Deb

Dricks answer to separation from HSLC

The Humane Society of Livingston Countys Executive Director Deborah Drick claims
she has been severed from her position in retaliation for Dricks halting of an adoption
she believed to be dangerous.
Drick said that over her objection, the shelters animal welfare director, Karen Kazyak,
adopted out a dog with a prior report of snapping at a child to a family with several
children. When she questioned the adoption, Board President Joe Miskovich told her
adoptions were at the discretion of Kazyak.
When another dog was returned from a foster after biting at two childrens faces, Drick
emailed the board and asked for a policy decision at the upcoming board meeting about
procedures for dogs with a bite history.
Drick was then told a third dog with a bite history was being adopted to a family Kazyak
said was a quiet couple with an adult special needs son. Drick told Kazyak to hold the
adoption until the board decided on a policy for dogs that bite.
Drick said Miskovich and Kazyak became angry with her for stopping the adoption.
Miskovich then called an executive session of the board to discuss her performance
immediately following the board meeting. Drick said she told the board at that meeting
she had been advised by a civil attorney, the sheriffs office, Livingston County Animal
Control and the Livingston County Prosecutors office not to adopt a dog with a bite
history to a family with vulnerable members such as children, seniors or other special
needs. They excused her and went into the executive session.
After showing up at a staff meeting the following week and personally handing out a
letter to all staff EXCEPT Drick indicating they could contact the board directly if they
had issue or complaints, Miskovich called another Executive Session for the next week.
This time he brought in some staff members who claimed they didnt like working for
her. He then asked for a vote to terminate.
Drick said she believes her work relationship was severed in retaliation for her fighting
the adoption of biting dogs to vulnerable families because there never was any
discussion of issues. She has retained Pinckney attorney Jim Fett to represent her in a
suit against HSLC, as well as some board members personally.
Drick said she was offered a severance package from Miskovich in return for her
resignation, silence and a job recommendation. She said while she initially considered
taking it and quietly moving on, she was more concerned that by doing so, dogs with
bite histories would continue to be adopted to vulnerable families. She said unless that
practice changed, it would only be a matter of time before someone was seriously
injured.
Drick said she hopes one outcome of litigation will be a spotlight on the adoption
practices of HSLC and that the increased scrutiny will cause dogs with bites to be

Deb Dricks answer to separation from HSLC

rerouted to recues dedicated to working with such animals, instead into homes of
people not equipped to deal with them.