Category Archives: Public Records

MCAS’ Brutal indifference to handicapped animals

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Jackson, ID# 322762

Jackson, awaiting euthanasia on September 04, 2024

On September 4, Jackson, a very friendly valiant young dog who had learned to navigate and compensate for hemiparesis and blindness, was scheduled to be killed because MCAS managers claimed to have exhausted all options for his care

They had not. They simply prefer the expediency of killing the helpless.

These were the options

On September 02, 2024, The Humane Society of SW Washington had accepted Jackson for medical care but were over capacity and asked to be contacted in a few days. On September 03, they declined due to their current population.

MCAS could have placed Jackson in foster care until space opened up at the Humane Society of SW Washignton or another option was found elsewhere. MCAS once had medical fosters but the current management claims to have eliminated the program, despite it still being part of the Dog Foster Handbook (FAQ, “What are the common reasons that dogs need fostering?”, page 29).

Jackson just needed a foster, it didn’t have to be a medical foster. Jackson’s medical condition was stable and his case could be managed even without an extensive neurolgical consultation. One can manage a case clinically without diagnostics. There was no consultation to even determine if extensive diagnostics are needed. Partial paralysis and blindness can be managed even if they can’t be cured.

MCAS could have accessed Dolly’s Fund, a restricted donation driven fund established by a County Resolution in 2009 and further specified in 2015 as part of another resolution, for the special medical needs of shelter animals. Instead they have continued to illegally divert it to fund spay neuter vouchers, despite both the county auditor and the Oregonian reporting on its misuse.

A consultation with a veterinary rehabilitation specialist could have been arranged about rehabilitation for dogs with semi paralysis. It is affordable. Back on Track Veterinary Rehab once collaborated over MCAS dogs in past times. And after reading about his case online, the veterinarian and founder of Back on Track on September 02, 2024, inquired on how to contact MCAS about fostering or adopting Jackson.

The timeline to his planned death on September 04, was close to the date of inquiry. Regardless, there were no lack of options, only a lack of caring and initiative.

The following statement by the Rounds Committee recommending euthanasia is inexcusable in its sophistry and jaded inhumanity. After all, MCAS believed that his life was worthy but was asking others with less funding to conduct a neurological consultation when in fact management might have been all that was needed and in any event they could well afford any associated costs from Dolly’s fund intended for that purpose.


September 4, 2024

“Rounds met and we have exhausted options and will proceed with DVM recommendations of humane euthanasia given that extensive work up would be needed to reach a diagnosis.”

Since Rounds is so easily exhausted, they should be placed on bed rest, while competent professionals are sought to enable a humane shelter.

Veterinarians at MCAS once recommended legitimate expenditures of Dolly’s Fund through consultations under leadership of former Director Michael Oswald until his retirement on April 30, 2015 (Public records examples available upon request). Michael Oswald was the only long-term Director at MCAS, as since his retirement the position has been a revolving door where people come and go every 1 to 3 years.

The current MCAS managers since 2016 have routinely rejected access to those funds when veterinarians have requested them. The effect has been that veterinarians no longer ask for referrals. The instruction is to off load medical concerns onto another organization.

A forlorn hope exists that Jackson made it through the Committee and was allowed to live, but what I know of the current management at MCAS is that they are dedicated to population control with brutal efficiency.

Gail O’Connell-Babcock

The uninterruptible ignorance of MCAS Marian Cannell

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Cream, ID# 322411

The pointless scheduling of Cream’s death

Since Marian Cannell was appointed as operations manager in November 2022, salaried at $100,000, life for animals and staff has dangerously deteriorated; deaths have gone up and adoptions have failed as salaries increase.

Animals are being ordered killed for correctable stress created by MCAS when humane alternatives exist. They are ordered killed by managers with no background in animal behavior science and training. As a result MCAS has become the $15.6 million dollar prison on the hill where increasing numbers of shelter animals do not leave alive.

Cream came into MCAS from the field with the following note on August 11, 2024. “Hyper sweet. Bonded with female at Dove Lewis. Both found on I-84 together.”

