THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 8, 1996 TAG: 9610080301
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY CATHERINE KOZAK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: 80 lines
Several pet owners contended Monday that Dare County's animal shelter euthanizes too soon and too often.
The shelter frequently makes a ``rush to judgment'' when putting an animal to sleep, despite the eight-day waiting period required by county regulations, Southern Shores resident Karen LeBlanc said. And, she told the Dare County Board of Commissioners, standards for new homes for the pets are too strict.
``Adoptions are down, euthanasias are up and reclaims are frighteningly low,'' LeBlanc told the commission.
Commissioner Shirley Hassell also was critical.
``It's an animal Auschwitz out there,'' Hassell said, elaborating on public comment about the shelter during the commissioners' meeting.
Hassell said the facility must be held accountable for its actions. She cited a recent experience of her own, in which a cat and her kittens were destroyed despite assurances from facility employees that they would be cared for.
``I feel like there's been a grave injustice, not only to the animals, but to the citizens of Dare County,'' Hassell said.
But an animal shelter representative later said she was surprised by the criticism, saying the adult cat was not the mother, and all the animals were legally signed over to ``be disposed of at the discretion of the county.''
About eight county residents spoke out against shelter policies and practices during the meeting.
``The interesting thing is none of those individuals ever contacted me,'' said Gail Kowalski, president of the Outer Banks Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. ``If they had these complaints, why didn't they voice them to our board?
``We cannot address any problem unless we know a person is having a problem.''
Hassell, saying the shelter is not required to submit any report to the County Commission other than the number of animals put down monthly, complained that the OBSPCA board refused to put her on the agenda at a recent meeting.
But Kowalski said the commissioner never submitted such a request, and she has no idea what she wanted to talk about.
Donna Dieck of Manteo said she has paid more than $500 to the shelter to reclaim her golden lab mixed breed, and the last $190 charge forced her to give her dog up because she could not afford the fine. Another dog she owned was also apprehended by the facility, which is down the road from Dieck's residence. She does not know what happened to them.
``No one in the neighborhood is complaining,'' Dieck said. ``They don't chase cars. They don't bite people. They're good dogs.''
She said personnel at the shelter have made verbal threats to her on the telephone, and are ``prejudiced and rude.''
Although Kowalski said each complaint will be addressed fully at the Oct. 21 commissioners' meeting, she defended shelter euthanasia and adoption policies.
Only feral animals or those that have been relinquished to the shelter are put down, she said. Strays are kept alive for at least eight days.
``Not all animals that come as strays are euthanized - many animals are held much longer,'' Kowalski said. ``We do indeed have an adoption criteria. The goal is for the animal to be placed in a good home. It is not our desire to place an animal in an abusive or inappropriate situation.''
The OBSPCA, established in 1988, is a non-profit corporation supported in part by about $100,000 of Dare County funds annually.
As a private contractor with the county, Kowalski said the service is obligated to uphold county and state animal control laws.
Also Monday, the board agreed, at the request of Chairman R.V ``Bobby'' Owens Jr., to authorize the county attorney to draft an ordinance banning sexually oriented businesses in unincorporated Dare County.
Saying the county must ``take a bold stand . . . go out and lead the pack,'' Owens theorized that the county might as well ``throw the gauntlet down.''
The county, and all towns within its borders, have temporary moratoriums on adult businesses. Banning the establishments entirely is viewed as unconstitutional - if it's challenged.
``We're more urban, probably, than other surrounding counties. . . . We've just got to be ready,'' Owens said. ``As I've always done in the past, if someone threatens me with a lawsuit, I say, `Come on!' ''
``More than anything else, we're sending a message.'' by CNB