County officials say they will look into concerns about conditions at the Kings County Animal Control shelter that were brought about by area animals-rights activists this week.

Animal control records indicate 2,752 dogs and 1,288 cats entered the shelter from January to September 2006, and 2,467 of them were euthanized. This number includes sick, injured and vicious animals. Those figures also include animals brought to the shelter by owners for humane euthanization.

Kara Johnson, founder of the nonprofit California Underdogs Rescue and Education, along with the group's Vice Chairwoman Katie Smart, handed out information about the shelter to Kings County supervisors and other officials at the board's Tuesday meeting.

"There's a lot of rules and regulations that we try to adhere to, but I don't want to say that there's never anything we can't improve upon," said county Administrator Larry Spikes. "Hopefully we'll try to make contact and get issues resolved ... If there's legitimate issues (to be addressed), we clearly prefer to do that."

Spike said it was likely the county supervisors would discuss the issue during their Tuesday closed session.

The sheriff's department has taken credit for reducing the euthanasia rate of healthy, adoptable animals at the Kings County shelter near Hanford.

During a public safety awards luncheon earlier this year, Sheriff Allan McClain presented an award to Sgt. Robert Thayer, who oversees shelter operations, for reducing the euthansia rate of healthy animals by 50 percent by putting animals on www.petfinder.com and taking them to the Thursday Night Market Place in downtown Hanford and other public functions.

One newspaper advertisement during the sheriff's election campaign featured pictures of two little girls, one cuddling a cat, and the other a dog, with the words "Sheriff Allan McClain: tough on criminals, soft on critters."

The ad said Kings County Animal Control used to euthanize 100 percent of adoptable animals that came into the shelter, but now the shelter only destroys 50 percent of its adoptable animals. McClain lost the election to Chris Jordan, a Hanford police captain.

As of Wednesday afternoon, McClain had not finished reading through Johnson's information packet and could not offer comment.

"This is my assignment for the sheriff's office and I want this to be absolutely the best darn kennel it can be," Thayer said. "There has been some issues in the past and we are in the infant stages (of making improvements)."

The incidents include grand jury criticism of the animal shelter in the 1980s, which resulted in the shelter's transfer to the sheriff's department.

"That's a recipe for disaster," said Kate Neiswender, a Ventura-based environmental attorney. "Adoption and rescue of companion animals is not a police problem, it is a management issue. It's not in (officers') world view."

Former Kings County Animal Control Officer Ronda Arnold contacted Neiswender, who has taken initial steps which could lead to a law suit similar to the recent Kern County case.

Neiswender has made a formal public information request, asking for a series of public documents such as detailed euthanasia records, descriptions of any medical care provided to any animals, and the hours of operations of the shelter.

In neighboring Kern County, a lawsuit regarding animal shelter conditions led to a two-year trial. The suit was based on violations of the Hayden Act, since California does not have a formal governing body for its shelters. The Hayden Act outlines specific details such as how records should be kept, shelter hours, euthanasia methods, and how long each animal must be held in the shelter.

The information packet that Johnson and Smart passed out detailed several cases of alleged violations of proper care for the animals in the shelter. One pictured Australian Shepard mix puppies with burns on their paws. A veterinarian's letter confirmed the burns were from the chemical solvents used to clean the kennels because the puppies had not been kept off of the ground during cleaning.

A picture of a poodle mix shows a wire around its neck. The dog, relinquished Nov. 2 by its owner Tina Dickey, lay in the shelter for five days before the wire was removed. Officers said they euthanized the animal a day later because it became aggressive.

"This is the first time I've heard of any problem with these dogs," said Thayer. " There's always going to be two sides to every story."

Thayer, who was off duty most of the week, said he plans to confer with his staff about the alleged incidents, and take measures to prevent them from happening again.

Another issue brought up in the packet was the use of proper euthanasia methods by Kings County officials.

"When I first arrived, I did not want to be involved in e," Thayer said. "But I realized within a matter of a few days, I had to. I have visually watched (the staff) euthanize these animals. From what i have seen, they do it properly."

Thayer said five of the animal control officers are certified to perform euthanasia. The sixth is scheduled to take the eight-hour certification class in December, and does not currently have authorization to perform euthanasia.

All sides said they wish to see improvement, and they are willing to work together.

The reporter may be reached by e-mail at: nragus@hanfordsentinel.com

(November 16, 2006)