Tangipahoa picks shelter director

• By DEBRA LEMOINE
• Advocate Florida parishes bureau
• Published: Oct 9, 2008 - Page: 5B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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HAMMOND — A former chief deputy for the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office will become the new director for the parish government’s animal control program, parish officials announced Wednesday.

Charles “Chip” Fitz will take over as animal control director on Tuesday, Fitz and parish spokesman Jeff McKneely said.

Hiring a new director is part of the parish’s plan to reevaluate the parish’s animal control operations after all 172 dogs and cats at the shelter were euthanized on Aug. 4. The mass euthanasia was followed by shuttering the shelter for two weeks to clean up the contamination.

Four shelter employees also resigned in protest to the mass euthanasia and were among members of the community who questioned the necessity of the parish’s actions.

“Chip has worked with the people of Tangipahoa Parish for over 30 years and has over 20 years of supervisory experience,” Parish President Gordon Burgess said in a written statement. “His hiring continues our plan to reassess, reevaluate, reorganize, and improve the operations of Parish Animal Control.”

Parish officials selected six candidates among more than 20 applicants to be interviewed for the position, McKneely said. Three of those six withdrew their applications, he said.

Fitz was among the three candidates interviewed by a committee of veterinarians, animal rescuers and parish councilmen. The panel then ranked the finalists and Burgess used those rankings to select the new director.

However, a representative of one animal rescue group said he thinks that committee was more for public relations rather than input.

“That board was nothing but a show for the press and the people,” said Randy Stegall, president of the Tangipahoa Chapter of the Humane Society of Louisiana.

Stegall said other applicants had more experience with animal care and shelters and said he fears Fitz will do what the parish administration wants done at the shelter rather than what is best for the animals.

Humane Society members as well as other animal rescuers have been critical of shelter operations and the way the parish handles animal cruelty investigations.

A Hammond veterinarian on the review committee said he thinks the hiring process went well and that the committee had three very strong candidates to interview.

Fitz’s strength is his experience as a supervisor, which is a needed attribute for an animal control director, said Dr. William Wheat, a veterinarian with offices in Hammond and Ponchatoula.