PAWS Director 'Forced to Leave'

The former executive director of Pets Are Wonderful Support, a San Francisco-based nonprofit, says the agency recently made him quit.

Aaron Chandler, who led the nonprofit for just over a year, said he's unsure why the agency, which helps low-income people who have disabling HIV/AIDS and other illnesses care for their pets, wanted him to go. But in a Facebook exchange with the Bay Area Reporter this week, he criticized the agency's board.

"I was forced to leave," Chandler, 31, of San Francisco, said. "Most boards are completely comprised of good people - but almost no board members of community-based nonprofits like PAWS have any nonprofit work experience, and wouldn't be qualified to work in any position at the organization they are on the board of."

Chandler, who said he identifies as "gay or queer," added that he doesn't "know all the reasons" why the nonprofit wanted him to go, but he said PAWS is "in the final stages of a merger conversation, so I presume that may've had something to do with it."

He said he's "looking for new opportunities."
PAWS Executive Director Sarah Cramer. Photo: Courtesy Sarah Cramer's Facebook page

In an interview before the B.A.R. 's exchange with Chandler, Sarah Cramer, PAWS' new executive director, wouldn't explain Chandler's departure.

Asked why Chandler left, Cramer said, "We agreed with him that the message was he was leaving to pursue other opportunities. That's the commitment we made with him."

Cramer, 28, who lives in Oakland, joined the agency in November and served as the development and marketing director before being named interim executive director after Chandler's May 19 departure. She recently took over the executive director position permanently.

She wouldn't say whether there had been problems with Chandler.

"We're going to decline to comment on that," she said.

As to whether Chandler had been asked to leave, Cramer said, "I'm also going to refer to my previous comment."

She said information about PAWS' plans would be shared "in the coming weeks and months," but she wouldn't provide any details of what those plans would include, and she didn't respond to follow-up requests for comment.

Board chair Scott Jacobs was similarly tight-lipped and would only say, "Aaron left to pursue other opportunities."

Jacobs repeated that line when asked whether Chandler had been forced to leave, but eventually added, "It's policy for PAWS not to get into any HR situation like this where someone left. My hands are tied."

He wouldn't talk about whether the nonprofit is discussing a merger.

"I don't have time to go through an interview with you right now," he said. "... I'm running a company here." Jacobs is the founder and principal of Benjamin Madison Wealth Advisors.

The B.A.R. tried to ask about Chandler's comments regarding the board's lack of nonprofit experience, but Jacobs, who had grown angry, refused to let the reporter make any more inquiries.

"I know where you want to go with this," he said, before concluding, "I'm in the business of ending this conversation."

A statement dated May 27 on PAWS' website thanked Chandler for his service.

"As a board, our role is to ensure that PAWS fulfills its mission, stewards the dollars that our community so generously provides, and treats our donors, volunteers and clients with the respect they deserve," the nonprofit commented. "With new leadership in place, we feel PAWS is in a stronger position to achieve its goals, and can renew and strengthen the relationships we have with all of our community members."

Chandler said he wouldn't interpret the first part of the statement to imply that he wasn't performing the duties the board tries to ensure.

He wouldn't say more about the possible merger or provide other details.

"I can't disclose the merger or conversation specifics as you probably can appreciate - a confidentiality agreement is in place," Chandler said. He also wouldn't discuss issues about individual board members.

"The board simply decided - for reasons unknown to me - that they wanted new leadership. I won't discuss specific issues or challenges I had there," Chandler said.

Hundreds of Clients

As of December, PAWS had "630 active human clients and 812 companion animals," said Cramer, a former volunteer with the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

In June, the nonprofit held its annual Petchitecture fundraiser. The estimated gross revenue was $140,000. The money will go toward the nonprofit's budget, which is $898,000.

Cramer wouldn't say what expenses for the event were, indicating she wanted to wait until the figures are finalized.

She declined to say what her sexual orientation is. Cramer also wouldn't say what her salary is, but she said it's the same as what she made in her previous position at the agency. Her compensation for that post isn't individually listed in the organization's most recently available tax filing.

Despite the recent turmoil at the nonprofit, Cramer expressed confidence in its work.

"I believe really strongly in the work that PAWS does in the community," she said. "I believe there has been a resurgence of interest in the healing benefits of the human-animal bond, and PAWS, as an almost three-decade old San Francisco-based nonprofit, is well-positioned to continue to serve low-income individuals who can benefit from their companion animals."