When the cries of dogs and cats in agony echo down the halls of the Wexford County Animal Shelter (which is under the management of the Sheriff’s Department), former part-time animal shelter attendant Kathy Rodgers Dennis says that they come from animals who are being euthanized by heart sticking (intracardiac injection) without being sedated first. This kind of euthanasia is an inhumane way to kill an animal who is not comatose or heavily sedated. A needle and syringe containing sodium pentobarbital is passed through the chest wall and layers of muscle into the heart. When an animal is not sedated, it is a very difficult procedure because their body is in motion. It’s not uncommon for the person administering the injection to miss and accidentally puncture the lungs, causing them to fill up with fluid. Instead of what’s supposed to be an immediate euthanasia, the animal suffers greatly before they die. In a shelter environment, there is no reason for this to be done on an otherwise healthy dog. In a clinic setting, it would only be needed when an animal has circulatory problems. Dr. Bonnie Beaver, a veterinarian and professor of veterinary medicine who is considered a euthanasia expert by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has said in her writings, “Intracardiac injections are difficult to administer effectively on a fully conscious animal because in the animal, the lungs and the heart are constantly moving.” When this type of euthanasia is not done accurately, the animal will flop around in a desperate attempt to fight for it’s life, possibly biting those around him and suffering a longer, very painful death of suffocation.
Although the Michigan Dog Law of 1919 does not state that heart sticking is illegal and Jill Fritz, Michigan State Director of the Humane Society of the United States, could not find a specific law against it, the Michigan Department of Agriculture states in their guidelines that heart sticking without sedation is NOT an acceptable form of euthanasia. It says “The Michigan Dept. of Agriculture and Rural Development (MCARD) requires all animal shelters to euthanize animals humanely and accepts the AVMA guidelines on euthanasia.” The AVMA guidelines state, “a route of injection should be chosen that causes the least distress in the animal for which euthanasia must be performed. Intracardiac injection is acceptable only when performed on heavily sedated, anesthetized, or comatose animals.” They further explain that this is due to the difficulty and unpredictability of the animals and not being able to perform the injection accurately on an awake animal.
Most shelters in Michigan euthanize their animals like your own veterinarian would (sedating them first through their veins and then giving them a fatal dose of sodium pentobarbital). It is hard to accurately know how many shelters use the heart sticking method because the shelters are not forthcoming with that information. Using gas chambers to kill animals, another inhumane euthanasia method, is also occurring at Michigan shelters, including Branch, Cass and Van Buren County. Although Berrien County Animal Control claims they no longer use the chambers, the equipment still remains at the shelter.
Pet Friends Magazine has learned from more than one source that Wexford County uses the heart sticking method, and Kathy Rodgers Dennis has both witnessed and participated in it being done without any sedation. Dennis was previously in the military and served as a Supply Sergeant in the Army for six years. After that, she was a Corrections Officer for about 10 years, five of those being with Wexford County (2007-2012). While there, she supervised more than 30 inmates with another officer and worked 40+ hours. She voluntarily left that position to take a lower paying job with less hours to became a part-time Shelter Attendant with the Wexford County Animal Control Department. She stayed at that position from September 11, 2012 until December 31, 2012.
Dennis work 19 hours a week at the shelter. She worked on Mondays, while the two Animal Control Officers spent most of the day on the road; Tuesdays for a half day; Saturdays she was there all day alone running the shelter while the Officers were only called in if there was an emergency; and Sundays she came in for a few hours to clean and feed the animals while the shelter was closed.
Animal Control Officers who currently work at the shelter include: Animal Control Officer Michelle Smith; Animal Control Officer Jessica Williams; and Animal Control Officer Anthony Noaker (off on medical leave and will retire in March).
About taking the job which paid less and had less hours, Dennis said, “I have always had a strong desire to help animals. My house and property in Marion is registered as a large animal rescue. I take in horses and donkeys who would have otherwise gone to slaughter. Getting paid to do something I love (at the animal shelter) was just a bonus. That was my attitude until I saw what really goes on there.”
