What about shelter records for administration and purchase orders of controlled substances (with associated animal ID's) routinely examined and available upon request for public. Also how are animals cremated? I don't believe cremation license can be obtained amidst residences. If the cremations are outsourced to contractor, then those cremation records provided also. This transparency would help with the misrepresentation of how many animals are being secretly euthanized to maintain "No Kill" status. Especially for shelters with secretive intake areas. Volunteers of a local HS tell me the intake area is highly secretive and recently vet and shelter mgr is in on a Sunday when shelter is always closed and unstaffed (except for animal caregivers) with windows papered over.
Thank you, Carmen, for your thoughtful and detailed note. Transparency in shelter operations, especially regarding controlled substances and euthanasia records, is critical to maintaining ethical standards and public trust. Your points about linking drug administration records to specific animal IDs and providing cremation documentation are excellent suggestions that would help ensure accountability and prevent misrepresentation of euthanasia statistics. The secrecy surrounding intake areas and unusual activity during closed hours is concerning—it underscores the need for independent audits and public oversight. These are exactly the kinds of practices we must bring to light to demand systemic reform. Thank you for raising these important issues!
Only question I have is how do we truly know the data is correct? The Humane Society I volunteer at everything is controled by the shelter manager and she and the board of directors are all in bed together so no clear way to hold anyone accountable and make sure info is correct. We are not euthenizing any cats or dogs thank God, but still don't really know what happens when phone calls for help come in and I know we get those. How do we go about putting independent eyes on this?
Thank you, Dee, for sharing your concerns—it’s clear you care deeply about transparency and accountability in shelter operations. It’s frustrating when leadership and boards appear to lack checks and balances, leaving volunteers and the public in the dark. To introduce independent oversight, consider advocating for measures like third-party audits or public reporting of shelter data, including intake, outcomes, and drug usage logs. Engaging local government officials or animal welfare advocates to push for these changes could be a good starting point. Your voice is powerful—keep asking questions and pushing for clarity!
The ketamine abuse is real. Nearly ten years ago I tried to expose a South Carolina shelter where too many discrepancies involving ketamine (the date rape drug), but exposing it was impossible with everyone covering everyone’s butts. I’m certain it’s too great a temptation for some and too easy to abuse since animals can’t talk.
Thank you, Cara, for sharing your experience—it’s a powerful reminder of how critical transparency and accountability are in shelter operations. The temptation to misuse substances like Ketamine, especially in environments with limited oversight, is a serious concern. Your efforts to expose these discrepancies, even in the face of systemic resistance, highlight the need for stronger safeguards and independent investigations to protect both animals and public trust.
What has happened to compassion and responsibility in this culture. This is not only prevalent among animal shelters but is becoming the norm for human to human treatment.
I get a knot in my stomach when I read your reports about these willful atrocities. You say we should have state and government agencies oversee these procedures, but what agency would take responsibility? Our new president will not care. What can we do?
Thank you, Miranda, for your heartfelt response. It is disheartening to see compassion and responsibility erode in such critical areas, and I understand the frustration and helplessness these issues evoke. While it’s true that systemic change can feel daunting, there are steps we can take. Advocacy, public pressure, and grassroots efforts have historically driven accountability when higher powers fail to act. Let’s focus on amplifying these stories, demanding transparency, and supporting organizations or individuals committed to ethical reform. Together, we can push for change, even when it feels like an uphill battle.
Thank you for calling this out. I would like to see those involved, including the Shelter Directors that have recently “retired”, to be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
Thank you, Aimee, for your thoughtful comment. Accountability is essential, especially when those in leadership quietly “retire” without facing the consequences of their actions. Ensuring that shelter directors and others involved are held legally responsible is a critical step toward justice and reform. Public pressure, independent investigations, and transparency in shelter operations are key to exposing these wrongdoings and preventing them in the future. Your support for full accountability is deeply appreciated!
I think a few folks need to be charged with felony animal cruelty and sentenced to some jail time. The lack of transparency and covert activities are also especially concerning. We've had similar allegations of drug abuse at one shelter by a former staffer, so it doesn't surprise me to read about that in this article. Clearly, many shelters need to do a better job of operating responsibly and ethically - or those tasked with running them need to find another line of work.
