The Jefferson County SPCA board of directors says it fired its now former director because she didn't perform the job up to standards. But the former director, Peggy Hinz, says that's not at all why. Our Brian Dwyer has more on why she believes she was let go and why her reputation isn't her only concern.

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, N.Y. -- Earlier this week it was announced the Jefferson County SPCA was firing its director Peggy Hinz after only six months on the job.

Board President Amy Saiff delivering the news via a press release saying, "It was decided that her job performance had been far below standards for her first six months."

But Hinz doesn't see it that way. She thinks the decision was based on her speaking out, unhappy with her thoughts that the board was not making decisions based on the best interest of the animals, stakeholders or employees.

Hinz releasing a statement Thursday saying her firing was, "A self-serving attempt to protect board members from accountability for their actions over the past several years."

And she's now considering what to do next. She's retained a lawyer, but says she's trying to balance her reputation with what's best for the SPCA and its animals.

"The good work we do is far more important than the individuals that have taken this action against me," she said in her statement.

And now volunteers that worked with Hinz are speaking out on her behalf.

"Her performance there was better than I can say anybody's was," SPCA Volunteer Cole Frey said. "She raised funds better than anybody. Our contributions from sales went up 110.7 percent when Peggy was there.

Emails to Board President Amy Saiff about Hinz's statement went unreturned and we have been unable to reach her by phone. But in her statement, Saiff said the decision to fire Hinz was not taken lightly, but the board was making the welfare of the animals and organization as first priority.