Michelle Quigley resigned from her position as the director of the Irvine Animal Care Center amid allegations by former staff and volunteers of mismanagement and inhumane treatment of animals. She was hired in November 2013. IRVINE – Irvine Animal Care Center director Michelle Quigley has resigned. Quigley’s resignation comes two days after community outcry at Tuesday’s Irvine City Council meeting over continued mismanagement and inhumane practices at the city’s animal shelter, which operates on a budget of $2.52 million. Quigley and Lawrence Kosmin, the center’s chief veterinarian, were at the center of the allegations, including inhumane animal treatment, mismanagement and botched medical procedures. Kosmin was replaced by the city with another veterinarian, Bradley Brunskill, at the end of December. As recently as Tuesday, shelter workers and volunteers testified about continued inhumane treatment of animals and a hostile work environment. “This is one of the worst places I’ve ever volunteered in my life,” said George Hwang, through tears, while detailing accounts of three dogs that had been euthanized. “Please, I beg of you, change this management.” The City Council on Tuesday called for a 60-day halt on euthanasia at the shelter for all animals not severely ill or suffering. It also formed a subcommittee led by Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Lalloway and Councilwoman Lynn Schott to quickly fix problems at the shelter. Animal activists learned of Quigley’s resignation during the first meeting of the subcommittee Thursday. News of her resignation was delivered by Assistant City Manager Sharon Landers and Brian Fisk, the director of the Community Services Department, which oversees the city’s shelter. “We are extremely encouraged at the news that Michelle Quigley has resigned, but understand this is the start of a long process to get things back on track,” said Rita Gatto, who with others, has actively lobbied the city for months with allegations about the shelter. Gatto said she and others will continue to work with the city to create a positive and compassionate shelter that addresses the needs of every animal there. “We think the city understands how widespread the issues are and that the culture plays a large role and it needs to be addressed head on,” she said. Quigley’s departure is the latest in a series of actions the city has taken following public allegations by former volunteers and shelter staff who showed up en masse at the Nov. 25 council meeting. Since allegations surfaced, Lalloway has focused on restoring the shelter’s reputation. The city has hired an independent shelter veterinary consultant, Dr. Jyothi Robertson, to conduct a study regarding changes. “I’ve been asking for bold steps to reform the shelter,” he said. Contact the writer: 714-796-2254 or eritchie@ocregister.com or twitter.com/lagunaini Related Links 'This is one of the worst places I've ever volunteered': Amid outcry, Irvine votes to temporarily halt euthanasia at animal shelter Chief veterinarian leaving Irvine animal shelter after euthanasia policies questioned Advocates, workers question euthanasia policies at Irvine animal shelter Irvine mayor wants action on animal shelter Irvine Animal Care Center named shelter of the year Irvine Animal Care Center gets interim director after controversy over inhumane conditions The pay for a 3-month Irvine animal shelter director job? $99,000, but 'pays for itself'