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Residents and volunteers urge Riverton council to audit PAWS for Life, cite safety and financial concerns
Summary
Multiple speakers at the Jan. 7 Riverton City Council meeting urged a financial audit and governance review of PAWS for Life, citing alleged neglect cases, lack of transparency, remaining financial liabilities and building fire‑safety gaps.
Several residents and volunteers told the Riverton City Council on Jan. 7 they want the city and PAWS for Life’s board to address animal‑welfare, governance and financial transparency issues at the city‑owned PAWS facility.
Janet Henshaw, who said she fostered and cared for five dogs during a recent local intake surge, urged a formal audit and sharper board oversight. "I took on 5 dogs," Henshaw said during public comment, and she described bringing kennels, spending more than 200 volunteer hours and paying for cameras and other supplies. Henshaw said she received a registered letter notifying her PAWS staff and the Fremont County sheriff would pick up dogs she had been fostering; she said communication and finance records from the shelter have been inconsistent and incomplete.
Henshaw raised specific safety and governance questions: she cited the NFPA 150 (2019) animal housing guidance and said the shelter lacks adequate fire‑safety features for animals and exterior confinement areas. She also said a Purina donation offer of about $5,000 in pet food had been rejected in favor of higher‑cost food on the shelter wish list, and she urged the board to share bylaws and financial records. Henshaw asked that donated funds be better tracked and suggested lower‑cost operational changes (for example, pellet litter and a lower‑cost storage solution) to stretch donations.
Karen Sue Richards, a professional dog trainer who said she has worked with PAWS over several years, praised the shelter’s current manager and said the facility’s operations have improved under current management. "The manager of PAWS right now is fantastic. She's doing a fantastic job," Richards said, but she also agreed that the PAWS board should be reviewed and that limited veterinary emergency capacity complicates shelter operations in a rural area.
Council members thanked speakers and indicated they would take the comments under consideration. No formal council action or directive to order an audit was taken on Jan. 7; several council members encouraged volunteers and board members to continue providing documentation and staff said they would include public comment in future packet material when appropriate.
Ending: Speakers asked the council to push for more transparency, emergency preparedness upgrades and a board review; council members heard the concerns and signaled they will follow up, but no formal audit order or funding action occurred at the meeting.
