📋

Extracted from Consolidated Report

This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.

Orange County Grand Jury • 2014-2015

If Animals Could Talk About the Orange County Animal Shelter

18 pages

View PDF View Full Original

⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.

⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.

Note: Missing finding numbers detected: F4, F6

Findings 7 findings

F2 Page 121

The trap, neuter, and return practice is reportedly delaying the spaying, REPORT neutering, and treatment of domestic dogs and cats awaiting adoption and is 9 evidence that the domestic animals have been assigned a lower priority for surgery than the spaying, neutering, and micro-chipping of the feral cats. REPORT

F3 Page 121

Feral cats have been allowed to roam freely in and around the Animal Shelter 10 and have been fed by Animal Shelter staff, possibly contributing to human and animal exposure to zoonotic diseases. REPORT 11 F.4. Animal Control Officers do not have effective equipment or appropriate procedural options to deal with unique, emergency circumstances that may REPORT require special procedures such as tranquilizing and euthanizing in the field. 12

F5 Page 121

OC Animal Care is currently operating with a shortage of personnel, including Animal Control Officers (ACOs), thereby making it much more difficult for them to REPORT respond to calls in a timely manner throughout such a large county, especially 13 since there is only one shelter to serve all of Orange County. REPORT F.6. There is little evidence that the Feral Free Program has been successful in 14 reducing the feral cat population, which could be a contributing factor to the spread of zoonotic diseases. REPORT

F7 Page 121

Kennels are hosed down with dogs still present in the kennels, resulting in the 15 dogs getting soaked and becoming more susceptible to disease. REPORT 16 2014-2015 Orange County Grand Jury REPORT If Animals Could Talk About the Orange County Animal Shelter 1 REPORT

F8 Page 122

Kennel attendants were observed leaving the large water hoses running when 2 not being used for cleaning purposes, thereby wasting large quantities of water.

F9 Page 122

There is limited airflow and no air conditioning in the cat trailers. The conditions REPORT in these trailers increase the vulnerability to disease. 3

F10 Page 122

There is a rodent problem, creating additional risk of humans and animals REPORT contracting zoonotic diseases. RECOMMENDATIONS REPORT In accordance with California Penal Code sections 933 and 933.05, the 2014- 5 2015 Grand Jury requires (or, as noted, requests) responses from each agency affected by the recommendations presented in this section. The responses are to be submitted to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court. REPORT 6 Based on its investigation titled “If Animals Could Talk About the Orange County Animal Shelter,” the 2014-2015 Orange County Grand Jury makes the following ten REPORT recommendations: 7

Recommendations 10

R1
Page 122

Consider a change of leadership within the Orange County Community Resources Department and arrange for mandatory leadership training for all REPORT managers and supervisors that includes a curriculum of leadership skills, people 8 skills, and diversity (F.1.). REPORT
R2
Page 122

Discontinue the practice of giving feral cats priority for surgery over the domestic 9 dogs and cats awaiting adoption (F.2.).
R3
Page 122

Discontinue feeding feral cats and allowing feral cats to roam freely in and REPORT around the Animal Shelter (F.3.). 10
R4
Page 122

Develop proper protocols for Animal Control Officers to follow when confronted REPORT with unique circumstances in the field that require tranquilizing or euthanizing 11 animals and take all measures necessary to ensure that the Animal Control Officers can be given the proper equipment and training in that regard (F.4.). REPORT
R5
Page 122

Establish a more aggressive approach in hiring qualified personnel on a timely 12 basis, especially with the position of Animal Control Officer (F.5.). REPORT
R6
Page 122

Conduct an evaluation of the Feral Free Program to determine its effectiveness 13 in the reduction of zoonotic diseases. (F.6.).
R7
Page 122

Utilize the “move-one-down” method for cleaning kennels to avoid soaking the REPORT animals. (F.7.). 14
R8
Page 122

Place nozzles on all water hoses and direct kennel attendants to turn off the water when not being used. (F.8.). REPORT 15
R9
Page 122

Improve the ventilation system in all cat trailers for the health and survival of the cats (F.9.). REPORT 16 2014-2015 Orange County Grand Jury REPORT 1 If Animals Could Talk About the Orange County Animal Shelter REPORT
R10
Page 123

