Incompetence and Mismanagement at the County’s Four Shelters Result in the Mistreatment, Suffering and Death of Animals
The Companion Animal Protection Society, a California-based national nonprofit, has just released a new documentary entitled A CAPS Investigation of Riverside County Department of Animal Services. This video exposes how incompetence and mismanagement at Riverside County’s four shelters have led to the mistreatment and suffering of animals and to a high rate of euthanasia.
The Walter Clark Law Group in Rancho Mirage, CA, is suing Riverside County for violating California laws that protect shelter animals. The law group is also suing the county for wasting taxpayer funds by spending $2.45 million on a shelter consultant. Those funds could instead be used to improve conditions at the shelters.
In our documentary, attorney Walter Clark speaks about the lawsuit and the broader issue of shelter regulation. A plaintiff in the case, Tiffani LoBue, also discusses malfeasance at the Riverside shelters, while Dan Bolton, the attorney handling the lawsuit, provides shocking evidence of corruption and neglect. In addition to this case, Mr. Bolton is suing Apple Valley Animal Services and SEEACA Animal Care Center in Downey, CA, for similar conduct.
CAPS, along with the Walter Clark Law Group and other animal advocates, is calling on the Riverside County Department of Animal Services to do the following:
Use appropriate personnel
- Stop using public funds for an expensive outside consulting company
- Start using qualified and experienced shelter directors
Abide by the Hayden Act
- Cease killing animals who are adoptable or who could become adoptable with appropriate medical care or behavioral training
- Remove employees who do not comply with the Act
- Spay and neuter all animals before releasing them to rescue organizations or adopters
Provide daily humane care
- Offer animals sufficient food, water, clean facilities, and daily exercise
- Educate staff and volunteers on humane care
Provide necessary veterinary care
- Employ full-time vets at three of the four county shelters
- Require vets to sign a declaration that euthanasia is “medically necessary” for any animals whom the shelter plans to kill
Create strong relationships with rescues and adopters
- Cooperate with rescue organizations and end euthanasia dates for animals with rescue and adoption interest
Keep accurate records and budget
- Maintain accurate and truthful records and hire a forensic accountant to review the shelter’s budget
Animals are suffering on a large scale because of systemic mismanagement, nepotism, indifference, and incompetence within the Riverside County Department of Animal Services. The mistreatment of animals in Riverside must end now.
A CAPS Investigation of Riverside County Department of Animal Services is one in a series of short documentaries about municipal animal shelters in California. We are releasing this series in the lead-up to the debut of The Crisis at California’s Municipal Shelters, our comprehensive documentary about the failure of many of the state’s public shelters to provide humane care for homeless animals.
Learn more about CAPS’ efforts to reform California’s municipal animal shelters through outreach and legislation and watch the trailer for The Crisis at California’s Municipal Shelters.
How you can help:
Riverside County residents, please contact your supervisor to demand immediate changes for the animals living in the county’s four shelters.
