Shelter Manager Hissy Fit

[lizbud]

It sounds like this man did this out of spite. His management of the
Anderson Shelter was critized & so he ordered the killing of 28 dogs.
In another account of this, they said this was discovered because a
person came looking for one of these dogs that had been approved for
adoption.


Shelter's Euthanization Of 28 Dogs Investigated

Two Employees Sent Home

POSTED: 4:37 pm EDT March 28, 2008


ANDERSON, Ind. -- A team of four veterinarians will lead a city-run animal shelter while officials investigate the actions of an employee who performed an unscheduled euthanasia of 28 dogs, the mayor said.

Mayor Kris Ockomon said Larry Russell, the senior humane officer who performed the euthanasia, and another shelter employee were sent home on Thursday but had not been fired.

"I don't want to take anyone's job from them unless there's a reason," he said.

The animals were euthanized Wednesday, the day after the operator of a rescue center for pit bulls said at the city's Board of Public Safety meeting that Russell failed to control the population at the Anderson Animal Shelter.

The four veterinarians were recruited to temporarily take over Russell's position.

"We underestimated the condition of the shelter," Ockomon said in a news release. "A seasoned veterinarian group is needed to install standards that simply did not exist before."

A message left for Russell by The Associated Press on Friday was not immediately returned.


Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed


http://www.wthr.com/global/story.asp?s=8085953

[Twisterdog]

Wouldn't surprise me. At our city animal control, they routinely euthanize all the animals on Friday afternoons, because they don't want to have to come in on the weekend to take care of them. Doesn't matter if they just picked up an animal Friday morning, and are supposed to hold it for five days.

[moosmom]

I don't want to take anyone's job from them unless there's a reason

Well, DUHHHHH!!!!! I think that's a damn good reason to take someone's job. He killed 28 dogs for no reason, for God's sake!!!! What other reason is there???

[Freedom]

Well, DUHHHHH!!!!! I think that's a damn good reason to take someone's job. He killed 28 dogs for no reason, for God's sake!!!! What other reason is there???

If they are like the shelter workers in my city, they are part of a Union. You can't just fire them on the spot. You have to go through the right steps in the process; or they get to return to the job with back pay. It does sound like the process 'should' result in termination, in this case.

[mugsy]

I have heard REALLY bad things about this place. This guy is a lazy SOB who refuses to do anything. A friend reported horses being abused in Madison County and they blew her off. I have dealt with him before...once, mind you...and swore I never would again.

Just remember what they say about Karma....

I'm just glad the idiot is gone! The animals deserve so much better!

[lizbud]

I have heard REALLY bad things about this place. This guy is a lazy SOB who refuses to do anything. A friend reported horses being abused in Madison County and they blew her off. I have dealt with him before...once, mind you...and swore I never would again.

Just remember what they say about Karma....

I'm just glad the idiot is gone! The animals deserve so much better!

Well, he's not gone yet, but he should be. here's what the mayor said
about his qualifications. (this is from a 2nd article-Link at bottom of page)

" I believe that this job became too much for him in a management position and I feel that he will probably be detailed to a position of lesser responsibility," Ockomon said. "It wouldn't be a department head job but it would be more of a labor type position."

Yeah, maybe shoveling poop would be a better job for this jerk.

28 dogs were put down for no good reason. :

[lizbud]

The Manager was allowed to resign today. He said he had
caused "irreversible harm to public trust."




Leadership shake-up following unexplained euthanizations

Posted: March 31, 2008 05:21 PM EDT

Updated: March 31, 2008 06:56 PM EDT


ANDERSON, Ind. (WISH) - The Anderson Animal Shelter started off the year with problems. Sixty four animals were euthanized because of a contagious disease.

On Wednesday, 28 unexplained euthanizations occurred at the shelter and the mayor wanted to know why.

"We immediately had some people come forward and say this was unexplainable," said Mayor Kris Ockomon.

In fact, Mayor Ockomon said a Doberman mix, named Nick, was about to get a new home.

"The adoptive folks had not arrived yet, and that dog was put down," said Mayor Ockomon.

Shelter Director Larry Russell resigned and said he caused "irreversible harm to public trust."

In the interim, the mayor put a team of veterinarians in charge. Mayor Ockomon said you can already see improvements.

"We have care documentation, better records already," said Mayor Ockomon.

He is now looking for alternative ways to run the shelter.

"Our ultimate goal is to make it a county facility, including county government. Also the Humane Society, as well as, incorporating all those together," said Mayor Ockomon.

Madison County Humane Society Director Richard Chandler said sharing city funds would help all the animals. But the society would not want to follow some city rules and regulations.

"By it being city controlled, they'd be euthanizing and we do not believe in euthanizing. Because out there somewhere there is a home for every animal we have," said Chandler.

The mayor will hold a public meeting on April 9 to discuss new operating options and get the publics opinion.

Report by Jennifer McGilvray, WISH-TV. Edited by Hyacinth Williams.

[ramanth]

Sad it had to take more lives for them to get their act together. Hopefully this will be a new and better start for the shelter.