On August 29, 2024, he was scheduled to be killed as ordered by the Rounds Committee, a clique of insiders whose regulations for euthanasia decisions have progressively lax from when they were a robust committee that included experts in animal behavior sciences and trainers. The reason he is scheduled to be killed is excitable non aggressively motivated behavior that resulted in a puncture wound and scrapes.

“Rounds Review Rounds discussed and will forward with humane euthanasia after bite quarantine due to uninterruptible behaviors in shelter that have now resulted in a bite incident that was uninterruptible. Follow up 9/7 for sign off.”

The above statement is unintelligible.

It was very clear at the outset that Cream’s excitability was secondary to kennel stress from prolonged confinement in a shelter with uninterruptible noise and dogs across and beside each other about which MCAS has done absolutely nothing.

The effects of a toxic shelter, distressed dogs, and no staff or volunteer training

Staff and volunteers are untrained leaving them without tools to manage distressed dogs. Currently, the primary tools for entering a kennel are crouching, looking sideways, throwing treats, advancing upon scared animals and pushing them back if they attempt to exit the kennel. Physical striking, i.e, “bopping” a dog on the nose is on record. Pet corrector (a noxious over the counter spray) has been used to “correct” jumpy mouthy behavior. There are multiple management and training programs for leash reactivity, including articles provided for free by Instinct Dog Training, in particular their article about using positioning and body language to alleviate leash reactivity.

The shelter’s mismanagement of Cream’s excitability and leash reactivity is not unique. These are 2 descriptions on August 21, 2024 with a different MCAS dog, records available upon request. It is a demonstrable fact that many dogs at MCAS become jumpy and mouthy secondary to the agency’s unacceptable uninterruptible toxic environment:

“ … After he had the treat he was immediately jumpy and mouthy, trying to grab onto the leash and pulling my radio and key chain off my belt. I used my pet corrector, first 3 inches away from his chest, and then directly at his chest, which re-directed him, but he would immediately go back to jumping and snapping…”

“On exit [from the play yard] he started to bite his leash when I took him out, then became more excited, continuously jumping and snapping with a high raised wagging tail, and began mouthing at my sweater sleeves and bottom, latching onto the fabric. Pulled out my pet corrector and tried to re-direct, spraying 3 inches away from and then at directly at his mouth…”

Incredibly, the solution for stress driven excitability was not a plan, but a waiver “A 12 [year] and over restriction to allow better potential matches.”

Cream is suffering from a mismanaged agency where unqualified managers run a store for cheap pets, rarely neutered or spayed, on public funds. The descriptions of Cream’s behavior make clear the incompetence is in management: First, the failure to attend to the stress they create; Secondly for not training staff or caring for dogs.

Cream

August 22, 2024

“Data collection: Dog readily came to greet me with wagging tail as I approached kennel. I opened kennel and was easily able to place slip lead. We went for a walk in agility. He walks pretty well on leash, and happily accepted all pets and in head and body. He would repeatedly come to my side, rubbing against my legs with a wiggly body to solicit attention. Returned to kennel, removed lead and exited without issue. Very sweet boy!”

Six days later, August 28, 2024

“Recap from staff member from incident in yard. Had dog out in play yard, dog became over stimulated and began mouthing at arms, was able to use treats and have him focus and sit, did well with this for awhile and took a break, staff went back with toys, dog had no interest in toys and became even further over-stimulated where he could not be re-direct [sic] with treats. Staff member called for help on the radio and was able to get into adjacent yard. Sustained injuries as follows: Single deep tooth puncture to left forearm causing SQ tissue exposure, scratches to right forearm, tooth scrapes with bruising to right ankle, one superficial (chest) and one deep (abdomen) scrape on side.”

An incident should not define the life of a nice dog. An examination of what led to the incident, and how to prevent recurrence should define the next step. But at MCAS, an unqualified management kills the victims of their mistakes.

