CHEYENNE -- The first day at any job can be uncomfortable.
But few would expect to experience what Alan Cohen had to deal with on his first day as Cheyenne Animal Shelter director.
On May 1, Cohen announced the shelter's decision to euthanize 42 dogs that had canine influenza.
It's arguably the most controversial decision local shelter officials have ever made.
"A lot of people are saying, 'Why are you staying there?' " Cohen, 52, said. "Just because things are bad, you don't run away. That doesn't solve anything."
Instead of being introduced to the public and welcomed by animal shelter supporters, Cohen heard from angry and outraged residents, some saying they would petition to have him fired.
But Cohen said he isn't going anywhere.
"To be honest, what's better than having a job where you're 100 feet from dogs all day long?" said Cohen, the owner of two dogs.
He said the hour-and-a-half when the dogs were put down was the worst hour-and-a-half of his life.
It was a painful decision, but the right one, he said.
Members of the Cheyenne Animal Shelter Board said Cohen shone during the interview for the position, and, in the past two weeks, they've been amazed at how he's handled the position.
As a young man, Cohen had dreams of becoming an artist until he discovered that he had no artistic talent.
He joined the U.S. Navy and became the engineering duty officer, running the engineering department, including two steam plants and 200 engineers.
After 17 years, the Navy offered Cohen the chance to move on to an aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf or take early retirement.
At the time, Cohen's children were teenagers, so he took the retirement option and moved to Cheyenne in 1996.
He got a master's degree in business administration from the University of Wyoming.
He worked at Sierra Trading Post, the State Liquor Division ("And no, they do not give out free samples," Cohen joked.), Community First Bank and the human resource office for the Wyoming National Guard.
And then shelter position opened up.
Sue Castaneda stepped down as director last October. Shelter Board member Mona Pearl said staff was ready for and needed a strong leader.
Pearl said there were 24 applicants from the nationwide search.
A subcommittee handled the interviews, narrowing the applicants to two -- Cohen and a woman from New York.
The board spent extensive time with both candidates, but Pearl said Cohen clearly was the right one to hire.
"He spoke intelligently to all our questions, had great interactions with us, and he was willing to learn what he didn't know," Pearl said.
Pearl said the board wanted someone with great communication and leadership skills.
Shelter Board President Tim LaHiff said board members liked Cohen's business background.
"We're really trying to be more business-oriented at the shelter," LaHiff said. "We needed a good person to keep us on track at the shelter with our finances."
Pearl said Cohen was selected unanimously for the job and makes $52,000 a year.
"I just want the shelter to run well; I want people to be proud of it," Cohen said. "I want people to trust a dog that they get here and keep it forever."
He said his top priority is to provide the best possible care for the animals, which are typically the most neglected ones.
Cohen also wants the shelter to be an integral part of the community, providing education on a variety of animal-related issues.
The staff is reviewing all policies and procedures at the shelter, Cohen said, and bringing in experts from the Humane Society to provide a report on the good and the bad at the shelter.
In his first two weeks on the job, Cohen has won the confidence of the board and the admiration of most of the staff, Pearl said.
Cohen spent his own money taking the shelter staff to a movie "to help them decompress," Pearl said, after the gut-wrenching decision to euthanize the dogs and the subsequent outrage from the community.
Pearl said she asked Cohen if board members could help pitch in, since they knew Cohen wouldn't spend shelter funds on it. But Cohen said it was his treat.
"Oh, for Pete's sake," Pearl said. "What a nice guy."
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Muddled Meanderer
wrote on
May 16, 2006 6:29 AM The hardest and most painful decisions are often a conflict between the heart and the brain. This man should be commended for doing the right thing, not condemned. He is a rarity amongst public officials.
Mary Schendel
wrote on
May 16, 2006 9:20 AM Most of our Vet's thought these dogs could have been treated. Like those from Alameda East(anyone who watches Animal Planet knows these Vets are wonderful). Unfortunately we have too many dogs and cats that are not properly cared for by owners who themselves should be spayed and neutered.
pre-vet
wrote on
May 16, 2006 2:01 PM It is easy for people to sit back and complain about what is going on. People are outraged and want to petition to get Mr. Cohen fired, but where was the outrage when 42 dogs were neglected and left to make it on their own? There are still dozens of dogs at that shelter and millions around the country that need a loving home. It is not outrageous that he decided to put these dogs down, it is outrageous that there were that many dogs that were that sick and there was (and still is) no one to care for all of the abandoned animals out there. He took responsibilty for containing the flu, when will people start taking responsibilty for their own animals, or start helping out the homeless ones?
Cate Anna
wrote on
May 26, 2006 12:54 AM They say 'start as you mean to go on' and this is a bad start. Sounds like it's too bad for the ill, lame and halt that will be brought to this shelter. Like ourselves, the dogs cannot all be healthy, young and beautiful, but like us, they deserve a chance. From what I've read, canine influenza is usually a mild condition that can be treated effectively with antibiotics and time; even the more severe form can be successfully treated in about 95 percent of cases. The Cheyenne Animal Shelter would not allow the money nor the time to these unfortunate dogs. Their lives of misery have been ended without a single kindness or care shown. God help the future dogs that come to the Cheyenne Animal Shelter and God help Billings if this is the best you can do.
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