The Method of Killing at the Shelter is Often Not Humane.

During the first week of November 2005, shelter director Anthony Moore administered only 2 ccs of sodium pentobarbital to each of 18 dogs. These dogs weighed as much as 100 lbs. This is far less than the required dosage of 1 cc per 10 lb's of body weight that is needed to kill humanely. According to veterinarians, this dosage along with the small amount of sedative also injected (2 ccs) was insufficient to cause death. Most of these dogs were undoubtedly placed into a freezer while they were still alive. It is also likely that some of the dogs revived and became conscious before freezing to death.

The use of Inter Cardiac injections remains a common practice at the facility. This cruel and unnecessary technique is simply referred to as "old school." Although still legal in Ohio, the prior stage III sedation, which is required before an I-C injection can legally and ethically be preformed, is often improperly done and as a result animals suffer greatly.

Only one member of the current shelter staff has been trained in humane euthanasia techniques in recent years. He attended and paid for the training of his own accord.

It is a cruel and common practice at the facility to routinely deny wholesome food and water to impounded animals in violation of state cruelty laws and Summit Co. Ord. # 505.09.

Shelter director, Anthony Moore has admitted that adequate amounts of food is denied to animals because the facility lacks the staff to clean up the animal's waste.  

Witnesses have often seen malnourished animals impounded in cages with no water or food.

Witnesses have seen cat food bowls with thick layers of mold on them.

Witnesses regularly report that animals, when purchased and removed from the facility, demonstrate ravenous appetites and thirst.

Sick and badly injured cats and dogs are repeatedly allowed to suffer, sometimes for many days without any type of veterinary care or treatment in violation of state cruelty laws.

Sick and injured animals are repeatedly allowed to suffer and die of their illnesses and injuries without any type of diagnosis and treatment.

No veterinary or preventative care of any kind is provided to impounded animals at the SCAS. 

At least 53 impounded animals have been found dead in their cages at the facility during the last 18 months.

On October 19^th, 2005, a beagle puppy, which had been purchased from the facility, was returned after having been diagnosed with parvovirus.  Shelter management refused to allow the puppy to be euthanized upon the request of a staff member and allowed the puppy to die horribly by hemorrhaging to death overnight.

The SCAS staff has failed to report clear cases of animal cruelty to the proper authorities for investigation and prosecution.

On at least one recent occasion, a dog that had clearly been abused and neglected by its owner was euthanized at the owner’s request with no repercussions or investigation into how the dog had developed a festering wound on its neck containing an ingrown collar.

Impounded cats and kittens are routinely mishandled and misdiagnosed.  More than 30 % are killed before owners have a chance to reclaim them.

Nearly one-third of all cats and kittens impounded at the facility are killed during the first 24 hours.  An additional 10% are killed before 3 days have passed.

Newborn kittens impounded without mothers are repeatedly left to die in their cages.  In July of 2005, a rescuer heard a 12-day-old kitten crying loudly in a cage alone.  She asked the management to give her the unweaned kitten so it could be cared for.  She was told that it was “eating on it’s own” and if she wanted it she’d have to pay for it.  She told the shelter manager “That kitten will not survive the night.”  She was again told that it was fine and that if she wanted it she’d have to pay for it, which she did in order to save its life. 

Denial of public access to public records in violation of the Ohio Public Records Act.

Public records at the facility are not made available for inspection by citizens during regular business hours as required by Ohio law.

Public records have been destroyed after being requested in an apparent attempt to protect shelter management from scrutiny for wrongdoing.  In October of 2005, videotape with incriminating footage of animal cruelty was “taped-over” though a copy of it had already been requisitioned prior to the expiration of the claimed “11-day window” for re-taping.

Shelter management has violated state and federal law in that schedule II controlled drugs have not been handled and safeguarded in the manner as prescribed by law. 

Until very recently, the shelter drug cabinet was not secured.  The key to the cabinet containing the controlled drugs ketamine and sodium pentobarbital was hung in an open area.    

The improper dosing of euthanasia agents is considered “off-label” use and is a violation of many drug laws.

The shelter management has summarily rejected nearly all of the recommendations made by the National Animal Control Association (N.A.C.A.), which was hired by Summit County in March 2004 to evaluate the facility and its practices.

Animal shelter management, who themselves have no training in currently accepted “best practices” involving humane animal care and control have repeatedly referred to the NACA recommendations as “one man’s opinion” and ignored them though that one man was John Mays who for the past 10 years had been the executive director of the nation’s most respected animal care and control association.  Note that NACA is not an animal welfare group or geared toward animal activists.  Rather NACA is an animal control organization geared toward the realities of community/municipal animal control.

Shelter management has demonstrated a complete lack of consideration and regard for the recommendations of its own Humane Commission.

Members of the Humane Commission are not now, and have never been consulted or allowed to participate in any decision-making process involving the shelter though the chair (and only remaining member) of the commission continues to visit the facility weekly.  

There exists an apparent lack of interest by Summit County officials in filling vacant positions within the Commission with qualified and interested candidates.  In late December 2005, James McCarthy removed all previously submitted names for appointment to the commission.  The County Council had apparently offended him by rejecting the reappointment of one of his friends who had previously failed to fulfill her duties on the commission, failed to appear before Council to answer questions and failed to return phone calls from them.  The Humane Commission has not met since March of 2005.

Hiring practices at the shelter routinely exclude the most qualified candidates in favor of friends and associates of the management.

Qualified candidates are rarely sought.  Those that have applied are overlooked in favor of those who are much less qualified, but have personal connections to the management.

In July of 2005, shelter management told a highly qualified, college educated candidate with 30 years of animal welfare experience that she wouldn’t be considered for the then open position of shelter director because “We don’t hire women”.  Indeed no woman has been hired at the facility in more than 10 years.

Shelter management has repeatedly refused to provide needed equipment to employees to allow them to safely and effectively perform their jobs.

The area of the facility used to kill 5,000 animals each year has no euthanasia table.  All animals are killed on a concrete floor.

Although money had been allocated and a check sent for a scale that was needed to accurately weigh animals to determine correct dosages of euthanasia drugs, no scale was ever purchased.    Due to this, body weights of animals continue to be estimated which can result in inaccurate dosing of drugs and additional suffering for animals.

Staff requests for needed equipment and requests to replace worn and dangerous items are ignored.  Only one pair of bite gloves is present in the entire facility and all catchpoles are so worn as to create injury to animals with their sharp metal edges.

Public property has been illegally converted for private use by shelter management.

Craig Stanley, while the acting supervisor of the SCAS, required members of its staff to perform an in-home euthanasia on his brother’s dog with county equipment, in a county truck and on county time.