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society’s proposed new building.