Thank you, Annoula, for sharing your thoughts. I agree—those responsible for these acts must face real consequences, including charges for animal cruelty where warranted. The lack of transparency and covert activities highlighted in this case are deeply troubling, and it’s clear that stronger oversight and accountability are urgently needed. Your mention of similar allegations at another shelter underscores how widespread these issues may be. It’s time for shelters to operate responsibly—or for leadership to step aside for those who will.
Thank you for all your insightful stories. DEA reports (available to the public after dancing through a few hoops) from earlier in 2024 showed that LA Animal Services’ South Los Angeles Shelter was not sedating most of the animals they killed. Many concerned citizens (including myself at several LAAS Commission meetings) asked what is the policy and never got any answers. You should look into this. I can send you the reports if interested.
Thank you, Kristen for sharing this important information. The lack of transparency and unanswered questions about euthanasia policies at LAAS is concerning. I would be interested in reviewing the DEA reports you mentioned—having concrete documentation is crucial for holding these institutions accountable. Please feel free to send them to ed@edboks.com, and I’ll look into this further. Your advocacy and persistence are invaluable in shedding light on these critical issues!
I agree with this call to action: Mandate regular audits by state or federal agencies. But, like Miranda, feel like there aren’t direct state and federal agencies who we can turn to do this.
You and Miranda raise an excellent point—without a clear and independent agency to oversee these audits, accountability becomes a significant challenge. One potential solution is advocating for partnerships with third-party organizations or animal welfare coalitions that specialize in transparency and compliance. These groups could act as neutral auditors, ensuring records are accurate and procedures are followed.
Additionally, pushing for local or state legislation to establish oversight bodies dedicated to shelter operations might be a long-term goal. Your concern highlights the need for systemic reform, and every voice helps move us closer to meaningful change!
What about shelter records for administration and purchase orders of controlled substances (with associated animal ID's) routinely examined and available upon request for public. Also how are animals cremated? I don't believe cremation license can be obtained amidst residences. If the cremations are outsourced to contractor, then those cremation records provided also. This transparency would help with the misrepresentation of how many animals are being secretly euthanized to maintain "No Kill" status. Especially for shelters with secretive intake areas. Volunteers of a local HS tell me the intake area is highly secretive and recently vet and shelter mgr is in on a Sunday when shelter is always closed and unstaffed (except for animal caregivers) with windows papered over.
Thank you, Carmen, for your thoughtful and detailed note. Transparency in shelter operations, especially regarding controlled substances and euthanasia records, is critical to maintaining ethical standards and public trust. Your points about linking drug administration records to specific animal IDs and providing cremation documentation are excellent suggestions that would help ensure accountability and prevent misrepresentation of euthanasia statistics. The secrecy surrounding intake areas and unusual activity during closed hours is concerning—it underscores the need for independent audits and public oversight. These are exactly the kinds of practices we must bring to light to demand systemic reform. Thank you for raising these important issues!
Only question I have is how do we truly know the data is correct? The Humane Society I volunteer at everything is controled by the shelter manager and she and the board of directors are all in bed together so no clear way to hold anyone accountable and make sure info is correct. We are not euthenizing any cats or dogs thank God, but still don't really know what happens when phone calls for help come in and I know we get those. How do we go about putting independent eyes on this?
Thank you, Dee, for sharing your concerns—it’s clear you care deeply about transparency and accountability in shelter operations. It’s frustrating when leadership and boards appear to lack checks and balances, leaving volunteers and the public in the dark. To introduce independent oversight, consider advocating for measures like third-party audits or public reporting of shelter data, including intake, outcomes, and drug usage logs. Engaging local government officials or animal welfare advocates to push for these changes could be a good starting point. Your voice is powerful—keep asking questions and pushing for clarity!
Thank you for your advice and guiding me in a positive direction. The animals never win when there is no transparency.