In the time that she was there, Dennis’ duties included supervising trustees (from the county jail), community service people and volunteers. She also did the intake of stray dogs/cats and owner surrenders. She tracked the chemicals used in the euthanasia process (officers would tell her what to type into the form about each animal). She also posted the animals on Petfinder.com. When she started there, the animal shelter had an “official” Facebook page but they never put any of the found or adoptable animals on that site nor would they allow her access to do so. So she got together with some of the rescue people and created the “Animals Up for adoption at Wexford County” page posting available animals and also strays in hopes of finding owners. Dennis says, “The response from the public was wonderful and the shelter’s adoption rates increased.
It was on the very first day of her job that Dennis was forced to participate in a euthanasia by heart sticking animals without sedation. She said it was a slow and painful thing to watch and that she never saw them sedate the animal first except for when the animal was so aggressive that they had to shoot it with a dart gun while it was in the kennel and then they would administer the heart stick.
Dennis accepted her duties of assisting with the heart sticking without sedation because she wasn’t aware that it was a procedure that they weren’t supposed to be doing. She was never certified for euthanasia as required by the State of Michigan and never trained by a veterinarian. Animal Control Officer Michelle Smith, who Dennis says considers herself to be the “shelter manager” instructed her that if she was ever asked about the procedure, to tell people that they sedated the animal first. According to Dennis, she says that Officer Smith is the one who decides which animals live and die.
Dennis says that she did at least one heart sticking without sedation alone and participated in numerous other ones, either by doing the procedure or holding down the animal for one of the three Animal Control Officers doing the procedure. Additionally, she says that the trustees were also used to hold down the animals when needed. The Animal Control Officers did heart sticking on cats too, sometimes when they were still in their live traps.
Dennis was told to be careful and only log the chemicals used under Smith’s name since Dennis and the other Animal Control Officers were not certified. So the euthanasias were logged to reflect that Smith was the one doing them. When Pet Friends Magazine asked Sheriff Gary Finstrom about the euthanasia certification of his Animal Control Officers, he said, “Current Officer Michelle Smith and former employee Officer Robin Rowe are and have been certified in euthanasia and Officer Smith performs the euthanasia.” He does admit, however, that other former employees have performed euthanasia in emergency situations.
According to the Michigan Dept. of Agriculture, for a shelter to be able to possess and use sodium pentobarbital, the main type of barbiturate used by shelters to euthanize animals, the shelter must obtain a DEA controlled substance registration and a Michigan controlled drug license. For that to happen, a shelter must submit documentation of ALL employees of the shelter that have been trained to administer euthasia with sodium pentobarbital.
When Sheriff Finstrom, who is currently serving his fourth term as Sheriff, was asked by Pet Friends Magazine if the shelter had done ANY heart sticking in the past, he said, “There is no knowledge of this practice being done in the last 12 years.” He said that the answers to my questions were based on input and information given to him from the Senior Animal Control Officer for Wexford County, although he didn’t name who that officer is. When asked if the shelter does heart sticking without prior sedation he said no and that the Animal Control Officers are aware that it is a violation. Furthermore, when talking with a Grand Traverse County Animal Control Officer, Pet Friends was informed that the Michigan Department of Agriculture (which oversees kennels and shelters) has sent out printed literature in the past to Animal Control Officers notifying them that they have to use sedation when doing intracardiac injections.
When describing the officers who serve under him, Sheriff Finstrom said, “Both Wexford County Animal Control Officers are state licensed and one of the Officers is nationally licensed. Kathy Rodgers Dennis was a part-time Animal Control Shelter Attendant that worked for three months. She was never trained as an euthanasia handler nor was she involved in euthanasia.”
In a separate investigation, TV 7&4’s Melissa Smith started looking into shelter activities recently after being contacted by Kathy Rodgers Dennis. Melissa contacted the Sheriff by phone and he initially confirmed to her that they did heart sticking without sedation by calling it a “one step process.” However, when he was contacted the next day by another reporter who wanted to get him on camera, he denied ever making the initial statement.
In addition to the heart sticking, Dennis was very dismayed by other things going on at the shelter that put the animals welfare and lives in jeopardy. She said that dogs were killed even when the shelter wasn’t full. She went on to say that dogs often got killed before their stray hold had expired, meaning that many owners were unable to claim their family pets before they were killed. Under Michigan law, animal shelters have to hold on to an animal without identification for four days (not counting holidays or weekends). Animals with identification such as a tag, license, tattoo or microchip have to be held for seven days. A “day” is a 24 hour period and doesn’t include the first day of acquisition.