“Data collections,” where behaviors are observed with little to no intervention, are pointless when confounded by the increased stress accrued just from being at this shelter. A behavior and training department equivalent to the veterinary department is critically needed to train dogs, staff, and volunteers and counsel owners and adopters facing challenges.

Marian Cannell and Erin Grahek reject that life saving need. They should be removed from office.

Gail O’Connell-Babcock

MCAS covers up failed animal care

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Budget’s death in a triple occupancy kennel

EDIT: Updated the dogs’ return to the shelter due to the owner’s ongoing medical emergency.

“In response to Monday’s audit, Vega Pederson said she was pleased with the amount of progress that’s taken place at the shelter since she took office. ‘This timely assessment provides us an opportunity to see how far (Multnomah County Animal Services) has come in a short amount of time,’ she wrote.”

https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2024/08/multnomah-countys-long-troubled-animal-shelter-improved-pet-care-record-keeping-but-still-has-more-work-to-do-auditors-say.html

Background

Budget, ID# 320453; Gizmo, ID# 320452; Phoenix, ID# 320454

On August 08, three dogs were taken into MCAS custody when their owner was hospitalized: Gizmo, MCAS 320452, a Labrador Retriever mix; Phoenix, MCAS 320454, a Labrador/Rottweiler mix; Budget, MCAS 320453, a dachshund.

At first, the 2 large dogs were housed together apart from the small dachshund. The MCAS contract worker who picked up all three dogs from a temporary caretaker, providing care for them while the owner was hospitalized had run out of resources. The worker housed the 2 larger dogs together in one kennel, placing the dachshund in a separate kennel after describing him as very fearful.

July 16, 2024:

“I loaded up the three dogs and transported them to the shelter two of the dogs were friendly and easy to handle and I cannot them together in a large kennel. Their belongings are in a labeled bag behind the adoption desk. The third dog was fearful on arrival at the shelter and I had to use a control pole. That dog is kenneled separate in intake 14.”

At some point during their stay at MCAS, management decided to house all 3 dogs together.

August 8, 2024:

“Arrived MCAS 22:51m placed all 3 dogs into intake kennel #16 (double kennel), they are very much bonded to each otherwise”

On August 12, Budget, the small fearful dachshund was found fatally injured, deceased in the shared kennel. No one noticed any commotion until then.

August 12, 2024

“Phoenix 320454 and Gizmo 320452 were housed in a double kennel with Budget 320453. All three dogs had come in together. Budget was found deceased in the kennel today; he had bite wounds on his ventral neck and blood coming from his mouth. He had most likely been killed by either Phoenix or Gizmo. Phoenix and Gizmo were placed in separate kennels and added to Rounds Review to determine pathway.”

The fact that all 3 came in together doesn’t justify kenneling all 3 together when grouping in small kennels is generally unsafe. Especially when the small dog was kenneled separately on that July 16 intake.

A day later on August 13, the contact person for the owner called and MCAS reported that the Budget had been attacked and killed by one or both of the 2 other dogs in the shared kennel. The contact person responded that the owner:

“would occasionally mention that Phoenix would pick on Budget and that she was not entirely surprised that Gizmo jumped in with her sister. I let her know that we planned to proceed with Euthanasia in the morning of 8/15, and gave her a telephone number telling her to contact prior to 5:30 PM 8/14 if they had heard from the owner.”

Earlier on August 13,“Rounds met and due to kennel incident that resulted in death of 3rd dog, electing euthanasia at end of hold time unless reclaimed. [Follow up on] 8/14.”

Phoenix was redeemed by the owner on August 14, 2024.

These are nice dogs. MCAS created the circumstances that led to Budget’s death. They took no responsibility whatsoever. Instead, they planned to kill both of the dogs after they failed to protect all 3 dogs. That was their misconduct. They had no plans to review their culpability or hold themselves accountable. The only plan was to conceal misconduct and destroy the evidence.

