Humane Society of Louisiana Opens Investigation Into Shelter
The Humane Society of Louisiana has opened an investigation into the shelter.
Press release below:
Contact Persons: Randy Stegall, President, Tangipahoa Chapter of the
Humane Society of Louisiana 985-351-0181
Jeff Dorson, Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana,
901-268-4432
LOCAL HUMANE SOCIETY LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION INTO
MASS EUTHANASIA AT TANGIPAHOA SHELTER
Tangipahoa – Members of the Tangipahoa Chapter of the Humane Society of Louisiana have launched an investigation into the recent mass euthanasia that took place recently at the Tangipahoa parish animal control center, which claimed the lives of more than 160 cats and dogs.
“We have been working closely with our local government and with this animal control facility for the past year and a half,” says Randy Stegall, President of the Tangipahoa Chapter of the Humane Society of Louisiana, “and we are disappointed that neither our representatives nor any of the animal caring citizens of this parish were advised, notified, or informed of this action, until after these procedures took place.
We have fielded scores of phone calls from concerned citizens and several veterinarians, who feel that a different course of action was available. Several veterinarians informed us that corona viruses are highly treatable, especially in adult dogs, with very inexpensive anti-diarrhea drugs and antibiotics,” adds Mr. Stegall. “Everyone who has contacted us, and we have had communications from around the state and country, believes that our local government could have taken an alternative, non-lethal approach to this problem. We happen to agree with those sentiments.”
The Tangiphoa chapter, which operates with a partnership with the Humane Society of Louisiana, based out of New Orleans, plans to file a public records request that will allow them to review the documentation that led up to this action. The group also intends to create a Shelter Oversight Committee, comprised of parish residents, who will help create and implement shelter protocol. Representatives also plan to address their concerns and plans with the parish council on Monday, August 11.
Officials from the New Orleans based Humane Society of Louisiana also plan to attend and speak at the Thursday press conference to address the need for state oversight over private and public animal sheltering facilities.
Jeff Dorson, who has toured many of the state’s 120 shelters over the past 20 years as the Executive Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, has found ample evidence of problems and abuse at different shelters, many of which are located in rural, out-of-the-way places, far from the glare of the public. “We fully intend to use this opportunity to educate our state legislators on the need to create and/or appoint a shelter regulatory agency, which is in place in other states, such as Texas,” adds Dorson.
Officials from HSL plan to speak of these issues at a press conference on Thursday, August 7th, 10: 30 am.
What: Press Conference on the Mass Euthanasia of Shelter Animals at Hammond Shelter
When: Thursday, August 7th, from 10:30 am to 11:00am
Where: parking lot of Tangipahoa Animal Control Center, 15487 Delux Club Road, Hammond
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I found the above info on Animal Chat
Listen to this radio report – podcast/audio:
Spud McConnell (the WWL Radio Talk show interview about the TPAC killing)
http://wwl.com/pages/1050632.php?
Hopefully the parish president, Gordon Burgess, can come up with answers to these questions:
1. What was the disease diagnosis and who did it?
2. Was a test run for this disease and who did the test?
3. Who was the two experts Burgess consulted before making his design to kill all the animals?
4. What was two attending veterinarians diagnosis of these animals? Who are these veterinarians?
5. If this was such a deadly disease why was 10 animals allow to leave the facility that day?
5. Why did the media report this: ‘According to Parish President Gordon Burgess, there was an outbreak of a dangerous viral airborne infection inside the kennel.’[1]? Was a diagnosis made, when, by whom, and what was the diagnosis?
6. Why did the newspaper report[2] that the killings were because of the Corona virus (which is NOT airborne) when…
Canine Corona Virus is only a disease of puppies. It is rare, self limiting (dogs get well in 3 days without treatment). Cornell & Texas A&M have only diagnosed one case each in the last 7 years. Corona virus does not cause disease in adult dogs.
Pet’s Health – http://www.petshealth.com/dr_library/fip.html
Feline enteric corona viruses cause mild intestinal disease in kittens up to 12 weeks. The infection is common and probably exists in most homes with more than one cat. It may recur throughout the cat’s life but is rarely serious.
