MCAS: Stop the Killing!

To: The Oregon Veterinary Community

The purpose of this note is twofold. One concerns a recent tragic case in which Woody, a delightful American Pit Bull dog kept in solitary confinement at Yamhill County Animal Control since 2003 was ordered killed by Judge Stone. If asked to destroy Woody, we hope that you decline to participate in this travesty.

Judge Stone confirmed the order that Woody be destroyed in a recent hearing despite the fact that Woody by the report of all who knew him, including the agency dog control staff and a certified behaviorist, is a sweet natured robust young animal. Woody has been kept in solitary confinement denied company and play for 4 years now at Yamhill Animal Control following an isolated understandable incident in October 2003 that could be prevented in the future and had nothing to do with temperament. Despite the fact that he was offered permanent sanctuary by an esteemed qualified professional in Illinois as a humane alternative Judge Stone and animal control staff refused to even consider this. Judge Stone ordered instead that Woody be killed humanely by a local veterinarian as the staff after coming to know him declined to do so. There is absolutely nothing humane about Yamhill government’s order that an innocent happy sound animal be killed to satisfy a vengeful need to punish the owners. If your veterinary practice is asked to destroy Woody, we hope that you decline to participate in this travesty.

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It's past time to end abuse
By Maite Kropp
Article Launched: 09/02/2007 08:22:21 AM PDT

Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Even Michael Vick changed his claim of innocence to a guilty plea with so much overwhelming evidence against him - a guilty plea to avoid a trial by jury in hopes of salvaging a badly tarnished, if not ruined, career.

I have read the transcript of what Michael Vick said Monday when he pleaded guilty to dogfighting conspiracy charges in U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson's courtroom. I have read it several times. Vick claims he was "immature and needs to grow up."

Grow up?

Remember, he was a superstar in the National Football League, with an entourage of agents, financial advisors, endorsements and anyone or anything he needed or wanted. "Growing up" is not to blame. Extremely bad choices and insensitivity to animals are to blame. "Growing up" is something we all do, but the majority of people have never been involved in dog abuse or trained dogs to kill each other for quick, blood-stained money. Yes, most folks grow up and are never involved in training animals to attack and maime other dogs. They don't let animals linger for hours suffering in pain with open wounds until they are finally, brutally killed.

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Thank you for your patience

John,

On August 4, 2007 you reported to Bryan Denson and Noelle Crombie of The Oregonian that you would be assessing for possible adoption the 11 American pit bull dogs and puppies seized in a raid on the home of Robert Lee Sheahart. Mr. Sheahart is suspected of pit bull fighting. Would this evaluation be similar to the program that the Oregon Humane Society employed to evaluate Qyntel Woods’ dog, Hollywood, dumped after a dog fight and now thriving in Bend?

This policy change is certainly welcome. For four years, the MCAS policy has mandated the destruction of all pit bull dogs including those as young as 8 weeks. It was far past time to end a practice under which these dogs were destroyed automatically at standards that allowed all other dogs to go to adoptions (Tier 2, ER is the stock phrase on the records). I am happy to see that you have had a change of heart and ended this breed-specific extermination program.

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Willamette Week : August 2, 2007
Why MCAS death statistics are increasing for all species
(story at www.wweek.com/editorial/3338/9320)

To distract from the fact of MCAS dismal performance Michael Oswald offers a series of sorry excuses.

The agency statistics: Hiding in plain view on the agency’s website for all to see are MCAS’ own statistics for the duration of his tenure beginning March 2003. While animal intake remains about the same, deaths are significantly up and adoptions down for all species, cats and dogs alike. The death rate for dogs increased by 50% from a “save” rate of 18% in 2003 to 27% at present. The “save” rate, a calculation that allows the agency to take credit for owner redeemed animals, has little to do with the agency’s effectiveness and a great deal to do with the community. It would be like FEMA taking credit for all who stumbled to the New Orleans Astrodome on their own after Hurricane Katrina.

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Sens. Ginny Burdick and Vicki Walker push through bills to improve citizen access to public bodies

Thursday, July 05, 2007

The cause of open government in Oregon made rare progress during the just-concluded legislative session, mainly because of the energetic support of Sen. Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, for two bills.

