I was startled to hear Terrie Farrington from the Cayman Islands Humane Society Board say on CITN/Cayman27 that some volunteers who walk the Society’s dogs were “obstructive”.

Unpaid volunteers who heeded the Society’s appeal for more dog walkers are being described as “obstructive”.

I am sure that comment is going to endear itself to the heart of any further volunteers who might be considering giving up their time to go doggie walking along the capital’s very busy highway right outside the Humane Society’s premises.

This notice has been posted on the Humane Society’s website (best to read it here as it is very difficult to read on their site with fancy script and black background)

To all members and volunteers,

We are aware that many of you have been approached by some Society members, in connection with the waivers that have recently been introduced. We are also aware that many of you have realized the significance of these requirements and have already signed the waivers.

To these members and volunteers, we extend our thanks and gratitude for your continued support.

We understand the threats and abuse received by the Board and Management during the last few days from a very small minority, are due to a narrow focus and without regard to the big picture. At a Board meeting last week it was arranged that an information circular be sent to all members discussing the many events that have transpired recently. However, we deem it appropriate to let you know now, why these waivers have been introduced. A less hurried information circular will be issued following another Board meeting next week, explaining other matters that have taken place.

In short, a waiver from all volunteers is necessitated by our insurers.

The Society recently had its insurance coverage terminated, due for the most part by actions of some volunteers. Without insurance, we cannot remain open. Fortunately, we have been able to obtain cover from an alternative provider. This insurance cover is only available to us, if each and every volunteer signs the insurance waiver.

We simply cannot afford to go bare of insurance cover in this litigious age. We are cognizant, however,; that we cannot function without our volunteers, hence this email.

The second waiver is probably causing more concern than the first but it is equally important. We cannot function any longer in the way we have, with volunteers coming and going as they wish, without the approval of management. It is insupportable for a volunteer to arbitrarily take an animal away for medical treatment and incur several hundreds of dollars in costs without the knowledge of management. We can no longer sustain the foodstuffs that are disappearing from our supplies on a regular basis. These are just a few examples. At the end of the day the directors must stand up before the owners of the company in a general meeting when our tenure comes to an end and explain what they have done to curb the over-enthusiasm of our supporters.

The threats and abuse will receive our attention in due course. Those of you that have contacted us with suggestions for possible amendment to the waivers, we thank you for your help and all your suggestions will be presented to the Board of Directors for their consideration.

In closing, we would say that these waivers have been drawn up by lawyers well versed in this work. They have been compared to waivers in use at various other shelters – in the USA, and charitable organizations on island, and are considered much less onerous than others in common use. We invite you to contact other shelters and review their waivers. Every shelter has these waivers in place.

Again we thank you for your continued support.

End

Not exactly a pleasant read although it does point out the valid reason for the waivers being signed (except … read on)

However, the tone and content was extremely confrontational and almost squaring off for a fight. Conciliation often achieves more.

Goodness me, Terrie, these people are volunteers. Obviously the reasons for the waiver to be signed was not explained properly and most likely not pleasantly.

A war waged on Facebook with a charity “screaming” at its volunteers is no way to win friends oh … and volunteers.

Disappearing foodstuffs? Surely the Society controls that!

And the clause causing the problem has nothing to do with insurance coverage.

3. No Compensation – I agree to provide my services without compensation I agree that I am not and will not become an employee, agent, contractor or principal of CIHS upon execution of this agreement.

Perhaps the notice would have been of more use if it had addressed why the necessity for Clause 3?

I love dogs, we have one at home, but I would think more than twice about becoming one of your dog walkers.