Parish defends mass killing of animals; probe planned

• By DEBRA LEMOINE
• Advocate Florida parishes bureau
• Published: Aug 8, 2008 - Page: 1A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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HAMMOND — With a newly announced Humane Society of Louisiana investigation looming, Tangipahoa Parish government issued a written statement Thursday reiterating its position that parish Animal Control had destroyed all 170 of its animals on Monday based on recommendations of four veterinarians.

However, a state Department of Health and Hospitals veterinarian — who parish officials say advised them that euthanatizing the entire population of the animal shelter would be the “most appropriate action” — said he told the parish that there were other ways to handle the situation.

The following is an account of how the parish government decided Monday to put down all the dogs and cats in its animal shelter. The account is based on the written statement officials released on Thursday.

The kennel staff did not report to work Monday, so parish animal control officers were called in from the field to clean the kennels. While cleaning, they noticed that many of the animals were vomiting and had bloody diarrhea and needed to be put to sleep that day.

No explanation was offered for the kennel staff’s absence.

After a veterinarian examined the animals, he determined half the animals had symptoms of a severe virus. The veterinarian, whose name was not disclosed, determined that the animal population needed to be put down, and the entire facility sanitized and quarantined.

When notified about the situation, Parish President Gordon Burgess asked for a second opinion and another veterinarian confirmed that putting down all the animals and closing the shelter would be the best way the handle the situation.

Parish officials also notified Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain, who is a veterinarian, and the state Department of Health and Hospitals’ staff veterinarian, about the situation and the animal shelter’s best course of action.

“Both agencies advised that this was the most appropriate course of action,” the statement says of its decision to destroy the 170 animals.

Questions about the situation submitted Thursday were referred by parish officials to their attorney, Glenn Galbraith, because of the “sensitive nature” of the situation. Galbraith did not immediately return a voice message left at this office Thursday afternoon.

However, Dr. Gary Balsamo, a veterinarian who works for the DHH’s infectious diseases division, said that he never advised Tangipahoa authorities that putting down all the animals would be the best course of action on Monday.

Balsamo, who was vacationing in the Catskill Mountains in New York State on Monday, said that he was called by the Tangipahoa Parish sanitarian, who works for DHH and is based at the Parish Health Unit to inspect sewage systems for the agency and perform other duties.

Balsamo said he was told by the sanitarian that the animal shelter’s population had been stricken, and all the animals had to be put down. Balsamo said that he told the sanitarian that he needed to know exactly what virus was involved.