According to the records, they had planned to kill the other two dogs immediately at the end of the legal hold time of 6 days, on the morning of August 15. They planned this despite knowing that the owner was placed on mental health hold at the hospital. They knew the struggle she was going through, and cruelly decided that killing her dogs while she couldn’t possibly respond to their calls was an acceptable decision. The owner reclaimed her dogs before the deadline on August 14, but was unfortunately hospitalized again on August 22. Her dogs are back at the shelter, and likely to be scheduled for euthanasia on August 29.

That is what they do day after day. If careless adopters harm animals then return the dogs, MCAS managers don’t review what went wrong with their adoption. They just destroy the victims and move on. Nothing changes.

Gail O’Connell-Babcock

The story of a man and his dog after losing his wife and home

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Meeting the homeless crisis with expedited killing

Jaxon, MCAS ID# 321726

Jaxon was killed very early into the 10-day state mandated quarantine rules, his body sent to Oregon State University for necropsy, an expense paid by the public. There was no noted urgency, other than for another animal to replace him, suggesting MCAS prioritized his kennel space.

The housing crisis in Multnomah County affects animals living with homeless persons too. Despite advertising itself as invested in helping those living on the streets, often in crisis, MCAS has refused to participate or involve itself in any solutions, except for swift and lethal outcomes. They quietly discontinued Pets in Crisis and Emergency Board programs since about mid-2022, though the application forms exist without explanation or purpose. There are no outreaches into the community. Advertisements about reaching out to honor justice, diversity and social justice mandates are empty promises and false propaganda. No public funds are directed towards finding solutions for, or offering assistance to, homeless and impoverished owners. That is why Jaxon was killed as an expedience. No one cared.

County false propaganda and failed promises are rampant. These are just 2, five years apart.

February 20, 2020

“How do we help the people who are struggling, who need the most support, or who aren’t accessing our services? A high priority for Sadler is strengthening partnerships with other county agencies and community groups to better serve community members experiencing homelessness, living with mental health concerns,and other vulnerable or underserved populations.”

2024 and 2025 Adopted budget mission statements

“Historically, the primary role of MCAS has been animal control enforcement and stray animal sheltering. In harmony with County equity goals and the MCAS North Star of providing quality care for animals and equitable services for the community, MCAS is shifting resources toward supporting pet owners to care for and retain their animals. The aim is to prevent animals from needing shelter due to surrender or abandonment, and to intervene prior to the need for enforcement activity.” — Community Services FY 2024 / 2025 Adopted Budget.

Five years later between the first and second grandiose promises, nothing has been accomplished while MCAS receives annual budget increases. The adopted budget for 2025 is funded by the highest budget ever, $15,684,375, 2 million up from the previous year’s budget. At MCAS, funding and failure go hand in hand.

The short tragic life of Jaxon, 5 years old.

After Jaxon’s owner’s wife died in 2021, leading to his becoming homeless, Jaxon, described as sweet natured and friendly, had a stable life. Those traits carried through to the present. On his owner surrender personality profile, Floyd, his owner, described him as well behaved, having lived with cats, easy going and playful with strangers, new dogs and cats, children under 10 years old.

On the streets he spent a great deal of time secured in Floyd’s truck when Floyd was not there in the truck with him. The only complaint on record were the incidents leading to his surrender on August 02, 2024. The first was when Floyd left his truck momentarily and, on his return, saw that Jaxon had gotten out of the covered bed of the truck and was lying down in front of the vehicle. The stranger approached Jaxon, put his hand out to pat him and Jaxon bit him. When he went to intervene, Jaxon redirected and bit him on the hand, a single puncture described as requiring one stitch. There is no confirming bite report or medical report. MCAS no longer considers it protocol to seek objective confirmation part of their investigative due diligence obligation.

Other second hand reports from the owner involved persons reaching over to pat Jaxson without permission, for example at a homeless shelter. It is known that reaching over, staring into a dog’s eyes and patting dogs on the head is not comfortable for dogs but considered an aggressive intent in the canine world, at best tolerated.

The next day on August 02, Floyd planned to leave the truck for awhile, leaving Jaxon behind. As an extra caution he planned to muzzle Jaxon as he was leaving. During that effort, Jaxon bit his hand again, requiring 3 stitches. For the owner that was the last straw. His owner surrendered Jaxon to MCAS on August 02, 2024.

