DURING the first week in September, local media reported on a lawsuit filed by Karon Johnson versus Guam Animals In Need (GAIN). The basis of her complaint is that the GAIN board has unjustly and improperly, in violation of the organization bylaws, attempted to revoke or refuse to renew her membership. The ostensible cause appears to rest virtually entirely on mostly unsupported complaints from a single GAIN employee who has had differences with Karon in the past. I can understand why differences might exist as I’ve been a GAIN volunteer for the past 20 years and encountered similar difficulties. The last such confrontation, a year ago, caused me to walk away in disgust from my long history of volunteer work at the shelter and stay away until now.

Karon has been a member of GAIN and a loyal supporter for 20 years and has served on the board and as a volunteer in various capacities throughout that time. The lawsuit story prompted comments both negative and positive. Some were vicious and slanderous, posted by those hiding behind anonymous user names.

There’s much more to the lawsuit, and the reasons behind it, than meets the eye. Having known Karon for most of those 20 years, and having witnessed firsthand some of the truly remarkable things she’s done on GAIN’s behalf, I have some observations of my own that might help to set the record straight.

This lawsuit was entered into reluctantly by a person who has dedicated 20 years of her life to improving and stabilizing the GAIN organization – one who has donated thousands of hours and thousands of dollars to the cause of improving the lot of Guam's homeless, neglected and abused animals, of which we have far more than a fair share. Nobody's perfect, but before you castigate Ms. Johnson for wanting to set things right at GAIN, please make sure you understand exactly what the issues are and what's at stake.

For the past year or more, GAIN has been controlled by a non-resident board president living in Wisconsin who has not, to my knowledge, set foot on the island during that time. Financial information has been suppressed and kept from the membership, and it’s possible that all may not be well in that regard. Time will tell. GAIN no longer communicates with the membership through what was once an informative newsletter. Membership renewal notices, solicitations and similar mailings no longer come in the mail as before. The GAIN family dog show, once a much-anticipated annual island event and significant fundraiser for the organization, hasn't happened for several years. Many long-term dedicated volunteers who previously donated their time and money to GAIN have become disenchanted or disgusted and walked away. The list of downside indicators is long and significant.

In a Sept. 4 hearing on Karon’s legal action, Judge Perez ruled in her favor on every point. The next hearing, should anyone be interested in learning more about what it’s really all about, is scheduled for Oct. 25. I encourage you to attend and hear the arguments, and perhaps come away with a better understanding of the true motivations of the opposing parties.