Announcement From The President

Dear LACA Officers, Board Members and General Members:

In two weeks, on December 9, 2005, I will end my employment as Assistant Director of the East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control Center and begin my new job as Director of Operations for LA/SPCA in New Orleans.

I was not shopping for a job, so I really had to do some soul-searching when this job was offered to me. But I believe I have made the best choice for my family and for myself, and deep down inside, I have a debt to repay both to my hometown of New Orleans and to the SPCA. Because if it were not for the example set for me in my childhood by my family and by the good people of 1319 Japonica Street in New Orleans, it is possible I might not be doing what I do today.

LA/SPCA is contracted to provide animal control services to the City of New Orleans for at least the next five years, so I believe this qualifies me to continue as president at least until the next annual meeting and election. The officers and board should take a closer look at the by-laws at our next board meeting. If it comes to pass that for some reason I cannot continue my duties as president, I will continue to volunteer as the LACA newsletter editor, as an instructor for LACA Certification Academy, and as a lab proctor for CAET class.

In the meantime, of course, nothing will change with LACA, and I will faithfully execute my duties as president.

Please make a note to send your LACA-related email correspondnece to my personal email at:

dezcrawford@hotmail.com.

I expect to get a winter newsletter out soon, full of Katrina stories. If anyone wishes to contribute a story or photos about your own agency's response to the storm, please email them to me before December 7th.

Thanks to each and every one of you for your dedication and your astoundingly hard work during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Most sincerely,


Dez Crawford

LACA President