Dennis said that many animals were killed without being admitted into the system at all as well as not being held for the amount of days required by law. When Sheriff Finstrom was asked about this, he said that the shelter follows state mandates.
Some of the animals that Dennis claims who are killed without being documented or kept through their stray hold include ones that are found to be pregnant or are considered the “wrong breed”. When Dennis asked Animal Control Officer Michelle Smith why the county had an issue with Pit Bulls, she was told that someone in the past had adopted one from a shelter and the dog later turned on that person so it was Officer Smith’s policy not to put up Pit Bulls for adoption. If a Pit Bull comes in that Officer Smith felt was worth of giving a chance to live, she would call a rescue group to do a temperament test. If the dog passed the test and the rescue group had room, they were given the dog. Otherwise, it was euthanized. When I asked Sheriff Finstrom about the county’s “Pit Policy” he said, “It is the policy of the Wexford County Animal Shelter to not adopt Pit Bulls. If a Pit Bull can pass a temperament test, then a rescue organization is used. Also no aggressive animals are adopted.”
Dennis recounted other disturbing events while she was at the shelter including a story about a senior Husky whose story was made public on the Facebook site that she had started for the animals. The dog’s owner died and 7&4 did a story about the dog to help get him adopted. But before the dog could be adopted, he was euthanized. When 7&4’s Melissa Smith contacted the shelter to find out what happened, Officer Michelle Smith denied knowing about the media story and told her that the animal was killed because it was sick and aggressive. However, according to Dennis, the only issue that the dog had was a bulging eye and Dennis said that the dog ate just fine and was very friendly during her short stay at the shelter. There were many times like this when Dennis was forced to lie to callers about the fates of the dogs at the shelter.
Another animal that Dennis remembers is the Manchester Terrier who had been running loose in Cadillac in a busy area by McDonalds and Goodwill. The dog was wearing a collar but no one could catch him. Many people called dispatch and the Sheriff for weeks asking why they were spending their tax money on an animal control when no one was making an attempt to save the dog before he was hit by a car. Finally, the Animal Control Officers showed up and were able to dart the dog with a gun and capture him. The dog was wearing a collar, but according to Dennis, he was brought directly to the shelter and killed. No attempt to find the owner was made. Dennis was instructed to tell the public that he went to a rescue down in Lansing but that was not true.
Dennis gave other examples of animals who were sick and needed medical attention. She offered to pay for medical help for the animals several times but was denied. One of them was this cute Pit Bull who had Mange. Dennis offered to pay for skin scraping to see if it could be treated but she was told no and the dog was killed.
This Pit Bull Puppy had mange and instead of looking into treatment, Dennis says it was euthanized by the Animal Control Officers
There was also an emaciated Coon Hound puppy in dire need of medical attention. Dennis offered to take the puppy to the vet herself and pay the bill out of pocket. This, as with other times, was refused. The dog had an infection and Dennis asked if the shelter could help him. Even though the puppy had no muscle where the shot needed to go into, they stuck him with a Penicillin shot anyway and he screamed in pain. He was put in a kennel with hard food like the other dogs. Dennis realized he wouldn’t live in these conditions and contacted a friend who brought her special soft food for the puppy. Dennis fed him that food for several days in small amounts.
Coon Hound puppy that Dennis gave some extra TLC so he would be able to be healthy enough to be adopted.
On the days that she worked, she carried him to the front as he was not strong enough to walk. She was left a note asking her not to bring the puppy out of his cage anymore. She made a bed for him and put a heater on him. Against all odds, he survived and was adopted. Dennis put his story on Facebook. Many people fell in love with him and some people came in just to visit him while he recovered. Luckily, this little puppy made it out alive and was adopted but it was an individual’s effort as opposed to the shelter taking the lead in keeping a dog healthy and adoptable.
