After veterinarian Carol Burke filed a complaint with the city accusing the Bisbee Animal Shelter of “a pattern of criminal neglect” in August, city manager Steve Pauken asked the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office to investigate. In September, Pauken was quoted as saying, “There is no imminent danger involved here.”
This week, KGUN9-TV has an update on the story:
[W]e found that there are a string of complaints dating back to 2005, when the Bisbee Police Department took over the shelter.
Among the worst of those complaints, improper euthanasia, which the City denies.
In addition, KGUN reports that the city recently lost a spay-neuter grant due to its failure to maintain communication and records. City manager Steve Pauken told the station he doesn’t believe there is any neglect occurring at the shelter.
But at the Bisbee City Council meeting on Tuesday, the council voted to move the shelter out from under the police department:
The control of the shelter is now in the city’s Community Development Department, which is overseen by the City Manager.
City manager Pauken told the council he didn’t think that was a good idea. After the council voted against his wishes, he quit. The sheriff’s office investigation is ongoing.
It remains to be seen if these developments will translate to any improvements for the animals at the Bisbee pound. I would suggest that hinges on whether the next city manager considers the vet’s report of a pattern of criminal neglect to indicate any “imminent danger”. If so, I imagine prompt action will be taken to reform the pound. If not, it will be business as usual in Bisbee I guess.
(Thanks Clarice for the link.)