The dog carcasses, discarded as trash by the County Dog Warden/Animal Shelter were delivered to the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine for necropsy.

Necropsy results indicated that a barbiturate euthanasia solution had been injected into the heart and lungs of the dogs. Additional necropsy results indicated body changes compatible with blunt thoracic and head trauma.Ohio SPCA Director Teresa Landon states, "At this point in our investigation, we believe these dogs suffered a horrifying and painful death. A past witness to the procedure has stated that the dogs are pinned against a wall with a wire gate and then a needle with the fatal solution is jabbed into the chest. No sedation was ever used and many times dogs were stabbed with a needle more than once. Dogs would often stagger about the room for up to 30 minutes until they died.

"Complete necropsies performed indicated the dogs were injected with barbiturate euthanasia solution in the epicardium, diaphragmatic pleura, the pleural cavity, and the lung," Landon also stated "Intrapulmonary (within the lung) and intrathoracic (within the chest cavity) sodium pentobarbital injections are not acceptable or humane euthanasia routes. Intracardiac (IC) injection (heartstick) may only be performed on an unconscious or deeply sedated animal.

On March 14, 2014, Adam R. Salisbury, Gallipolis City Solicitor, filed charges against former Gallia county dog warden Jean A. Daniels, current Gallia dog warden Paul L. Simmers, and assistant Gallia dog warden Jason Harris. All three individuals were charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty for allegedly inhumanely euthanizing dogs at the county shelter.

"We hope that it is a wake-up call to dog wardens and commissioners in other counties. This is not the first horror story coming out of an Ohio dog pound, and it is time that county officials and our legislators act to ensure that animals do not suffer when their lives are ended," states Landon.

After John Bell, attorney for the Ohio SPCA, submitted a letter to the Gallia County Commissioners and Dog Warden on February 19 demanding that the County immediately cease and desist from all euthanasia or destruction of dogs unless performed by an Ohio-licensed veterinarian, it was reported that local veterinarians were asked to assist if euthanasia was necessary. Copies of records related to the issues concerning the operations of the Gallia County Animal Shelter and the office of the Dog Warden have been provided to the Ohio SPCA.

Ohio SPCA is also investigating discrepancies in record keeping regarding the euthanasia drugs, procurement by those other than the responsible party of record, the euthanasia procedure, inventories, and whether the Limited Terminal Distributor Class III license was properly renewed.

According to Landon, "The Ohio SPCA will continue to communicate with Gallia County officials and request that those charged with these deliberate acts of animal cruelty are punished to the fullest extent of the law."

Anyone having information about inhumane practices at county animal shelters should contact the Ohio SPCA at 740-420-2984 or by email: ohiospca@frontier.com.

The Ohio SPCA, Inc. is a private, not-for-profit 501c3, charitable corporation. The Ohio SPCA has made great improvements in the lives of animals, especially with rural county dog pound reform throughout Ohio. One of its goals is to educate people, including local officials about animal abuse and neglect prevention. The Ohio SPCA works to save animals across the state of Ohio that are abused and neglected. For more information on the Ohio SPCA go to www.ohiospca.org, call 740-420-2984, or email ohiospca@frontier.com.

The Ohio SPCA, Inc. is NOT affiliated with the ASPCA in NYC, and does not receive any government funding.