Note left for Dennis by Animal Control Officer Jessica Williams
It was in October of 2012 when Dennis did a ride-along with a Michigan Dept. of Agriculture veterinarian to get some further training. She learned that the heart sticking was a violation of the shelters license with the state. With that knowledge, along with dealing with the stress of seeing so many animals killed and seeing things happen that she knew were wrong, Dennis decided to handle the issue internally and went to the administration, which included the Lieutenant and Undersheriff. While she was told initially that there would be an investigation, what actually happened was that her hours were cut in half to only working Saturdays and Sundays for eight hours cleaning cages and feeding the animals (these were the same duties as the trustees). She was forbidden to post any animals for adoption and from using the computer at all. Her keys to the kill room were taken away and her working environment became so hostile that she was forced to quit. Because she was no longer able to work with rescue groups or help the animals get out of the shelter, she knew her only option was to resign after two weeks of her duties and hours being changed. When Pet Friends Magazine asked Sheriff Finstrom why Dennis had a change in her hours and duties and if there were any complaints in her file about the quality of her work, the Sheriff said, “she did not have a hostile working environment.” He continued, “It is not appropriate to publicly discuss any work quality or quantity, actions taken, complaints or pending disciplinary actions.”
After leaving the shelter, Dennis took the advice of the Michigan Dept. of Agriculture veterinarian and filed a formal complaint against the shelter with the state regarding the illegal/inhumane euthanasia of the the animals and not following state guidelines on stray holds. Pet Friends Magazine was told by several sources that their investigation is ongoing.
Because these animals are being forcibly subjected to pain by not being sedated, is it possible that the Officers doing the procedures are committing felonies? The Dog Law of 1919 states that a person cannot knowingly kill, torture, mutilate, maim or disfigure an animal. It seems very evident that heart sticking without sedation is obviously a form of torture for the animals. The law states a person cannot “commit a reckless act knowing or having reason to know that the act will cause an animal to be killed, tortured, mutilated, maimed or disfigured. A person who violates this if guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment and fines.” Furthermore, it states that it is the duty of a Sheriff or Public Officer to arrest and prosecute all persons who violate the provisions of these laws. If such officers have such knowledge or reasonable notice of such violations but don’t act upon them, they are found to be neglect of their duty and can be found guilty of a misdemeanor. A person who was considered to be a heart sticking “specialist” was arrested in Kentucky in 2011 for violating their state’s euthanasia guidelines which are very similar to Michigan’s. The link to that story is here.
The Wexford County Animal Shelter is a member of the Michigan Association of Animal Control Officers (MAACO). This is another agency that needs to look into the allegations being made against the Wexford County Animal Shelter. There are sure to be standards of policy and practices that are involved in being a member of this organization.
For what reason did Kathy Rodgers Dennis file a formal complaint with the state and contact several media outlets about the shelter? Her answer is that she wants to see changes at the shelter. She wants to see the stray animals held for the amount of time that they are supposed to be held so that their owners can find them. She wants the Animal Control Officers to put more effort put into giving the animals the medical attention they need. She wants the Animal Control Officers to save more lives instead of using them as pawns or considering them a nuisance. She wants the shelter to stop torturing the animals by doing intracardiac injections without sedation.
The cries of the animals killed during heart sticking still haunt her. Dennis says, “I know that not every animal will find a home and some have to be destroyed, but this (what the Wexford shelter is doing) is wrong in every way. It is why the state sets the guidelines for how to do it which are not being followed at this shelter. On the rare occasion the heat stick was successful, the dog or cat would lie down and basicly suffocate to death. It was by no means instant or peaceful. When we missed the heart, the dog or cat would scream, whine, lose control of its bowels and try to run from us but would just end up flailing around the room until it finally died. It breaks my heart especially the dogs who would still be wagging their tails at you while you’re killing them.”
So why is the shelter allegedly involved in so many bad policies that result in the suffering and death of the animals at the shelter? Is it bad management from the Sheriff’s Department and a lack of oversight over the Animal Control Officers? Is it an overall disregard for the animals welfare or their comfort on their dying day?? Are things being done to save time and money? It’s hard to say what’s at the root of these problems or how long they have been going on. These recent allegations only bring more speculation and concern about the Animal Control Department and the Sheriff’s Department and how that relationship operates.
This is not the first time the Wexford County Animal Control has been involved in a controversy, although it wasn’t something being done by anyone at the shelter. Back in February of 2012, the Sheriff’s Department was found to have misappropriated approximately $41,000 of the Animal Control money into other areas of the department.
