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For the last several Niagara Falls Council meetings, in the “for the good of the community” segment, speakers have come to the podium to criticize Pit Chic, the Niagara Falls municipal dog shelter provider contracted temporarily in September by the Restaino administration.
The contract, a response to a 3-plus year crisis, was awarded with no bidding at more than $20,000 monthly. It was the topic of numerous speakers Wednesday at the Niagara Falls City council meeting.
The shelter was almost immediately over capacity after opening.
Janine Gallo, who formerly worked with the Pit Chic, has been the lead critic. She has repeatedly expressed concern about Kelli Swagel and her Pit Chic shelter alleging numerous problems with the shelter, breach of contract and suggesting that for $20,000 a month Niagara Falls deserves better. Gallo has been trying to purchase a building and open her own shelter.
Emily Harris came to the meeting representing Pit Chic. She read statements of praise for Swagel from the West Seneca and North Tonawanda dog control officers in an attempt to set the record straight.
She read a statement from NT DCO Eric Salisbury about how he considered opening a kennel but decided not to because Swagel was doing the same work he wanted to.
Diana Henry of Niagara Falls said she has used Swagel’s services for boarding and training and has had a great rapport.
“The problems are not Kelli’s fault,” she said.
City of Tonawanda DCO Dan Malbie attended the meeting and told the council he has worked as an animal cruelty investigator and has never seen any problems with Pit Chic which is where Tonawanda sends its strays.
Tanya Barone, who has been a frequent speaker and critic of Pit Chic, shared social media posts she considers slanderous, including threats from Swagel’s defenders.
Gallo, and Nicole Dyer both addressed the council to question the process through which Pit Chic received the contract and to advocate the council put the dog shelter contract up for a legitimate bid starting with an RFP. The intimated that Swagel receiving an emergency contract with no bidding was an inside political job manipulated by the Mayor’s office.
Council members have been working behind the scenes to invite Swagel to speak at a meeting and perhaps demand the Mayor put a legitimate Request for Proposal together.
Many of the speaker on the dog control topic ended their statement with a hearty cry of “Save the Turtle” which almost felt like “Go Bills!”