A killing efficiency

On Sunday, August 04, two days into quarantine, Enforcement Supervisor Jennifer Turner, ordered Jaxon euthanized: “Due to behavior, Rounds elects euthanasia.” He was killed as “unhealthy and untreatable” when all evidence shows he was not.

Prior to policy changes by MCAS Director Eren Grahek on November 2023, decisions to euthanize animals required a minimum of 3 persons, including “…a minimum of the Director or Shelter Manager, a representative from the species-appropriate behavioral team, and one other manager” (MCAS Euthanasia Policy, November 2018). This shift in policy allows for completely unrestricted freedom to take an animal’s life, contrary to the intention of the agency’s mission.

Jaxon’s behaviors that led to the managers designation of him as “unhealthy and untreatable” aren’t articulated. Alternative solutions are efficiently eliminated as unnecessary. But every dog killed at MCAS now is described and killed as “unhealthy and untreatable” without providing supporting evidence corroborated by credentialed experts.

Euthanizing dogs during quarantine is highly unusual. Jaxon was euthanized on the third day of quarantine without any recorded explanation requiring his remains to be set aside and transported to OHS Diagnostic Lab on 08.05 for necropsy. It was an unexplained convenience and unnecessary public expense.

There is no evidence Jaxon was not a “dangerous dog.” His owner described him as being very sweet natured and friendly to everyone until they became homeless. On the streets, life circumstances were insecure and uncertain. His behavior challenges: protectiveness of his owner on the streets, and fear of hands reaching out uninvited to pat him on the head were correctable; future incidents preventable but life on the streets, living in his owner’s truck and in a homeless shelter is rough.

MCAS has no solutions for assisting the dogs of homeless persons, except for culling and killing. When they come into the agency, often traumatized, they are immediately examined and observed during 3 “rapid data collections”—3 attempts to informally assess an animal’s suitability for adoption by untrained staff. If they “pass,” they are routed to adoptions or rescue. If they fail they are scheduled to be euthanized, even euthanized on the same day.

MCAS managers have not met with other community agencies to plan programs for the safety and welfare on the streets for the dogs of the homeless (For examples, see a Los Angeles program www.downtowndogrescue.org)

The county has no plans for the dogs of homeless citizens. While some homeless shelters allow dogs, few have provisions, such as crates or stand up kennels to house persons and their dogs individually for safety and welfare reasons. There are no support programs for the animals of people experiencing homelessness. Petco granted to MCAS a mobile veterinary van to provide veterinary and spay/neuter services to underserved areas, yet all it has ever done is idle, unused, in its lot.

All Jaxon’s owner needed was safe housing and training help.

MCAS failure to care for special needs animals

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A betrayal of public trust, Lukai the 4 year old Shepherd

Lukai, MCAS ID# 316130

August 22, 2024, Update: Despite a veterinarian evaluating and prescribing an anticonvulsant for Lukai on July 27, 2024, Lukai’s adoption promotion by MCAS still notes, 26 days later, that his history of seizures do not require treatment.

MCAS has considerable funds for the special medical needs of animals: the 2025 recently awarded $15,684,275 budget is the highest figure ever, and Dolly’s Fund, monies donated by a trusting public month after month now over 1 million dollars is intended to be spent on the special medical needs of shelter animals. Instead the majority goes to Dove Lewis Emergency care, while some has been diverted to spay neuter vouchers. Little goes to animals with medical needs often related to poverty, which is the majority of the MCAS demographic.

Before 2016 with a far smaller budget, dental cleanings were part of standard care. In the place of needed care MCAS has waivers that disclaim any responsibility for care they are funded to provide, turning the public shelter into a cheap discount store for homeless animals. MCAS once provided critically needed dental care. Now the agency will adopt a dog in need of care, sales priced for $25 with a dental waiver with a recommendation that the adopter arrange a dental cleaning under dental anesthesia with a veterinary specialist.

