Warning – some of the images at the video link are extremely graphic.
According to a video posted on YouTube, animal control officers left 14 dogs together in an outside area of the Forrest City Animal Shelter, unsupervised and without water, over the Memorial Day weekend. There were males and females – two of which were in heat. Needless to say, multiple fights broke out.
A volunteer stopped by to check that the ACOs had put up the dogs for the night properly and found multiple injured dogs. Apparently other volunteers came in to try to save the injured dogs but due to the holiday, a Vet wasn’t available. The dog who suffered the most severe injuries, a Lab called Bozo, went into shock. A volunteer wanted to use the shelter’s dryer to heat up towels to cover Bozo but had to remove the personal laundry of an ACO first. Sadly, Bozo died of his injuries.
Police are reportedly investigating the incident.
This is not the first time there have been complaints about the Forrest City Animal Shelter.
Back in October another You Tube video highlighted problems.
Back then, Forrest City’s Mayor called the video inaccurate.
The Mayor did not return our phone calls today.
I wonder if this video will be deemed “inaccurate” too.
There is an action alert here.
what is WRONG with these people? I mean seriously, what is WRONG with them and what is WRONG with the city government that they allow this CRAP. I feel nauesous – sick to my stomach. These people should be CHARGED and FIRED right away. I don’t understand, I really don’t. Even people with a modicum of intelligence would NEVER put ANY dogs together and simply leave them and putting males and females – TWO in heat? Sick, sick. sick.
I wonder sometimes, if the fact that a lot of pounds are so miserable and depressing, that the only people that they can find to hire for the job are apathetic/sociopathic rejects. it would explain a lot of these cases where you just can’t believe the horrific/incompetent behavior of AC.
If you select for crap, you get crap.
No protocols, no training, no common sense.
There is a petition requesting an investigation:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/forrest-city-animal-shelterjustice-for-bozo
Here’s the previous video, for those of you interested. I think it’s FAR worse than the one posted. This incident should not have happened, I think everyone is in agreement that there are NO excuses. However, I also think that prior conduct changes the perception of this situation a great deal.
After all, if this were a relatively trouble-free shelter, I still wouldn’t buy any excuse, but could forgive it as ignorance or simple stupidity. There is no real proof of malice aside from their claim about the ACOs laughing outside the office.
This video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjaxCr1t4mA&feature=related
Shows that the shelter has systemic problems that go WAAAAAAY above and beyond this one incident. In fact, given that only one dog died (correct?) this is a pretty tame incident in comparison with past goings-on. I think the RIP drawings tell an important story.
Forrest City needs to start clean with their ACOs. All of them – gone. NOW. Allow the senior person at the shelter to take part in the re-hiring. Clean slate is the only solution for this house of horrors, masquerading as a “shelter.”
the real BOZO’s are the two legged ones.. horrible..
HSUS does not care about animals, but it tries to pass itself off as an animal welfare organization when it attacks individuals for owning animals and when it offers rewards for information about animal cruelty. If HSUS is honestly concerned about animal welfare, it will waste no time to go after the ACOs in this case and see to it that they are prosecuted fully. HSUS should also work to have this “shelter” closed down. If HSUS is just in the animal welfare business for the money, then they will do nothing with this case.