News, Events and Information from Indianapolis Animal Care & Control

Following numerous firsthand observations of animal care & treatment violations at Indianapolis Animal Care & Control (IACC) which were dismissed by IACC Administrator Steve Talley, a group of citizens has prepared an official grievance to be filed with the IACC Advisory Board for hearing/resolution at the IACC board meeting scheduled for 6pm, August 13th at the IACC shelter, 2600 S. Harding Street.

The observations included debilitated animals being deprived of relief for serious injuries, rampant disease,  deplorable housing and sanitation and cruel treatment of animals in the care of the city's animal division. The official response indicate that these observed situations are within the scope of their normal treatment of animals in their custody, and as such, no further investigation or discussion was necessary.

Everyone is encouraged to read the letter of grievance and consider adding your signature before the official submission date of August 11th. Although anyone who reads of the conditions at the shelter will likely be disgusted and appalled, Indianapolis taxpayers should be especially disturbed to know that their tax money is going to operate the shelter that so brazenly operates in violation of Indianapolis law, and with such a gross disregard for the care & treatment of animals.

Even if you're not able to or comfortable with signing the letter, you are encouraged to attend the board meeting on Wednesday, August 13th, to let the city know that they cannot continue to simply dismiss mistreatment of animals by claiming it's just the way they do things. The city will no doubt offer myriad excuses and justifications for why they need to maintain the status quo. The mistreatment of animals at IACC can only be stopped when people raise their voices and insist that it be stopped!

This situation doesn't just affect unfortunate, "street animals," but could well affect your beloved pets. Bear in mind that many of the animals at IACC come in as strays, which are often times pets that have simply wandered away from their homes. Would you like your pet ending up at IACC if he/she wanders away from your yard, only to be treated cruelly, deprived of clean housing, food and water, or even worse??

If you get bad service at a city office, you can complain. Even inmates in correctional facilities have some recourse for mistreatment. The animals have no voice, and no recourse. They get no chance to complain and have no advocate to ensure they are treated humanely and with dignity. Only your help can change this!

In response to an official letter of complaint filed to the IACC advisory board on July 4th, IACC adminstrator issued the results of their internal investigation. You may read the full text of the letter here, but the specific allegation read as follows:

"While cleaning, a few of us were alarmed by the cries of a dog in the hallway. We looked out the open door into the hallway to see a group of 3 people dragging a dog using some kind of pole device with a noose around the dog's neck. Since Receiving Room is next door to euthanasia, it was certain that the dog was headed to euthanasia. The dog was thrashing, barking and crying and was panicked such that he/she trailed urine and feces down the hallway."

Their response, issued through IACC advisory board chairman Warren Patitz, reads as follows:

From: "Talley, Steve" <STALLEY@indygov.org>
Subject: Investigation into Allegations of Animal Cruelty at IACCD
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:52:03 +0000

I have completed the investigation into allegations of animal cruelty at IACCD. I found the staff members involved in that incident on July 1, 2008 used only the force necessary to contain and transfer that animal from one area of the facility to another. I also found the use of that device "Stick" was required in that instance to insure the safety of our employees, the safety of visitors to our shelter, and that animal itself or other animal that might be entering the hallways.  
 
Steve Talley, Administrator
Indianapolis Animal Care And Control
Office (317) 327-1388
Fax    (317) 327-1390
Stalley@indygov.org

So, despite always having the option to chemically sedate animals prior to killing (which is strongly supported by Public Safety Director Newman), IACC believes that dragging an animal by the neck, causing so much terror that the animal defecates and urinates is necessary force.

Nowhere in the reply from Administrator Talley was there any mention made to any investigation into the maggot-infested kitten with the broken legs that had been languishing in their facility for days before we discovered it in the reveiving room. Perhaps only being a kitten, it doesn't merit any further discussion to them?

Perhaps working in a shelter hardens a person to the point where they are immune to the screams of terrified animals, and the horror experienced by a dog dragged by his neck some 40 feet down a hallway. This forces me to ask the following questions:

• If someone is so immune that they find this indignity preferable to applying chemical sedation, do we really want them handling animals?
  
• Does a facility and system that supports this behavior with Indianapolis tax money really express the will and interest of the taxpayers?
  
• Does anyone really believe that dragging a terrified animal is preferable to handling a sleeping, sedated animal?

Although this is sadly the response that was expected from their internal investigation, this is not acceptable. It does not embody humane treatment in a home, or on the streets, and certainly not within city's own animal shelter. 

In their 2007 Annual Report, they stated that one of their goals was to become a "world class" shelter. The handling of the ugliest, meanest, most fractious dog would demonstrate to me how a shelter really "thinks" and "feels" as an organization. Not what is stated in their policies, but what they actually do to the lowliest, most difficult animal. Do they treat the animal with respect? Do they show it compassion? That's what I believe a world class shelter would do. Never in a world class shelter would rough, angry or abusive treatment be tolerated, let alone supported. Indianapolis Animal Care & Control seems to be steadfastly maintaining the status quo...the mentality that has been present since they were called Dog Catchers.

I believe that until the attitudes have changed in the IACC organization from top to bottom, they should not be allowed to have the word "Care" in their name. This is shameful and disgraceful.

Indianapolis Animal Care & Control Statistics, as presented at June 2008 IACC Board Meeting

* Euthanasia is a term reserved for ending the irremediable suffering of animal
** Animals killed for reasons other than ending irremediable suffering
***Presumed to be going to no-kill organizations, except transfers to Humane Society of Indianapolis

Note that data from April 2008 was interpolated from the 5/31/2008 YTD statistics, as it was not available to the public at the May 2008 board meeting.

For those who couldn't attend an IACC board meeting (or other government meeting covered by Indianapolis Government Channel 16), a great resource is available -- an online archive of channel 16 broadcasts! Programs are typically added to the archive about the same time they are first broadcast.

But whenever possible, please attend the IACC board meetings (usually the 2nd Weds of each month) at 2600 S. Harding Street.

Well, copies of the April statistics for IACC would've been expected to be available at the May 14th, IACC Board Meeting. There were, however, no copies of anything available to the public. During the meeting the public was assured that all the board meeting-related documents would be made available on the IACC web site the following day (May 15th). As of this moment, there is still no sign of any documents from IACC. When they are available, we will update the site?!

If you have questions, or would like to request copies of the April 2008 statistics or board meeting agenda, contact Steve Talley, the IACC Administrator. Perhaps you will have some luck?

Indianapolis Animal Care & Control Statistics, as presented at April 2008 IACC Board Meeting

* Euthanasia is a term reserved for ending the irremediable suffering of animal
** Animals killed for reasons other than ending irremediable suffering
***Presumed to be going to no-kill organizations, except transfers to Humane Society of Indianapolis