Promptly control the rodent population in order to reduce the possibility of 2 spreading diseases to human beings and animals (F.10.). REPORT REQUIRED RESPONSES 3 The California Penal Code section 933 requires the governing body of any public agency which the Grand Jury has reviewed, and about which it has issued a final report, REPORT to comment to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court on the findings and 4 recommendations pertaining to matters under the control of the governing body. Such comment shall be made no later than 90 days after the Grand Jury publishes its report REPORT (filed with the Clerk of the Court). Additionally, in the case of a report containing findings 5 and recommendations pertaining to a department or agency headed by an elected County official (e.g. District Attorney, Sheriff, etc.), such elected official shall comment on the findings and recommendations pertaining to the matters under that elected REPORT official’s control to the Presiding Judge with an information copy sent to 6 the Board of Supervisors. REPORT Furthermore, California Penal Code section 933.05, subdivisions (a), (b), and (c), 7 provides as follows, the manner in which such comment(s) are to be made: (a) As to each Grand Jury finding, the responding person or entity shall indicate one of REPORT the following: 8 (1) The respondent agrees with the finding REPORT (2) The respondent disagrees wholly or partially with the finding, in which case 9 the response shall specify the portion of the finding that is disputed and shall include an explanation of the reasons therefore. REPORT 10 (b) As to each Grand Jury recommendation, the responding person or entity shall report one of the following actions: REPORT (1) The recommendation has been implemented, with a summary regarding the 11 implemented action. REPORT (2) The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but will be implemented 12 in the future, with a time frame for implementation. (3) The recommendation requires further analysis, with an explanation and the REPORT scope and parameters of an analysis or study, and a time frame for the matter to be 13 prepared for discussion by the officer or head of the agency or department being investigated or reviewed, including the governing body of the public agency when REPORT applicable. This time frame shall not exceed six months from the date of publication of 14 the Grand Jury report. (4) The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted or REPORT is not reasonable, with an explanation therefore. 15 (c) If a finding or recommendation of the Grand Jury addresses budgetary or personnel REPORT matters of a county agency or department headed by an elected officer, both the 16 2014-2015 Orange County Grand Jury REPORT If Animals Could Talk About the Orange County Animal Shelter 1 REPORT agency or department head and the Board of Supervisors shall respond if requested by 2 the Grand Jury, but the response of the Board of Supervisors shall address only those budgetary /or personnel matters over which it has some decision making authority. The response of the elected agency or department head shall address all aspects of the REPORT findings or recommendations affecting his or her agency or department. Comments to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court in compliance with Penal REPORT Code section 933.05 are required from: 4 Responses are required from the Orange County Board of Supervisors for Findings F.1. through F.10. and Recommendations R.1. through R.10. REPORT 5 Responses are requested from the Director of OC Community Resources and from the OC Animal Shelter Director for Findings F.1. through F.10. and REPORT Recommendations R.1. through R.10. REPORT 7 REPORT 8 REPORT 9 REPORT 10 REPORT 11 REPORT 12 REPORT 13 REPORT 14 REPORT 15 REPORT 16 2014-2015 Orange County Grand Jury REPORT 1 If Animals Could Talk About the Orange County Animal Shelter REPORT REFERENCES 2 Cummings, et.al. (2014). The conflicting roles of vector control and animal control agencies in mitigating the rise of human cases of flea-borne typhus in Orange REPORT County, California. Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference. JVR Shelter Strategies (2014, June 16). The Orange County Animal Care, Shelter REPORT Consultation Summary. Author. Krueger, L., & Kieltyka, D. (2011). Orange County Vector Control District and Orange County Animal Care Agency request to conduct disease surveillance (opossums REPORT and other wildlife) around human endemic (flea-borne) typhus exposure sites. Orange County Vector Control District. Garden Grove, CA. Author. REPORT Leptospirosis. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/Leptospirosis 6 Logan v. Orange County Animal Care. Orange County Superior Court (30-2014- 00736691) (CU-WM-CJC).Maniaci v. County of Orange. Orange County Superior REPORT Court (30-2014-00752228). (CU-WT-CJC). OC Community Resources, FY 2015-16 Annual Grants Table REPORT Orange County Animal Care. (2015, March 5). OC animal care impound summary. Santa Ana, CA. Author. REPORT Orange County Grand Jury. (2000). We Can Do Better…..Improving animal care in 9 Orange County. Santa Ana, CA. Orange County Grand Jury. (2004). The Orange County Animal Shelter – Are REPORT improvements needed? Santa Ana, CA. Orange County Grand Jury. (2008) Is Orange County Going to the Dogs? Santa Ana, REPORT CA. Psittacosis. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/pneumonia/ atypical/psittacosis.html) REPORT 12 Rabies. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/ Ritchie, E. (2015, February 26). OC Animal Care officers accused of ‘barbarically’ REPORT cutting deer’s throat dismissed by agency. The Orange County Register. (para. 13 3-5). REPORT Ritchie, E. (2015, April 19). Protesters target officers who slit deer’s throat. The Orange 14 County Register, (Local, p.12). Shimura, T. (2015, April 19). County’s release of feral cats stirs concerns. The Orange REPORT County Register, (Local, p.13). Typhus (n.d). Retrieved from http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2014/chapter-3- REPORT infectious-diseases-related-to-travel/rick 16 2014-2015 Orange County Grand Jury REPORT If Animals Could Talk About the Orange County Animal Shelter 1 REPORT UC Davis (2008, February 2). The UC Davis Koret Shelter medicine program, Final 2 consultation report. Davis, CA: Author. Workplace Investigation Report. (2014, October 27). Investigation on Orange County REPORT Animal Care. Santa Ana, CA. Zoonotic diseases (n.d.) Retrieved from www.cdc.gov/onehealth/zoonotic-diseases.html REPORT 4 REPORT 5 REPORT 6 REPORT 7 REPORT 8 REPORT 9 REPORT 10 REPORT 11 REPORT 12 REPORT 13 REPORT 14 REPORT 15 REPORT 16 2014-2015 Orange County Grand Jury