If Kathy Rodgers Dennis’ claims are true, the county needs to get their act together and start serving the animals and taxpayers in Wexford County in a more respectful manner, as well as abiding by state law. The County Commissioners should be getting in on the act as well by passing a motion to ban ALL heart sticking at the shelter as a matter of general policy. If you agree, you can email the commissioners at their contact information below:
District 1 – Robert Colvin
District 2 – Leslie Housler
District 3 – Robert Hilty
District 4 – Mark Howie
District 5 – Gideon Mitchell
District 6 – Alan Devereaux
District 7 – Gary Taylor
District 8 – John Fuscone
District 9 – Bill Goodwill
Tagged: heart sticking, intracardiac injections, Wexford County Animal Shelter
Pet Friends Magazine News • Events • Adoptable Pets 
I am no longer posting ANY comments because it has become totally unproductive.
I have a full time job that is NOT Pet Friends and don’t have time to deal with everyone’s pettiness. I need that time to actually work on my Wexford investigation and not policing two-year-olds.
Because of the ordinances currently in place, it is difficult and counterproductive to close the shelter. Nor can it be transferred at this time. The plan of action should be to take each of the challenges at the shelter, and as a community tackle them the best we can. Euthanasia is only one. They need to be trained. On everything from admin and record keeping to everyday operations and most importantly CUSTOMER SERVICE. A policy manual does not constitute a procedures manual. Expectations can only be measured when they are given. They also have to be reviewed periodically to make sure everyone understands what is expected of them. So I for one am taking that approach. Trying to get my hands on a policy manual. Finding out if there are documented procedures. If not, thats where to start. Lets get the current program on track while setting up the new program so the transfer won’t be so drastic. After all, we will need the same list of expectations for the new group, so we get what we want.
they need to get more than their act together they need to be arrested for cruelty if we find these allegations are true, everyone of them that are responsible will be behind bars officers of the law or not we will take this to the State Police and the Michigan Bureau of Investigation and they will be held accountable if we obtain proof open records have been requested and if they try to tamper with these records we will definitely be able to tell we have been doing this work for 20 years. if they tamper with these euthanasia logs which are ultimately narcotics logs it’s a federal offense
As I was reading this article I was bawling my eyes out as the treacly hearted one’s that have done more than their needed or expected share of death thru ultimate excruciating extremely intolerable longevity of suffering is all the poor babies that ALL the worker’s of this shelter has done to these kitties and dog’s (from baby puppies to elder dog’s). I would like to see each person since heart sticking was not only done incorrectly and by those who were not certified but not trained to even have any business at all doing it. It should be the Animal Control Officer’s from past to current & all the vet’s who along w/ Animal C.O. both oh and the Sheriff of the county need to be held and tried to the maximum prison sentence for ALL THE MURDEROUS & HEINOUSNESS TORTURE OF INNOCENT SOULS & LIVES who had probably been abused by abusive ex-owners but then never catching a break from abuse and turned around were brutalized agony human round # 2 @ the shelter. What about all the animals who suffered a slow graphic prolonged suffocation which article said was not quick or humane at all.
I’d say 1 count of torture, animal abuse & cruelty of a 1st & 2nd degree, inhumane and unwarranted death of healthy dog’s & cat’s so murder 1 or which ever carries the longest prison term and much more charges need to be added to the list. We the people of every state and country need to rectify through volatile and extreme measures to somehow let all the millions of soul’s that perished w/o a blink for hey this is wrong & making these people stop? Nobody, but Dennis has ever had the courage to take on an army that tried to break her down. I hope USA animal protection you can pull the vet’s license and keep him/her away from ever practicing ever again.
Are the current animal’s in there even safe? How long ago has anyone been in there for a pop visit. It’s worth a show!!!
Believe it or not it we have accomplished very little to stopping the cruel acts going on the shelter.. Our only hope is that all the media attention may have the folks trying to do the right thing but as a tax payer and animal lover I am do disappointed in what has come from our government leaders.. We ask for them to do the right thing and investigate their reply is that they have given full constitutional authority to the Sheriff and he claims these allegations are false and Dennis is a disgruntled employee.. You think??? The board of commissioners has said that the grass roots people need to come together to form a 501c3 to take over the operations of the shelter.. Go figure.. We ask that what we are paying for be done and done correctly and their answer is to take over the shelter.. No wonder our government is in the state it is .. Local and national.. To say I am disappointed would be putting it mildly.. But I will keep pushing forward and yes the grass roots folks are looking at all options !! With humble hearts and only the best intentions for the least of these we will keep pushing forward!!