[1] According to Parish President Gordon Burgess, there was an outbreak of a dangerous viral airborne infection inside the kennel.
[2]Shelter Virus Leads To 170 Animal Deaths
Corona virus Spreads Among Dogs, Cats At Shelter In La.
POSTED: 6:50 pm CDT August 5, 2008
UPDATED: 7:20 pm CDT August 5, 2008
Call the parish and demand a full investigation!
By the way, why aren’t most of the news reports asking these same questions?
Contact:
Please contact the Tangipahoa Parish Parish Council Members
Animal Welfare Commission of Louisiana
http://www.legis.louisiana.gov/boards/board_members.asp?board=715
Dr. Gary Balsamo
3101 W. Napoleon Ave., Ste. 102
Metairie, LA 70001
(504) 219-4593
RS 3:2364 — Louisiana animal welfare commission
Tangi Shelter Media by fqdave, 8/6/08 21:54 ET
There has been EXCELLENT local media coverage of the mass killing at the Tangipahoa Animal Shelter as a result of the apparent incompetence of the “Shelter Director.”
Please take a moment to call WWL-TV, WDSU-TV (both in New Orleans), WAFB and WBRZ-TV (Baton Rouge), ask to speak to the “News Director” and thank him or her for the excellent coverage. If they are not available please leave a voice message in their voicemail.
Also please call Debra Lemoine, reporter, at the Baton Rouge Advocate Newspaper and thank her for her in-depth coverage of this tragedy. Please leave a message for her if she is not available.
Here are all the links I have by Doggoneitu, 8/6/08 22:22 ET
Re: Tangi Shelter Media by fqdave, 8/6/08Channel 4 newsTangipahoa shelter euthanizes over 170 dogs and cats http://www.wwltv.com/topstories/stories/wwl080508mldogs.1b665c77.html
Channel 6 news http://www.wdsu.com/news/17103322/detail.html
Hammond Daily Star Newspaper http://www.hammondstar.com/articles/2008/08/05/community/health/9510.txt
The Advocate – Baton Rouge, LA. Newspaper
Tangipahoa Parish PresidentGordon Burgess
P.O.Box 215Amite, LA. 70422
(985) 748-3211
(985) 7487576 faxTangipahoa Animal Control
15487 Club Deluxe Rd.
Hammond, LA. 70403
(985) 543-0215
Tpac20@tangicouncil.com
August 12, 2008 at 9:08 pm |
After hearing this HORRID story, which was very brief coverage I might add I immediately became concerned about my own animals and was very concerned about this “mystery disease” that it had been necessary to euthanize the entire population of a shelter. Gotta tell you I was in a panic hoping, “What happens in Louisiana
STAYS in Louisiana”!!! As a pet lover and owner of several that are part of my family when I began to look further into this matter I was literally sick!! I of course have not heard anything on any of my local TV stations about the TRUTH of what took place there!! I hope the investigations are MANY and not only conducted by the “Humane Society of Louisiana” (that name at this point is quite laughable!!) Where is PITA?? Hopefully they will see it fit to become involved, where are all the TV reporters? Where are the Veterinarians who diagnosed this disease and suggested this “solution”?? They need to be , IF in fact they exist at all, stripped of their license and made to volunteer at local shelters. I believe they call that COMMUNITY SERVICE, not what they supposedly suggested doing to these helpless animals!! This should be broadcast far and wide so steps can be taken at other shelters and safegaurds put in place so this does NOT EVER happen again!! I can only pray for those involved in such a senseless and INHUMANE act! My heart and my gratitude goes out to the employees who saved some of the animals you need to be commended and to speard your story from the highest rooftop!!!
Very Angry In Iowa, RJS
September 18, 2008 at 1:57 am |
Thank God these people weren’t running a children’s home or home for the elderly. Animals are like people…THEY GET SICK…and then they get well. I am amazed the other people who devoted their time to these animals didnt feel the massacre was of public concern. I hope the people that turned a blind eye remember karma the next time a hurricane comes and wipes out the rest of the less fortunate, poor, sickly people. They weren’t so happy when the world turned a blind eye to them!