Nearly two weeks after a scathing letter signed by 57 current and former Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA employees and volunteers described a hostile work environment and poor conditions for the animals under the leadership of the shelter’s CEO and executive director Angie Gunter, the shelter’s board announced it will engage a third party to conduct an independent investigation.

“Although we are prohibited from discussing individual personnel matters, we appreciate the concern of the community and those who took the time to write letters regarding their experiences,” the Jan. 31 statement reads. “While this process unfolds, we will continue to focus on the mission of the CASPCA and the well-being of the animals in our care.”

The controversy erupted on Jan. 17 with the release of the letter to the board from anonymous former staff and volunteers as well as several additional letters signed by former staff and volunteers. The number of anonymous signees has since grown to more than 100, and more than 60 have written signed letters, according to information on the CASPCA Concerns Facebook page.

Among the letters’ allegations: that the shelter is overcrowded, that animals are being kept in filthy cages up to 23 hours a day, and that animals from outside the area have been brought in to help the shelter qualify more grant money.

Gunter, the letter alleges, is “demeaning, divisive, and punitive” and “creates a culture of fear among her staff and volunteers.” The letter claims at least 30 non-entry-level staffers have resigned since Jan. 2020. It requests that the board suspend Gunter and conduct an independent investigation.

On January 24, the board released its first response, writing in a statement that it intended “to pursue diligently the goals of making the shelter a better place for both the animals and the hard-working employees and volunteers on whom they rely” and expressing support for Gunter as “the best person to lead this effort forward.”

The controversy heated up with a protest outside CASPCA headquarters on Friday, Jan. 27, the same day CASPCA Board Chair Jen Corbey told Charlottesville Right Now that the allegations lodged against the shelter and Gunter were trumped up.

“We take care of our dogs and animals in that shelter, so it’s very disheartening that this came out about the shelter because our staff, our volunteers, and our CEO Angie Gunther work tirelessly every day to care for these animals,” she said.

Corbey also suggested that photos circulating showing animals in poor conditions were phony and denied that the shelter was at risk for adopting out aggressive animals due to a lack of behavioral assessment expert on staff. Her comments echoed the board’s original statement expressing support for Gunter, which outraged the concerned former staffers. 

“That statement was a slap in the face,” said former CASPCA adoption counselor Katie Roach, who worked at the shelter under Gunter from 2018-21. “People were brave enough to come forward and share their concerns, and for the board to shut us down like that was pretty insulting.”

 Gunter did not respond to WINA’s requests for comment.

According to data on the CASPCA website, the nonprofit shelter dealt with 7,641 animals in 2021 and aimed to increase that number in 2022.

While much of the budget comes from grants and donations gathered in part through sales at the CASPCA Rummage Store and from the annual Critter Ball gala, the city and the county make significant contributions and use the shelter as the public pound. The most recent budget figures show the city gave $298,000 to CASPCA and Albemarle County contributed $699,000.

Charlottesville Mayor Lloyd Snook says city leadership is concerned “about both the practical effect on animals, but also the effect on humans of the kinds of claims of mismanagement that have been made.”

Albemarle County Supervisor Ann Mallek declined an interview on Charlottesville Right Now but said she also is seeking answers to the questions raised in the letter.

The CASPCA board’s announcement of an independent investigation was welcomed by concerned former staffers and volunteers.

“That’s what we wanted from the very beginning,” Roach said of the promised independent investigation.

A Feb. 2 statement from the CASPCA Concerns group expressed both gratitude for the impartial investigation and concerns that the third-party had not been named publicly and that Gunter has not been placed on administrative leave.

“Given the Board’s history of hiring personal friends to conduct business, we remain skeptical that this investigation will be truly impartial until the third party is named and vetted by the community.”

To listen to all of the CASPCA interviews on Charlottesville Right Now, click here.