Animal Control shelter loses its 13-year leader

The head of the county's animal shelter abruptly left her job this month after 13 years, but county officials won't say whether she quit or was fired.

Tahira Shane Thomas' last day was April 11. She didn't return several phone messages left by The Capital.

Signs of unhappiness at the 30-person department were evident throughout Ms. Thomas' tenure.

Mike Akers, president of the union representing Animal Control employees, said his members had given Ms. Thomas two "no-confidence" votes since she came to the county in 1993 - one in 1997 and another in January. He said those are the only two times Local 582 of the...