Accountability for Delaware's privately run animal shelters and contracted animal control services is needed now!

1)  Animal Care:  The Department of Agriculture's Office of the State Veterinarian is not capable of uniform enforcement of animal shelter standards without bias as there exists a conflict of interest between the Office and  Delaware's largest private animal shelter. 

2) Animal Control:   Furthermore, the Department of Agriculture does not have any oversight over animal control services provided by privately run shelters. This means that there is no oversight of animal control services at the state or county level. Animal control services are provided separately to each county by Kent County SPCA through contracts. The Delaware SPCA holds the animal control contract for the City of Wilmington. Tax dollars are used to pay for animal control services provided by privately run animal shelters but animal control officers in the field are not bound by any professional standards or code of conduct despite the fact that they are law enforcement personnel.  This lack of accountability has resulted in documented abuse of power by Kent County SPCA's animal control division, known as Delaware Animal Care and Control.

The scope and purpose of the commission should extend beyond mere enforcement of current laws regarding the care and control of companion animals and should include (but not be limited to) the following:

I.      General Oversight

a)      Identify gaps in current statutes for the care and control of animal shelter facilities in Delaware and work with the Governor’s office and the General Assembly to develop animal care and control laws and services that will close loopholes and increase accountability.

b)      Conduct public hearings when necessary to determine whether any individual or establishment is in violation of any animal care and control ordinance.

c)       Hear appeals of persons whose permits or licenses have been revoked by the licensing authority.

d)      Hear complaints about the professional conduct of animal control personnel, animal shelter staff, and the shelter itself.

e)      Work with governments of all three counties to draft contracts for animal control services that will establish accountability and incorporate all county and state animal laws that are to be enforced by animal control personnel.

I.        Animal Shelter Oversight

a)      Collect, review, and disseminate shelter statistics

b)      Monitor animal shelters for compliance with Shelter Standards statutes.

c)      Develop minimum training standards for shelter volunteers

d)     Foster a tone of collaboration and cooperation between shelters and rescue groups and promote positive, professional relations among animal shelters, rescue groups and animal care activists.

e)      Assist in establishing innovative programs that will decrease the number of companion animals that are euthanized and ease overcrowding in shelters, such as a state-wide Prison Dog program.

II.      Animal Control Oversight

a)      Establish professional standards for animal control officers which mirror that of state/county police departments.

b)      Set minimum training requirements for animal control personnel.

c)      Define scope of animal control field duties and establish procedures for investigations of neglect, cruelty and citizen complaints regarding nuisance animals.