With the recent outbreak of a deadly infection temporarily shutting down the shelter, it has become more apparent to the public that there are troubling issues inside the facility. ACCT itself can not house the amount of dogs Russell is trying to keep alive, therefore causing a spiraling effect.

However, warehousing dogs has caused numerous problems for the shelter before the outbreak for both the animals and the individuals inside the facility. The goal of becoming a no-kill shelter has left many dogs sitting in an unsanitary and unsafe shelter for months on end without a chance of a live exit. It has led to dogs leaving at the first exit, even with unfit owners or adopters deceived to the health and behavior of the individual dog. Dogs have been returned to owners without proof of residency, without fines being paid (confiscation, registration, etc), and dogs have left the facility sick and unaltered. 

Below is an agenda of what we want from governing agencies in order to restore health and safety to the animals and people that work their hardest to save these animals:

For the staff and volunteers: 

- An evaluation of the facility itself (ventilation, draining pipes, kennels, cleaning supplies, dog runs, medical suites, entrances and exits, etc.)

- A collection of the increase in bite cases and on-site injury

- Interviews with the staff and volunteers on their safety and wellbeing in the shelter

- Discussions with the Union on health and safety practices at ACCT vs pay and benefits provided with the job risk

 

For the animals:

- An audit of exits (where the animals went after entering the facility, an whether it was legal by ACCT Philadelphia policies)

- A check on population vs space (irregulated kennels set up to house more animals, animals in kennels that do not fit them, quarantined dogs in inadequate space)

- A health and wellbeing check on the animals based on the Philadelphia's legal definitions of animal abuse and cruelty 

- Audit on record keeping (intake information, vaccination, etc)

- Interviews of willing adopters and Love Local Rescue Partners that have taken in animals with false information leading to injury, illness, or death of an animal

For Susan Russell:

- A financial audit of donations made since her arrival

- Interviews with employees and Love Local Rescue Partners on her accountability in the warehousing of dogs

- Accountability on the responsibilities of an open intake shelter in Philadelphia (spay/neuter all healthy, spay/abort when necessary, euthanasia when necessary, INTAKE ALL ANIMALS THAT ARE TO BE WITHOUT A PLACE TO LIVE, etc)