The ketamine abuse is real. Nearly ten years ago I tried to expose a South Carolina shelter where too many discrepancies involving ketamine (the date rape drug), but exposing it was impossible with everyone covering everyone’s butts. I’m certain it’s too great a temptation for some and too easy to abuse since animals can’t talk.
Thank you, Cara, for sharing your experience—it’s a powerful reminder of how critical transparency and accountability are in shelter operations. The temptation to misuse substances like Ketamine, especially in environments with limited oversight, is a serious concern. Your efforts to expose these discrepancies, even in the face of systemic resistance, highlight the need for stronger safeguards and independent investigations to protect both animals and public trust.
What has happened to compassion and responsibility in this culture. This is not only prevalent among animal shelters but is becoming the norm for human to human treatment.
I get a knot in my stomach when I read your reports about these willful atrocities. You say we should have state and government agencies oversee these procedures, but what agency would take responsibility? Our new president will not care. What can we do?
Thank you, Miranda, for your heartfelt response. It is disheartening to see compassion and responsibility erode in such critical areas, and I understand the frustration and helplessness these issues evoke. While it’s true that systemic change can feel daunting, there are steps we can take. Advocacy, public pressure, and grassroots efforts have historically driven accountability when higher powers fail to act. Let’s focus on amplifying these stories, demanding transparency, and supporting organizations or individuals committed to ethical reform. Together, we can push for change, even when it feels like an uphill battle.
Thank you for calling this out. I would like to see those involved, including the Shelter Directors that have recently “retired”, to be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
Thank you, Aimee, for your thoughtful comment. Accountability is essential, especially when those in leadership quietly “retire” without facing the consequences of their actions. Ensuring that shelter directors and others involved are held legally responsible is a critical step toward justice and reform. Public pressure, independent investigations, and transparency in shelter operations are key to exposing these wrongdoings and preventing them in the future. Your support for full accountability is deeply appreciated!
I think a few folks need to be charged with felony animal cruelty and sentenced to some jail time. The lack of transparency and covert activities are also especially concerning. We've had similar allegations of drug abuse at one shelter by a former staffer, so it doesn't surprise me to read about that in this article. Clearly, many shelters need to do a better job of operating responsibly and ethically - or those tasked with running them need to find another line of work.
Thank you, Annoula, for sharing your thoughts. I agree—those responsible for these acts must face real consequences, including charges for animal cruelty where warranted. The lack of transparency and covert activities highlighted in this case are deeply troubling, and it’s clear that stronger oversight and accountability are urgently needed. Your mention of similar allegations at another shelter underscores how widespread these issues may be. It’s time for shelters to operate responsibly—or for leadership to step aside for those who will.
Thank you for all your insightful stories. DEA reports (available to the public after dancing through a few hoops) from earlier in 2024 showed that LA Animal Services’ South Los Angeles Shelter was not sedating most of the animals they killed. Many concerned citizens (including myself at several LAAS Commission meetings) asked what is the policy and never got any answers. You should look into this. I can send you the reports if interested.
Thank you, Kristen for sharing this important information. The lack of transparency and unanswered questions about euthanasia policies at LAAS is concerning. I would be interested in reviewing the DEA reports you mentioned—having concrete documentation is crucial for holding these institutions accountable. Please feel free to send them to ed@edboks.com, and I’ll look into this further. Your advocacy and persistence are invaluable in shedding light on these critical issues!
It's heartbreaking to see that once again, innocent animals are victim to these careless people. It's atrocious and when will it end?
I may be a dreamer, but perhaps when we shed enough light on it...?
I agree with this call to action: Mandate regular audits by state or federal agencies. But, like Miranda, feel like there aren’t direct state and federal agencies who we can turn to do this.
You and Miranda raise an excellent point—without a clear and independent agency to oversee these audits, accountability becomes a significant challenge. One potential solution is advocating for partnerships with third-party organizations or animal welfare coalitions that specialize in transparency and compliance. These groups could act as neutral auditors, ensuring records are accurate and procedures are followed.
Additionally, pushing for local or state legislation to establish oversight bodies dedicated to shelter operations might be a long-term goal. Your concern highlights the need for systemic reform, and every voice helps move us closer to meaningful change!