Last week, the NC Department of Agriculture issued a letter regarding its investigation of the Transylvania Co shelter. The findings include:
- During the period from September 1, 2014 through July 21, 2015, 205 animals were killed by staff members who were not certified as euthanasia technicians.
- 81 stray animals who were neither seriously ill nor injured were killed prior to the expiration of the mandated 72 hour holding period.
- The director was suspended for a month in 2014. Upon his return, he falsified the kill log for 5 animals.
- The records of more than 100 animals who were killed contained conflicting or incorrect information.
The state assessed a civil penalty of more than $10,000 against the Transylvania Co shelter as a result of these violations.
So all this sounds pretty bad. But wait – we have enablers on standby!
“It’s important to note that these violations are administrative and have nothing to do with the way animals are treated at the shelter,” said Dr. Clyde Brooks, a veterinarian with Brevard Animal Hospital who led the effort to relocate the shelter to an improved facility two years ago.
This will surely be a great comfort to the 81 stray animals who were killed without ever being given a chance at redemption or adoption. It’s an administrative thing! Also the county manager says most of those animals were feral cats so piffle. As far as why the director was suspended for a month last year, the county manager says we don’t need to know about that. The vet goes even further:
Brooks doubted that the violations would affect [Paul] Vis’ role as shelter director, saying Vis has been instrumental in developing TCAS into a “state-of-the-art” shelter that has gone “from a 75 percent euthanasia rate to a 75 percent adoption rate.”
Let’s see if that’s true.
Nope.
The county is currently being sued by the owners of a dog who was at the facility for a 10 day rabies quarantine but was oops-killed. Apparently the owners loved their pet more than administratively.
(Thanks Lisa and Clarice for the link.)
This happens more often than I like! There should be punishment for those who kill without checking first! This is unacceptable and must be stopped!
Not only no accountability, but also enablers. Fantastic.
What’s next? Lying about their stats? Oh, wait. Nevermind.
Wonder where all of these morons go to school to learn how to do this. There must be a class somewhere because there are so many of them. Killing animals is not administrative. Take your head out of the dark place and listen to what you are saying, Mr/Dr Enabler. State of the art? Really? I hope the family who is taking legal action is successful beyond measure. GEEZ!!!
I think we may start seeing more of this sort of thing in NC because the new NC Dept. of Ag Animal Welfare Section director appears to be cracking down on a ton of stuff that pounds previously got away with.