Nicely put Donna
Gallatin Vet, Baber, Arrested and Charged – HEART STICK NO SEDATION
By Deanna, on January 4th, 2008 | Comments (8)
The cruel Gallatin, Tennessee vet, William Baber, who first came under scrutiny when an undercover tape was released exposing his cruel euthanasia methods has now been arrested and is facing 12 misdemeanor charges.
In early November, Baber was videotaped euthanizing dogs and cat by the cruel ‘heart stick’ method without sedating them. Some of the animals suffered cruelly up to 30 minutes before they succumbed to death.
He was shown even stepping on the animals to immobilize them for the injection.
Initially suspended then reinstated, he was finally suspended again and fined in mid-December. The suspension then was to continue until April when the Tennessee Board of Veterinary Medicine would meet again and decide whether to revoke his license permanently.
“Although the veterinarian board had already taken their action relating to Dr. Baber’s license, that doesn’t relieve us of our obligation and our duty to follow through with the law,” Sumner County District Attorney Thomas Dean said. “Where a law’s been broken, we are required to follow through with an appropriate prosecution and that’s what we’re doing.”
Now he’s been arrested and charged. The counts stem from evidence shown on the undercover videotape.
Two counts for the way the cat were treated. Two counts for the euthanasia method used on the dogs. Four more counts because he didn’t check for sign of life after the injection violating the humane death act. Two more counts because the animals were not sedated prior to the ‘heart stick’ violating the state’s euthanasia law. Two counts for falsifying government records.
He will be in court on January 16 facing the charges, officially listed as;
Two counts of Unlawful Intracardial Injection of Dogs
Two counts of Unverified Deaths of Dogs
Two counts of Unverified Deaths of Cats
Two counts of Cruelty to Animals – Dogs
Two counts of Cruelty to Animals – Cats
Two counts of Falsifying Government Records
He faces a possibility of up to 11 months 29 days in jail for each charge or as little as just probation.
As he said as his disciplinary hearing, Baber still stands by his statement that “he was unaware of state law that prohibited heart shot euthanasias without sedation.”
The statue was changed in 1982 and Baber blames the board for not keeping him updated on the change.
As I said then and will repeat again, maybe I’m wrong but I thought it was up to medical professionals to keep up with medical happenings through medical journals, associations, etc. His excuse s so typical of so many in society today, place the blame on someone else. Well, for all Baber’s blame placing, it looks like the Board ultimately placed the blame squarely where it belonged, on his shoulders! Any medical professional that can’t keep up with what’d going on doesn’t deserve to keep practicing!
Source – WSMV
I am glad that you are checking into this. If corrective actions need to be taken, lets get on them and start doing what a shelter is supposed to do….shelter animals until their owners or new owners can take them home. Thank you for staying on top of this.
District 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, & 9, just got an earfull~should of been AN heartful-just like they dish out!!(
Hi there all, here every one is sharing these kinds of
know-how, therefore it’s nice to read this website, and I used to
pay a visit this blog daily.
This article has been written over 10 months ago since then there has been several changes within the shelter in Wexford County it’s a shame that theres still continuous allegations regarding the shelter. Some people just like drama unfortunately we volunteers do not want to play the vicious games that are going on between Jennifer Hamilton Isabell & the mag online she writes or the site she runs Justice for animals page . I will make everyone aware as to the full allegations that were made by Kathy they have all been dismissed and could not be proven. The shelter received a small fine for something different . This was announced over 2 weeks ago via news broadcast. I am responding to this post due to the fact that certain ppl along with Others has come to talk and make up stuff about the shelter and the beautiful wonderful volunteers at our shelter this is totally uncalled for!! They dedicate their precious time to these animals I truly believe that this has to stop! This stems from December 2012 we all have moved on and look forward to helping the animals it has always been about the animals, I don’t need a response I am simply asking that you all too move forward and let it be about the animals thank you.
