We need emails and letters to help us generate public outcry against Summit
County Animal Shelter (The Pound), ILLEGALLY KILLING UNSEDATED ANIMALS WITH
HEARTSICK, SAME NEEDLE ALLEGEDLY USED ON ALL ANIMALS


We have become aware of various atrocities being committed on a routine
basis at the Summit County, Ohio Animal Shelter (the “Pound”). We hope you will expose this to the public as they have a right to know, and, by virtue of such exposure, generate enough of a public outcry to bring about change. We have videotapes, photographs, eye witness testimony from several current and former County employees and rescue members, and supporting written documentation, which substantiate the below allegations of various atrocities and violations of law routinely taking place at the Pound, all of which we will gladly make available to you. Certain of the eyewitnesses and former employees providing the testimony we are referring to are willing to talk as well, and we can give you their contact information.
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Illegal Use of the Heartstick on Unsedated Animals
Ohio Revised Code 4729.532 (A)(3)

We have testimony from several former employees of the Pound that the
intracardial injection (aka the "heart stick”) is routinely used on
unsedated animals. We have been told that none of the dogs or cats killed
at the Pound are anesthetized or sedated before being given the heartstick. We are told that the "stick" is made "as close to the heart as possible." These very same employees told us that although they went through euthanasia training and certification, required by ORC 4729.531, which taught the use of a heart stick only on an anesthetized animal, such training was viewed as "a joke". They were instructed by the Pound management to go back to their old [illegal] ways of euthanizing. The intracardial (IC)/heart stick on an unsedated animal is considered in the veterinarian and euthanasia community to be a deplorable "technique" and entirely unacceptable and inhumane. This delivers a brutal and excruciatingly painful death to a dog, cat, kitten or
puppy.

ORC 4729.532 states that the intracardial injection is to be used "…only on
a sedated or unconscious animal." The reason for this is that the
heartstick delivers a torturous death. Secondly, it is extremely difficult
to accurately insert the tip of the needle on a squirming cat or dog. The
IC procedure should never be attempted on a conscious animal, in part
because there is a reasonable probability that the first insertion of the
needle will fail to place the tip of the needle correctly in to the left or
right ventricle, left or right atrium or thoracic aorta. Additional "jabs"
or attempts to locate the blood chamber only increases the pain to the
animal. Additionally, the needle often passes through the lung on its way
to the heart and a sheath of nerves between the ribs. This procedure on a
conscious cat or dog is not a humane act and impacts a great deal of
unnecessary suffering on its victims.

Testimony from former employees has revealed that needles used for
"euthanasia" are used, "over and over again", dulling them out and making the insertion even more painful. The needle gauge used for injection is the same size regardless of whether it is being used on a puppy or kitten, cat or large dog. Additional gruesome testimony by former employees discloses that technicians do not use conventionally approved methods, such as the use of a stethoscope, to determine death en a "euthanized" animal. "We wait until an animal stops twitching [determination of death] and then we throw it into the freezer." Pregnant mothers are also killed with the heartstick. This is especially inhumane since the fetuses do not die when the mother dies. Fetuses live long after the mother is dead and suffocate slowly in the womb.

Needless Mass Killings
Summit County Ordinance 505.09(a)(1) and ORC Section 959.13(A)(1).

On Saturday, August 23, 2003 at the close of business, there were 16 empty cages in the cattery, including one, which contained a bag of cat food. Monday morning, before the Pound opened at 10 a.m. for the public, Mr. Farrance, upon the order of Glenn James needlessly executed 57 cats (17 cats, 40 kittens), and 16 dogs (9 dogs, 7 puppies), including two beautiful older kittens, which arrived in the cattery Saturday morning, August 23, 2003. This mass killing was needless, and especially heinous because, a rescuer from Friends of Pets had informed James Farrance and Glenn James, both orally and in writing, that she would rescue four (4) mothers and their litters---a total of 36 cats and kittens, prior to their scheduled execution date (end of business on Monday-–these cats were all killed Monday morning before the start of business. The rescuer showed up as she said she would – first thing in the morning – and all the cats had been killed. This cruel heartless action not only killed animals needlessly, but it cost the county the $360 fee for 36 cats and kittens. This needless mass killing also included two cats (older kittens under 1 year), which arrived in the cattery Saturday morning. They were not kept the mandatory three (3) days as required by Summit County Ordinance 505.51(b). On 26 August 2003, the day after the mass killing, based on eyewitness testimony, there were 20 empty cages at the close of business, yet on the morning of 27 August 2003,
according to records; five (5) cats were needlessly killed.

On 20 August 2003, Glenn James wrote a disciplinary reprimand to members of his staff for violating his euthanasia policy. In an attempt to save lives of cats and kittens, and in light of all the empty cages, staff members were holding some animals longer than the requisite three (3) days. Based upon testimony of current employees, this infuriated Mr. James and in retaliation for their disobedience, he ordered all of the cats present in the cattery that day to be killed. This mass killing included cats Linda Gilliland, a frequent rescuer and co-founder of Friends of Pets had indicated that she would rescue. It has been told to us that Mr. James knew that certain cats in the 20 August massacre were to be rescued by Mrs. Gilliland; however, Mr. James didn't care, he refused to allow her to be called. We were told by Pound employees that he wanted to teach the staff a lesson.

These are two of many documented examples. Based upon Pound policies, kenneled cats, dogs, kittens and puppies are routinely killed although there is available cage space for them.

Conduct Unbecoming of a County Director

Testimony and supporting documentation has been given to us that alleges
that the Pound director while in his office on county time often engaged in
racially offensive behavior. We have supporting physical evidence to
substantiate this.

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We also have evidence of several additional violations including,
but not limited to:

*Cruel and illegal routine denial of food and water to impounded cats and
kittens in violation of the state of Ohio and Summit County animal cruelty
laws in violation of Summit Co. Ordinance Section 505.09(a)(1) and ORC
959.13(A)(1).
*Allowing badly injured cats and dogs to suffer for days without veterinary
care or treatment in violation of state cruelty laws and Summit County
Ordinance 505.09(a)(1)(b).
*Denial of exercise and fresh air to impounded dogs and cats in violation of
Summit County Ordinance Section 505.09(a).
*Falsification of public records in violation of state, county and federal
laws.
*Denial of public access to public records when requested in violation of
the Ohio Public Records Act.
*Illegal conversion of public funds/property for personal use.
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PLEASE WRITE TO THE FOLLOWING :

***Contact information for Summit County Officials is as follows:***

Summit Co. Executive, James McCarthy, 330-643-2510. email:
jmccarthy at Summitoh.net

Summit Co. Law Dir., Karen Doty, 330-643-8052. email:
kdoty at exec.Summitoh.net

Summit Co. Communications Dir., Jill Hinig Skapin, 330-643-2609. email:
jskapin at Summitoh.net

Summit Co. Prosecutor, Sherri Bevan Walsh, 330-643-2788. email:
canterbury at prosecutor.Summitoh.net


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