Petition updateIn solitary confinement for over a year, a family Shepherd is denied his last days at homeUrgent: MCAS denies even the most basic care to companion dogs held for long periods in Security
Gail O'ConnellSherwood, OR, United States
Jan 23, 2018 — To: The Multnomah County Commission I am seeking an immediate investigation of the MCAS’s care of animals. Held for months in MCAS’s “security” kennels, they are deprived of social contact, physical exercise, and – for “care” – receiving only monthly “visual” checks until November 1, 2017 and nothing since. The public records that, again until November 1, 2017, permitted documentation of this neglect no longer include animal care notes or observations. The pages are left blank. These serious animal welfare concerns have been repeatedly brought to the county’s attention and ignored. Suffering intentionally ignored and inflicted by county government should be a cause of serious concern. MCAS’s care of the dogs on security does not meet even the minimum standards of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians applicable to dogs held for more than one or two weeks. All of the dogs on Security have been held for far longer than that. Efforts to provide improved care have been summarily rejected. When asked whether MCAS had “a policy or procedure to ensure enrichment and prevent stress deterioration,” the response on November 17, 2017 was “We do not have a specific policy for this.” The transparency required for accountability and basic morality require a specific policy. Family dogs held on security as MCAS presses for owner surrender suffer day after day. There are many recent examples of MCAS’s cruel neglect. Described as friendly by everyone, CAIN has been in solitary confinement since February 09, 2016, nearly two years, now showing clear signs of physical/emotional stress. CHUCKY, a senior German Shepherd, has been held in a solitary cell without relief since February 28, 2016; his health continues to decline. TRON, a family-friendly pit bull has been kept in solitary confinement since August 19, 2017. Aided by a Good Samaritan, his owner has completed all of MCAS’s security requirements but the agency continues to insist upon euthanasia. He, too, is on a low dose of trazodone as a substitute for adequate minimal care. Animals on security are kept in conditions that would lead a person down the path of insanity. BLAZE, a very young dog initially rescued from neglect (by his owner) where he had been kept isolated in a small room is now kept in solitary confinement. He has been held at MCAS since 05.19.17. He suffers distinct social and psychological deterioration. He receives only an ineffective low dose of trazodone, an anti-anxiety agent. Correspondence sent to the agency veterinary department on December 07 enumerates profound concerns about the welfare of animals held for lengthy periods on Security under the current MCAS administration. This correspondence is now being forwarded for your and to the county commission’s attention. I have offered to pay for a consultation on BLAZE’s behalf with Dr. Christopher Pachel, a diplomate in Behavioral Veterinary medicine, a highly respected professional who previously provided assistance to MCAS. BLAZE is suffering terribly in confinement. He risks being driven insane. Please accept my offer and let me know how you would like this accomplished. No one has responded from MCAS. Visitor Restrictions (see attached) created and developed by Director Jackie Rose on 12/20/16 effectively deprive owners visiting their dogs from any meaningful contact. Appointments must be scheduled well ahead of time and visits are limited to 10-15 minutes with no physical contact allowed. Animals and their owners may only see each other briefly through the kennel grate. Ms. Rose’s visitor restrictions can be motivated only by unfathomable cruelty. They serve no purpose other than to torment and discourage visits already complicated by the distance between the shelter and the inner Portland neighborhoods where most citizens reside. Before Ms. Rose arrived at MCAS and place her stamp on agency practices, visitors could see their dogs for half an hour in the kennel and sometimes in a play area. The fenced area once used for exercise for animals on Security has been shut off. Farm animals once kept on foster farms now occupy that space. No other exercise venue has been provided. Nations are judged by their care for the helpless. MCAS deserves to be judged by its treatment of the animals in its care. The current cruel practices should not be condoned and require immediate action. Alexandrea G’s Petition for Blaze: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/313/310/249/save-10month-old-blaze-from-being-put-down/ Blaze’s Significant Deterioration and Request for Expert Intervention: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1nG3GXBv2RpMdP-V3qlk7hFuyhXAf4sKG MCAS Director Jackie Rose’s Current Visitation Policies: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1HkqkJCw0HyNE9Sw5wSooYr9Pa47QJ3UC
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