MCAS also engages in dishonest promotions, downplaying an animals’ medical needs. Lukai’s owner had surrendered him after a seizure, afraid of his post seizure disorientation and temporary confusion during which he failed to recognize and lunged at a family member. His promotion adoption advertisement makes light of his undiagnosed condition; seizures are a symptom multiple possible diagnosis:

“Lukai, a 4 year old German Shepherd looking for a fresh start after his previous owner could no longer care for him.”

MCAS accepted the owner surrender but provided no counseling about seizure disorders or affordable consultation referrals. When facts replace fear, owners can be aware of reasonable alternatives to surrendering their animal to the shelter. This had been his family for the entire 4 years of his life.

The same promotion, also noted “Lukai has a history of seizures, which currently do not require treatment.” Surrendered on May 08, 2024, Lukai’s documented medical care, diagnosis, and treatment planning were conducted by veterinary assistants and veterinary technicians, not a certified veterinarian.

Lukai’s seizures were not evaluated by a board certified veterinarian until almost three months after he was surrendered on May 08, 2024 for a seizure of unknown cause. While in MCAS care he had seizures on June 18 2024 and July 21 2024. On July 27, he was evaluated and prescribed an anti-convulsant medication.

How can the county honestly claim he received appropriate care and that no further assessment was needed at the outset when his care was under the guidance of veterinary assistants and certified veterinary technicians?

The treatment and care of dogs with seizure events, such as in Whole Dog journal’s Canine Seizures article, indicate the need to work with a specialist (e.g. a certified veterinarian). Diagnostics ordered by a certified veterinarian can identify and treat causes that lead to seizures. Veterinary technicians cannot fulfill the role of a certified veterinarian by performing diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment planning. Doing so is in violation of the Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board’s regulations detailed in OAR 875-030-0040, as authorized by ORS 686.210 and ORS 686.350 – 686.370.

MCAS has funding through Dolly’s Fund for Lukai that would pay for any costs associated with an evaluation so clearly within its scope. Their 3 month delay, during which 2 more seizures occurred, strongly suggests that the lives of shelter animals aren’t worth the effort. The statement in the record is troubling: “Electing to seek transfer to rescues beyond OHS [declined] due to medical exceeding our resources.” The misappropriation of Dolly’s Fund is a known fact, acknowledged by the Multnomah County Auditor’s office. The funds are there. The will and compassion are not.

Lukai was advertised for adoption on May 25, while waiting in foster care for someone to adopt him “as is” for $25 because MCAS refused to pursue an affordable neurological consultation critical to his well being and an adopter’s ability to properly care for him. It is very clear in Lukai’s and other similar cases that MCAS’ only concerns are passing off costs to a rescue or an adopter. If that fails, most commonly an animal is killed. There is no compassion at MCAS.

Before 2016, MCAS cared for the special medical needs of shelter animals despite, then, having a far lower budget, fewer managers, and a lower intake. Why won’t they now?

When the unsuspecting public donates to a fund without a mission and the animals lose, it is a scam on the public. Veterinarians and professionals should be in charge of animal care at MCAS, not bureaucrats who behave like shop keepers trying to hustle off their wares.

Gail O’Connell-Babcock

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Reference for Lukai’s Adoption Promotion

“Meet Lukai, a 4 year old German Shepherd looking for a fresh start after his previous owner could no longer care for him. Lukai is a friendly and loving companion who has a history of living with kids, making him a great family dog. He’s also potentially good with other dogs, given proper introductions. Lukai has a history of seizures, which currently do not require treatment. This is something his new adopters should be aware of and discuss with their vet. Despite this, he remains a joyful and affectionate dog, always eager to make new friends and share his love. He is currently in foster and his foster parents say that he He loves all dogs, and loves all people. When on walks he responds well to treat training, Lukai is extremely smart and would love ongoing training to stimulate his brain. He is obsessed with fetch. If you’re ready to give Lukai the stable and caring home he deserves, come meet him and see if he’s the perfect fit for your family!”