Animal Lovers Rally Behind County Employee
Priscilla Dewing loves her job at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus.
Dewing saved more than a thousand animals from euthanasia at the Riverside County run shelter.
But, the county decided to lay her off. She’s another victim of budget cuts.
But, unlike others who lost their jobs, Dewing’s colleagues want to save her job.
“I’m very surprised by it actually. But, I think, the thing is everybody feels so strongly about trying to do the best thing for the animals,” said Dewing.
People from shelters across the valley rallied over the weekend.
They want everyone to write the riverside county board of supervisors and Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack.
“She is out there in the community finding rescue groups. She’s on the phone, she networks,” said Janet McAfee, a volunteer with Coachella Valley Animal Shelter who helped organized the rally.
Not only does Dewing help save the lives of these animals, she also helps save taxpayer money.
The cost to house pets at the campus can cost hundreds of dollars a day.
It’s her job to send animals from the here to no-kill shelters.
“I just like all these animals and I think sometimes they just need a person to kinda spend a little time with them and try to understand them and show them some kindness and they come around,” said Dewing.
We asked the county for comment, but they didn’t get back with us.
Meanwhile, time is running out. Dewing’s last day is Wednesday.
This is the second time she’s lost her job in the past three years. She doesn’t expect to be re-hire this time but she would take another job at the shelter.
“They’re already overworked and overburdened with work so there’s not going to be time for this position. And, this is a full-time position. My job is never done.”
