Downhearted Humane Society Director Couldn’t Continue Doing The Job

After nearly a decade of deciding that more than 3,000 animals a year had to die, Pete Nikiforuk had to hang it up.

“A lot of times, people will neglect their animals - they are in such poor condition, have medical problems - that it’s more humane to euthanize them,” said Nikiforuk, who was executive director of the Kootenai Humane Society until resigning last week. When it came to choosing which of the 6,000 strays a year would die, “I had to make the decision.”

And while Nikiforuk assumes too much of that responsibility for putting down those animals, he’s not ready to capitulate to the hostile court of public opinion that often portrayed him only as an animal killer.

“People need to know it’s their fault, not our fault, what happens to the animals,” he said. “We are just a tool.”

He pauses often, blinks hard, and stares out the window as he fights with what he wants to deny and cannot avoid. Not quite making it a decade. No longer being the Humane Society director.

“All I can think about is all of the things I could have done … should have done,” Nikiforuk said.

Sometimes he believes he let Kootenai County and the animals down because he couldn’t continue.

Nikiforuk is aware of the rumors surrounding his departure, some of which say he was pressured to leave the organization. Those rumors are not true, he said. But this sort of thing automatically comes with a job that involves collaring people’s dogs and cats.

“Reputation wise, we are looked at as being the bad guys and people feel hollow not getting the dirt,” Nikiforuk said. He quit because he was too involved with his job, working seven days a week, taking it home, affecting his relationship with family and friends.

“I was just down right burned out.” Once he talked to the board, they figured he should do something immediately. “I’m not bitter, my situation is it had to be done.”

Bobbie Wolf, president of the Humane Society Board, also says there is nothing improper behind Nikiforuk’s departure. “He’s been an excellent director, he’s seen us through a lot of great times,” Wolf said. “We appreciate what Pete’s done - he’s given us 110 percent.”

But the job “can get you down,” Wolf said.

Nikiforuk started working with animals when he got out of the military in California in 1968. Since then he’s worked as a veterinary assistant and an animal handler for the Lion Country Safari in Florida and Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus.

He came to Coeur d’Alene, a favorite memory from boyhood travels, 10 years ago to hunt and fish. But he hasn’t had time to do any of that.

He’s loved what he’s done, perhaps too much. Nikiforuk’s been on anti-depressants for years, and finally got to where he didn’t want to get out of bed in the morning, much less talk to people.

Despite this load, he’s proud of expanding the Humane Society, of its new spay and neuter clinic, of providing a place where people can drop unwanted animals at night. And he wants to stay in the animal business, though not in the role as life saver.

“I want to deal with pets that are owned by somebody,” Nikiforuk said. Then “I don’t have to worry about what happens to them.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo