Letter from Pets in Need staff alleges major errors led to puppy deaths - | Almanac Online |

sambitasa.blogspot.com

The deaths of seven puppies while they were being transported by the nonprofit Pets in Need on Aug. 2 were caused by multiple senseless violations of law and protocol, stated a letter written days later to the Pets in Need board of directors.

The letter from a group of staff members, as well as with the subsequent response from leaders of Pets in Need, raise questions about what protocols have been put in place since the deaths to prevent future tragedies.

The puppies, who were being brought to the Palo Alto Animal Shelter from the Central Valley, were packed into a pet crate that allegedly gave them no room to turn around, the letter claimed, and the animals were not given water, proper air conditioning and ventilation.

Pets in Need, which has a shelter in Redwood City and is contracted to operate Palo Alto's shelter, routinely rescues animals from other shelters. Charges of animal cruelty and neglect, which are misdemeanors, have been filed by the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office against the three employees involved in the Aug. 2 incident.

The letter cited multiple failures that should have been known to the already seasoned staff, one of whom is an operations manager with 20 years of experience, according to her LinkedIn page.

Although the nonprofit owns two vans, one which is larger and has full air conditioning, the staff took the smaller van outfitted only with air conditioning in the passenger area. The decision appeared to be based on the fact that it could hold three people while the larger van could hold two, the letter said.

Three managers went on the rescue run: Patty Santana, the Redwood City shelter operations manager; Maggie Evans, the behavior manager; and Ingrid Hartmann, human resources manager. The letter said it is unusual for a third person to attend a rescue run, let alone HR staff.

As a result, the animals, who should have been kept comfortable, cool and hydrated, traveled for more than four hours in 90-plus-degree heat, according to the letter.

"The transport team should have taken the larger van on a rescue run of this nature. Instead, the Van A was chosen because it contains two rows of seats, unlike Van B, which can accommodate only the driver and one passenger. This was the first of many avoidable mistakes made throughout the day," the letter said.

What's more, while shelter administrators planned and approved of picking up only 20 animals on the Aug. 2 rescue trip, the trio took eight additional animals, the letter noted. The additions might have contributed to the crowded conditions.

The transport team was also aware that the puppies were in questionable health when they took them, the letter said, but "decided to take them anyway without contacting the Palo Alto medical director. This violates the intake policy that all medical cases must be approved by the attending medical director/veterinarian at the location where the animals are to be housed."

The letter also noted crowded conditions. The transport team packed a single, medium-sized crate measuring 30 inches long, 18 inches wide and 22.5 inches high with all seven puppies.

"Crates of this size have a maximum weight capacity of 40 lbs., but this crate held over 70 lbs. It provided no room for the puppies to lie down or even turn around without stepping on each other. This kennel was placed on the floor of the van, directly behind Ms. Hartmann's seat, not in a designated kennel space. The crate was shrouded in a towel to 'protect the other animals from potential disease,' completely blocking what little airflow that was able to reach the back of the van and leaving the puppies with minimal ventilation," the letter said.

None of the 28 animals were given water or allowed time out of their kennels during the long drive, which violates the Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters, the letter said. This was not the first time that a member of the transport team had been reminded that animals on rescue runs need water, a person close to Pets in Need told this news organization, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

The letter to the board also states information that differs from what the transport team and other staff told police during the investigation.

According to an Oct. 26 Palo Alto Police Department press release, the employees had said that none of the animals appeared distressed when they checked them during a stop for gas in Los Banos on the return to Palo Alto. But the puppies were apparently ill before and during the transport, the letter stated.

"The staff noted that the seven puppies had vomited and experienced diarrhea, yet nothing was done about this during the trip. These seven puppies died from neglect during transport: They were stiff to the touch but still hot, indicating they suffered fatal hyperthermia, also known as heat stroke. All 21 of the surviving animals were dehydrated and exhibiting signs of heat stroke as well," the letter said.

The deaths were reported after a Palo Alto Animal Control officer saw the bodies and opened a police report to investigate this incident. A Palo Alto police officer interviewed everyone who was involved and the case was referred to the District Attorney's Office.

The letter from staff requested three changes to help prevent future tragedies: Have trained professionals update the nonprofit's safety protocols; hold the transport team members accountable; and hold Executive Director Al Mollica accountable for failing to uphold the standards of Pets in Need in response to the situation.

A request for comment from Pets in Need Board President Rob Kalman was not returned, and Pets in Need didn't provide a copy of the board's response to the letter to this news organization.

Pets in Need was also asked to clarify many of the allegations made in the employees' letter, including against Mollica. The staff letter claimed Mollica was aware of other incidents in which animals had died during transport and had discussed this with staff individually. However, it claims that he told staff in emails and large meetings that no prior incidents had occurred.

It also alleged that Mollica told police that "new" Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters would be implemented, even though the nonprofit has used the protocols for years. It also alleged that he is suggesting worms or vaccine reactions, not negligence, caused the puppies' deaths, the letter said.

No one has been disciplined, a person close to the nonprofit told this news organization. In fact, Santana, who was shelter operations manager for one of the locations, since the incident has been made operations manager for both Palo Alto and Redwood City locations, the person said. Pets in Need has confirmed that Santana currently heads operations for both shelters but has not addressed whether she was given expanded duties after the Aug. 2 incident.

On Nov. 10, the organization provided a statement, which read in part:

"During the past three months, Pets In Need has reviewed and assessed the events that transpired during and after the rescue run that we made on Aug. 2. Our staff and Board of Directors have been reviewing information regularly and we have been as forthcoming as possible. Specifically, we are:

• Cooperating with the Palo Alto Police Department's ongoing investigation;

• Supporting our employees involved in this matter, including providing them with legal counsel and other support as necessary;

• Continuing our own internal review processes to ensure that we remain good stewards of the faith placed in us.

"We are committed to maintaining the confidence that Palo Alto residents have placed in Pets In Need by continuing to meet the needs of the community."

The person who is close to the organization said they are disappointed with Pets in Need's handling of the incident.

"Pets in Need overall has been a good organization, but they need to accept responsibility," the person said.

Adblock test (Why?)

"need" - Google News
November 13, 2021 at 02:59AM
https://ift.tt/30ql8IT

Letter from Pets in Need staff alleges major errors led to puppy deaths - | Almanac Online |
"need" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3c23wne
https://ift.tt/2YsHiXz

Bagikan Berita Ini