Lora, the shelter continues to violate state law and I am in the middle of investigating a current violation. In addition to that, the Sheriff has never investigated the ACOs or disciplined them for anything, including not taking animals to the vet or killing them before their stray hold was up which was what they were recently fined for. I don’t think all of the dead animals would consider everything that’s happened old news and would want “Justice” – which is why the Facebook group was named what it was. I don’t “run” the Justice site – I was added as an administrator after a shelter volunteer abused her privileges on the page and now I am able to see if someone abuses Facebook policy. Kathy’s allegations about the heart sticking without sedation could not be proven by the state because of the horrible condition of the records by ACO Smith. That doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. I have at least three other witnesses besides Kathy that it did indeed happen and the Sheriff’s original statement to the press (before he recanted) that got this all started – indicated that it was being done by him calling it the “one step process.” The shelter’s own records indicate that they were doing heart sticking where it’s noted as “IC” (intra-cardiac injection).
While the shelter has undergone a great transformation and the kill numbers are way down, there are still many problems. The only reason there HAVE been changes are because of the volunteers and the people county to county commissioners meetings, keeping an eye on the shelter.
Nothing I have published has been made up. I go above and beyond most journalists and get my information sourced by two or three people. I also FOIA info. and provide photos and documents. So if you’d like to give me proof that something I’ve reported is in error, feel free. My job is to report the news – that is “moving forward” to me.
Journalist? ALL journalist twist the story to sell mag’s, papers, etc. I personally KNOW you have twisted story’s! I can not even begin to tell you how many story’s you have printed and are totally wrong! I’m surprised you have not been sued over slander! I’m not going to go back and forth with you, I hope you can sleep at night, I CAN. You rely on people to inform you, from the Justice for animals page, Why don’t YOU come to the shelter & see for yourself instead of relying on others. THAT is NOT first hand knowledge or a GOOD Journalist. As far as your FOIA requests, get off your butt and go to the shelter & see for yourself! You don’t live in our county, why don’t you focus on your own town TC. We Wexford Co will handle our own. P.S. We know who is telling you wrong info, we could correct the info, but I think it is funny to let them make an ass out of themselves and you.
Again, you provide no proof, only accusations.
While many good things have changed at the shelter, many things have not at all…. While many work hard to make a difference many still are just there for their own benefit … Months and months later after a full investigation by the dept ag that found evidence of wrong doing and a full county board voting to pay the fine and sweep this under rug and call it in accurate record keeping .. Truth is truth .. How do you think the victims if the “madhoff ” scheme would have felt if the securities and exchange commission had only fined his company ??? How would they have felt if he stood up and said the fines have been and just move forward! No that would have been totally unacceptable that he got away with hurting many people and their life is forever changed! Well that is exactly what this feels like to the persons affected by the lies and actions of the Aco and sheriff to me… And months later the lies continue .. Just last Thursday I know that some one was told that “there are no dogs available st the shelter ” ! Lies and lies continue to come out and no accountability to the ones who say the them .. So this tax payer is forever grateful to the people who don’t take the easy road .. The popular road.. I have to tell you I am one who seeks favor of all people so for me to take a stand on this is a huge huge step if faith … But my God is bigger and he loves the least of these .. So now I will keep on keeping on.. Justice
For the record, there are at least two investigations still underway. The reason the volunteers are not aware is because it does not concern them. They are doing a great job and should continue to do so. Helping the animals get socialized and adopted is the best thing they can do while the rest gets sorted out. Lets leave the legal stuff to the Sheriffs Department, the Board of Commissioners, the Wexford County Prosecuting Attorney, the State Magistrates, and the others involved. It is their ballywick.
I just moved from detroit 3months ago .and am horrified to read this i have 4rescue dogs from the streets of detroit .this is something i would expect from there .not up here i am very disapointed .i hope none of my dogs ever end up in your shelter by accident they are all microchipped .to think you would not contact me is unthinkable;
[…] arose from a former Wexford County animal shelter attendant, Kathy Rodgers Dennis, about improper euthanization and missing money. The use of improper euthanasia techniques was also echoed in statements by […]
[…] 2013, Kathy Dennis alleged in a lawsuit that the Wexford County Animal Shelter was euthanizing animals without proper sedation and said there were also financial irregularities going on. She also alleged that the […]
[…] residents of Wexford County learned this in January of 2013 when allegations were raised about the misconduct of Animal Control Officers at the Animal Shelter and a subsequent Whistleblower lawsuit was file […]
[…] Click here. […]
[…] years after Wexford County Animal Shelter Attendant Kathy Dennis made allegations concerning the Wexford County Animal Shelter and had to leave her job after reporting her concerns […]