Burdick, who chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee, was the main backer of Senate Bill 761 and Senate Bill 554. The first closed the loophole in state law that allowed the Klamath County School District in 2004 to use lawyer-client privilege to cover up the results of its investigation into allegations of corruption among district employees. The second bill set time limits for government agencies to acknowledge requests for public records. Both houses overwhelmingly approved both.

For the rest of the article click here.

News that Multnomah County Animal Services will no longer respond to nuisance calls is not surprising. In fact it is good news. It is not really a budget item in the usual sense. Eliminating a responsibility MCAS management never wanted and performed poorly is not a "sacrifice." The agency's adversarial enforcement tactics, threats, fines, etc., serve only to polarize and escalate. Their advice (don't call us; talk to the offending pet owner directly) usually has often already been tried by the time a complainant becomes exasperated. The county can shrug that one off. MCAS did. Portland's Neighborhood Mediation Program has been the most effective at resolving neighborhood disputes whatever the subject.

But this is the real problem. Under Michael Oswald's directorship the agency's performance has spiraled dismally out of control. Since he was demoted to this position four years ago, there has been a 50% increase in the kill rate accompanied by a 35% drop in adoptions. Population demographics have remained virtually the same. Independent reviews by a nationally regarded shelter reform expert and other respected professionals reveal gross temperament testing irregularities and the false categorization of animals as "unadoptable"; "unhealthy/untreatable". All of the goals toward progress established ten years ago were never met. In fact the agency has gone backwards.

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* * * The Reporter, Vacaville, CA
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Maite Kropp, Columnist

Denali, the pit bull who had been incarcerated at the Home at Last Humane Society in Oregon since July 20, 2004, for scratching a child was killed at about 4 p.m. May 24.

The incident that spurred Denali's death occurred when a neighbor's young boy went to the home where Denali lived and was scratched by a happy, jumping dog.

Denali's killing was executed by order of Wasco County Commissioner Dan Ericksen.

What is most appalling and troublesome about this case is that it was done while legal avenues were still at work. There were 21 days left to appeal on Denali's behalf. There also was a pending motion before the County Court.

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From: Gocbwatchdog

Follow-up: Yesterday the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners passed an ordinance requiring that veterinarians provide Multnomah County Animal Services officials with information about owners of nonlicensed pets. So much for client/veterinary confidentiality. Instead of improving services and adopting out rather than killing the inventory, as well as adopting promised but denied progressive shelter reform, Multnomah County decided the cure for a failed agency that can't afford its excesses is to turn veterinarians into unpaid county employees, bridging the budget gap with professional informants.

Many compassionate citizens have one or two animals over the allowed number. Some don't license because of the agency's high kill rate and refusal to honor the 2000 Citizens humane task force recommendations. Now they are going to be reported upon by their veterinarians. They will then be forced to surrender their additional animals or purchase an expensive facility license that allows their homes to be entered without previous notice 24 hours a day.

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Denali, Oregon's little Death Row American Pit Bull dog, was killed yesterday, May 24, 2007, between 4:00 and 4:30 P.M. on the order of Dan Ericksen, the Wasco County Commissioner and orchardist, the "judge" during Denali's kangaroo court proceedings, before a ruling was issued on a pending matter.

DA Nisley chose yesterday to play a fast end around the law by ordering Denali's death while legal proceedings were ongoing. He couldn't wait for the conclusion of the proceedings. DA Nisley notified Attorney Reb Babcock at !:00 PM the same day Denali was killed that unless he received an Order from the Supreme Court staying this matter, they would kill her immediately. That was the first part of the game "set up." Reb Babcock immediately responded noting that no appellate judgment had been issued and appellate rules provide 21 days in order to permit time for a petition for reconsideration. There was also a pending motion before the County Court. He advised DA Nisely that if he intended to proceed despite the lack of judgment and the pending motion, he would seek an "emergency relief" by facsimile communication the next morning. Three hours later they killed Denali.

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