Vanished Without a Trace: The Mystery of the Disappearing Animals at Orange County Animal Care

From Shelters to Snake Food: Are Small Pets Safe in Our Animal Shelters?

In 2022 and 2023, Orange County Animal Care (OCAC) transferred hundreds of small animals—rabbits, guinea pigs, rodents, and birds—to a local herpetology group with ties to Arizona. These transfers, documented through public records, had sparked outrage at the time among advocates who feared many of these animals were used as reptile feed. Despite repeated calls for transparency and accountability, OCAC has provided little clarity about the fate of these animals, leaving the public to grapple with unanswered questions.

A whistleblower recently brought this story back into the spotlight, frustrated that no meaningful accountability has been achieved nearly two years later. This exposé examines the parallels between OCAC’s actions and a similar scandal involving the San Diego Humane Society (SDHS) and Humane Society of Southern Arizona (HSSA), while highlighting systemic governance failures that continue to plague public animal care agencies.

The Transfers That Sparked Outrage

Between 2022 and 2023, OCAC transferred over 200 rabbits, 273 rodents, and 241 birds to a herpetology group known for its connections to reptile breeders. Public records show that OCAC management was aware of these ties but proceeded with the transfers anyway. The animals were subsequently sent to an undisclosed group in Arizona under opaque circumstances.

Advocates have raised serious concerns about these transfers. Why were animals handed off to intermediaries with questionable credentials? Why weren’t local rescues or sanctuaries prioritized? And why has OCAC failed to produce comprehensive documentation about these transactions?

These questions remain unanswered. In response to public records requests, OCAC claimed it was “unable to locate records responsive” to inquiries about the animals’ final destinations—a response critics view as either deliberate obfuscation or gross negligence.

From Shelters to Predators: Are Small Pets Truly Safe in Our Animal Shelters?

Leadership Without Accountability

Despite the controversy, Monica Schmidt—OCAC’s interim director during the transfers—was promoted to permanent director in 2023 with a significant pay raise. This decision has fueled frustration among advocates who argue that Schmidt’s leadership failed to prioritize animal welfare or transparency.

Higher up in the county’s hierarchy, officials like Cymantha Atkinson (Director of OC Community Resources) and Lilly Simmering (Deputy CEO) have also faced criticism for prioritizing public perception over genuine accountability. According to whistleblowers, internal discussions focused more on avoiding comparisons to scandals like SDHS/HSSA than addressing systemic flaws within OCAC.

This lack of accountability is not new for OCAC. Allegations of unethical practices have dogged the agency for years, including claims of forged documents and retaliation against whistleblowers. Yet, meaningful reform remains elusive.

Parallels With SDHS/HSSA

The OCAC controversy bears striking similarities to the SDHS/HSSA scandal from 2023. In that case, SDHS transferred over 300 small animals to HSSA, which then handed them off to a reptile breeder in Arizona. The fallout led to the firing of HSSA’s CEO Steve Farley but left SDHS CEO Gary Weitzman largely unscathed—highlighting disparities in how accountability is applied across organizations.

Like OCAC, both SDHS and HSSA faced criticism for prioritizing live release rates over humane outcomes. These cases reveal a troubling pattern in animal welfare: small pets are often treated as expendable commodities rather than sentient beings deserving care and protection. This trend reflects the regressive influence of policies promoted by organizations like Best Friends Animal Society, which emphasize metrics such as live release rates without adequately addressing the unintended consequences for vulnerable animals.

The Systemic Problem

At its core, the OCAC controversy underscores systemic issues in animal welfare governance:

1. Lack of Transparency: Both OCAC and SDHS/HSSA failed to provide clear documentation about where transferred animals ended up. Public shelters must adopt stricter policies requiring full disclosure of animal outcomes.

2. Leadership Accountability: Promotions like Monica Schmidt’s send a dangerous message that mismanagement will be rewarded. Independent audits should be mandated following controversies involving taxpayer-funded agencies.

3. Neglect of Small Animals: Rabbits, guinea pigs, and other small pets often receive less attention than dogs and cats in shelter systems. Policies must ensure equal care standards for all species.

4. Focus on Optics Over Ethics: Metrics like live release rates drive decisions that prioritize appearances over animal welfare. Shelters must adopt humane benchmarks that go beyond superficial statistics.

A Whistleblower’s Frustration

The whistleblower who brought this story back into focus expressed deep frustration with the lack of progress toward accountability at OCAC. “It’s been nearly two years,” they said. “We still don’t know what happened to those animals—we're left to imagine what horrible fate they met.”

Their frustration echoes broader concerns about how public shelters handle controversies. Without independent oversight or consequences for mismanagement, agencies like OCAC can continue operating without addressing systemic flaws.

A Call for Reform

To restore public trust and ensure humane outcomes for all animals in their care, OCAC and similar agencies must commit to meaningful reform:

1. Transparency in Transfers: Shelters must publicly disclose detailed records for every animal transferred out of their care. Partnerships with third-party organizations should be subject to rigorous vetting processes.

2. Independent Oversight: External audits should be conducted after any major controversy involving animal welfare agencies. Whistleblower protections must be strengthened to encourage reporting of unethical practices.

3. Equal Treatment for All Animals: Small pets deserve the same level of care and oversight as dogs and cats. Policies should prioritize humane outcomes over superficial metrics like live release rates.

4. Leadership Accountability: Promotions should be contingent on demonstrated ethical practices and transparency. Elected officials must take an active role in holding shelter leaders accountable.

Conclusion

The fate of hundreds of small animals entrusted to Orange County Animal Care remains unknown—a haunting reminder of what happens when transparency and accountability are sacrificed in public animal welfare systems. For advocates and whistleblowers alike, this is not just about rabbits or guinea pigs; it’s about restoring trust in institutions meant to protect society’s most vulnerable creatures.

By demanding reform at OCAC and beyond, Orange County residents can help ensure no animal is ever again lost in the system—and that those responsible are held accountable at last.

Ed Boks is a former Executive Director of the New York City, Los Angeles, and Maricopa County Animal Care & Control Departments, and a former Board Director of the National Animal Control Association. His work has been published in the LA Times, New York Times, Newsweek, Real Clear Policy, Sentient Media, and now on Animal Politics with Ed Boks.