County launches
probe of animal shelter
Girl saw animals being abused, Indian
Wells woman charges
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More stories about pets and animals
Indio Animal Shelter
45-355 Van Buren, Indio.
It is run by Riverside County.
The county plans to vacate the Indio operation and join
the valleywide animal campus set to open in Thousand Palms
later this year. The city of Indio has said it wants to
maintain the shelter for its own animal control services.
Information: 347-2319.
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By Xochitl Peña
The Desert Sun
April 1, 2004
INDIO -- Allegations involving animal abuse
at the Riverside County-run Indio Animal Shelter has prompted county
officials to conduct an investigation.
Janis McLaughlin,director of the Department of Animal Services with
Riverside County, was directed by the county supervisor’s office on
Wednesday to look into allegations that include the beating of
animals by staff.
"It will require some digging and checking around to find out what
happened," said McLaughlin.
She and other county officials met with Indian Wells resident Mickey
Deckerand another concerned person in Supervisor Roy Wilson’soffice
on Wednesday to discuss the complaints.
The issues discussed also were included in a complaint Decker mailed
Friday to the Riverside County Grand Jury.
Decker alleges that the shelter’s staff abused animals while they
were being euthanized.
"We have a girl who witnessed with her own eyes. They (animals) were
beaten senseless while … laying there dying," said Decker.
She said the witness also claims to have seen newborn kittens die of
exposure and starvation.
Decker said she has photographs documenting alleged abuses.
Denys Arcuri,legislative assistant to Wilson, said he was concerned
to hear of the beating allegation especially because he can’t fathom
that happening.
He’s visited the shelter and said the employees do not seem like the
kind of people who would do that.
"I hope that’s not happening. If that is happening I want someone to
go to jail," he said.
Decker also alleged that shelter manager Josh Sisler was verbally
abusive to her.
"He cornered me … verbally abused me and scared me off. And I can’t
go back in there," she said.
Arcuri, who knows Sisler, again said he can’t imagine that
happening.
Sisler could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Arcuri acknowledged the shelter has made mistakes in the past, but
said the county had rectified them.
Decker said in November she rescued a small sick dog with matted
hair that eventually wound up dying from fever and pneumonia and
rotted skin that had maggots feeding on it.
After that incident, Arcuri said the county put into effect a policy
at Decker’s urging that requires dogs with matted hair to be trimmed
when they come to the shelter.
A picture is taken before the trim so the dog can still be
identifiable to potential owners.
Decker claims that policy is not being enforced.
But Arcuri said, "As far as I’m concerned it has been adopted. I
have not been able to see that it hasn’t."
The implementation of vaccinations also is being questioned.
"Every new dog gets a 5-in-1 shot and nose spray for kennel cough.
It’s documented. It’s on the cards and they’re saying maybe that
it’s not getting done," Arcuri said.
He said the investigation and subsequent report by McLaughlin may be
available in about two weeks.
At that time, he said, the findings will be made public.
He said he has yet to uncover any cases of deliberate animal
cruelty, but remains very concerned about what is going on.
"I worked in an animal shelter as a volunteer several years back.
This isn’t something I take lightly," he said. |
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