Pet Shelter Probe Finds Allegations Unjustified
Monday, September 25th, 2006They said it was an awful, dirty place, where dogs and cats lay ill without treatment, where the cages were dirty and where the director misappropriated donations.
But when authorities showed up to investigate the Tri-County Humane Society shelter last week, they saw volunteers “socializing” with dogs and met a director eager to cooperate, according to a report released by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday.
The six-hour investigation followed allegations of mismanagement and neglect leveled by the Boca Raton Animal Lovers, a group led by local developer Sid Moskin.
Last month, group members unsuccessfully pushed the city council to fire humane society Director Jeannette Christos, saying she ran a dirty shelter on Boca Rio Road, where pets languished and prospective adopters were turned away.
The inspection report tells a different story. In all, investigators found only two of 128 dogs “suffering from distemper” — though the report did note that a medium-hair cat named Smoky appeared “very lethargic and disheveled.”
The cages were large and clean, and dogs and cats had chew toys galore, investigators found.
“There is no independent evidence linking the humane society to any wrongdoing,” the report concluded. “This case is unfounded.”
Moskin said he hasn’t seen the report and referred questions to Barry Silver, a lawyer representing the Boca Raton Animal Lovers. Silver couldn’t be reached for comment.
Christos said she feels vindicated by the investigation and added that she’s discussing with the humane society’s board whether to file a lawsuit against the Boca Raton Animal Lovers.
She said the group’s complaints come from former shelter volunteers and board members who didn’t want to follow her rules.
“People, they love the animals, and they don’t like anyone to tell them what to do and what they can’t do,” said Christos, who started the nonprofit humane society in 1999 and took over the Boca Rio Road shelter in 2001.
SOURCE: Palm Beach Post
What is really going on at the Tri-County Humane Society?
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