Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/140592
Sarasota News Leader June 28, 2013 Page 11 sota News Leader. The Sanctuary was helping 10,000 birds a year — Fox says she knew SOS couldn't handle that volume, but the facility could accommodate at least some of them. But the board said no, and prevented volunteers from going to pick up some of the birds. spring after she rejected a one-year employment offer that would have had her working in Wimauma rather than City Island. The FAQ says the "issues" with Fox "were numerous, serious, and openly communicated" to her. An FAQ (frequently asked questions document) distributed to the media by Pilston claims that Fox "wanted to treat all" of the Sanctuary birds in Sarasota, a notion that just wasn't "practical": "SOS has continued to take in at least as many birds as we always have from Sarasota and Manatee Counties." "This has been my life's work for 27 years," Fox says. "I've given up a lot." Fox, who is cautious about describing her de"Why are we there?" she asks. "That's why I parture on the record, calls the decision "unwent there, to help the birds in the area." believable." Para is less circumspect: "They fired the founder from her own organization." Since Fox's leave-taking, Para alleges, conditions at SOS have only gotten worse. His According to the FAQ, the SOS board was affidavit describes "dead or maimed parrots "left with no choice but to terminate" Fox this from rat attacks," and rats he saw "enter and Parakeets share quarters at Save Our Seabirds. Photo by Norman Schimmel