Protesters call for removal of new Cheyenne Animal Shelter CEO

Those demonstrating at the Cheyenne Depot Plaza on Saturday insisted the board chose Kremer based on his ties to the community alone. They hoped for a candidate with extensive shelter management experience who could earn back community trust following months of controversy.

Kremer succeeds Fecht, who resigned last year after ordering animal control officers to pepper spray a young dog the day after it bit an employee. The incident prompted public outrage and resulted in an independent audit of shelter policies and a new crisis management plan.

In a redacted report following the incident, Kremer described it as a safe and relatively harmless way to see if pepper spray would deter an aggressive animal.

The shelter’s board later said this was wrong, but protesters insisted Kremer’s recent promotion demonstrates board members’ resistance to change.

“We don’t think they conducted a nationwide search,” said Lisa Smith, a former shelter volunteer. “We want them to find someone with actual credentials who has run a shelter, rescue or even a doggy daycare at this point. I don’t believe he is qualified to be an extraordinary candidate for the position.”

Protester Michele Hodges wants the board to reveal who else applied for the position.

“We want to know who the other applicants were and what their experience was,” she said. “They’re supposed to be transparent.”

Shelter Board President Tammy Maas said the board received “considerable” interest in the position after posting to a number of national job boards, but believes Kremer’s experience as an animal control officer, pastor and Wyoming police officer made him the best person for the job.

“We think (Kremer) has a deep understanding of the animal shelter,” she said. “He’s a great communicator, he’s a natural leader and he’s earned the respect of our board and staff.”

Maas said she and Kremer have discussed plans to receive additional training in the future, but isn’t sure what that would be yet.  

“Currently, there is no national accreditation, but we are keeping our eyes open for that should it become available,” she said. “No one who applied had that, but we support it and would probably pay for his certification. We are mindful of people wanting that, and we’re glad so many people share our same passion for animals.”