Harrison County Dog Pound – Ohio SPCA Issues Final Demand Before Lawsuit

Dogs have been euthanized by intraperitoneal injection into the abdominal cavity, resulting in prolonged suffering before death. At least twice, their bodies were observed moving after they were placed into trash bags. Kennels and dog bowls are not being properly cleaned. Parvo outbreaks have resulted. New dogs are placed in kennels with waste from previous dogs. Rescues have pulled dogs with frostbite on their paws after their pads adhered to a urine-soaked cement floor.

The Ohio SPCA is demanding that the following steps must be immediately undertaken and documented through the office our Attorney John Bell:

First: all euthanasia of animals is to be stopped unless performed by a qualified veterinarian,
using only euthanasia by injection (“EBI”). Under present conditions, there does not appear to be
anyone qualified to perform euthanasia at the Pound.

Second, the “gas box” must be dismantled and the pieces discarded. “Gas box” euthanasia is
a direct violation of Ohio Revised Code section 959.06 because it does not render the animal(s)
unconscious and subsequently dead “immediately and painlessly.”

Ohio Revised Code section 959.06, entitled, “Destruction of domestic animals,” states:
“(A) No person shall destroy any domestic animal by the use of a high altitude
decompression chamber or by any method other than a method that immediately and
painlessly renders the domestic animal initially unconscious and subsequently dead.”

Third: full compliance with the November 7, 2008, Public Record Request is to be made within
fifteen (15) days of today.

Fourth: all animals accepted or received by the Dog Warden or Dog Pound are to be
individually documented and “tracked” from initial contact throughout the Pound’s possession
of the animals, regardless of whether the animals are ultimately redeemed, rescued or destroyed, and
such documentation is to be provided in addition to all other matters covered by the November 7,
2008 Public Record Request.

Fifth: the Pound is to be cleaned and disinfected daily, and documentation of this activity is to
be provided in addition to all other matters covered by the November 7, 2008 Public Record
Request.

Sixth: animals in the Pound are to be kept in kennels that otherwise comply with the
requirements of section of the Ohio revised Code, specifically including but not limited to being
housed without overcrowding which we construe as no more than two (2) animals per kennel or
cage. Again, documentation of this activity is to be provided in addition to all other matters covered
by the November 7, 2008 Public Record Request.

There are additional reported concerns regarding the Harrison County Pound in addition to those listed above.

* Lack of sufficient staffing.  Pound is often locked and unmanned during normal operating hours from 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Theses hours are not conducive to adoptions or owners claiming dogs.

* Facility is inadequate, as there are no exterior walls.

* Limited number of pens – 10 under roof, 3 with no roof, and 3 with a pass through to office building .

* No vaccination labels or documentation as to when animals are vaccinated.

* Unsanitary storage of food. Food is stored in homemade gas box in which thousands of animals have died.

* Lack of sufficient bedding in the plastic dog boxes.

* Inadequate and incorrect registration forms are completed, often having the incorrect date on them.

Our demands must be met within 15 days of the certified letter received on March 2, 2010 or a lawsuit will be filed.