Inside Report for August 29, 2008

• By DEBRA LEMOINE
• Advocate Florida parishes bureau
• Published: Aug 29, 2008 - Page: 7B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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The mass euthanasia at the Tangipahoa Parish Animal Control shelter on Aug. 4 exposed multiple problems with controlling the unwanted pet population.

First, it laid bare a major breakdown in the operations of the animal shelter. Second, it shattered the myth that there is a good home waiting for every unwanted cat and dog.

The shelter destroyed its entire population of 58 cats and 114 dogs on that day because,  parish officials said, there was an outbreak of an unknown disease at the shelter.

Putting aside the lingering suspicions of animal activists about the severity of the animal illnesses, the euthanasia of the entire shelter population in one day is a major red flag that something was wrong at the shelter.

The parish has hinted about the shelter’s problems in its 11-page report on the shelter issued Aug. 18, but has never admitted it.

The report says the shelter held too many animals at one time.

The 172 animals at the shelter on Aug. 4 were more than a shelter, with 44 kennels and 16 cat cages, can hold and contributed to the spread of disease.

On the other hand, animal rescuers and former shelter employees and volunteers have pointed to parish leadership, particularly during their comments at the Aug. 11 Parish Council meeting, for being the big problem by failing to make the shelter a priority and not adequately funding it.

Among the coming fixes is an independent analysis of shelter operations by the Humane Society of the United States, the construction of a larger quarantine area and renovations to the existing facility.

The shelter also will adhere to its capacity restriction, parish officials have said.

Besides the shelter issues, the mass euthanasia is a harsh reminder that, unfortunately, there is not a home for every dog and cat.

This is a point that the Humane Society of the United States emphasized in its statement issued the week that the euthanasia occurred.

“The death of 170 animals at any shelter in one day is usual, but the problem of pet homelessness is rampant throughout the nation and it is a challenge that shelters in virtually every community faces,” the statement says.