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January 6, 2008
The Hon. Yvonne B. BurkeBoard of SupervisorsHall of
Administration, Room 866500 West Temple StreetLos Angeles, CA
90012
Re: Hearing on Death of Puppy at Los Angeles County Department
of Animal Care and Control
Dear Supervisor Burke,
By way of introduction, our agency is one of the plaintiffs in
the recently filed lawsuit against Los AngelesCounty, its
Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC), and the departments
director MarciaMayeda for illegal and inhumane treatment of animals
at its six facilities. We are writing in connection withthe
upcoming hearing into the death of a puppy named Zephyr while in
the custody of DACC.
On either November 31 or December 1, a ten-month-old puppy named
Zephyr died while in the custodyof DACC. A subsequent necropsy
revealed the cause of death to be pneumonia, with marked
emaciation(starvation). According to records, the dog at one time
had been prescribed antibiotics for kennelcough, but records do not
indicate that the medication was given. Administration of the
antibiotics doesnot appear in the original Shelter Management
Software (SMS) records. In other words, it does notappear she was
actually treated.
Moreover, the prescription was only for five days of
antibiotics, twice per day, and was not continued.According to
Carson Mayor Dears Office, DACC staff admitted they only medicate
once per day,meaning if Zephyr was even given the prescribed
medication, it was not given according to therequirement of the
antibiotic and treating veterinarian. Subsequently, the puppy
developed a case ofpneumonia and stopped eating leading to physical
signs of emaciation, which went untreated. The dog diedin her
filthy kennel, without intervention by DACC staff, and without
treatment or release from hersuffering. The enclosed photographs
demonstrate the change in her condition, which DACC staff did
notrespond to either humanely or according to the dictates of
law.
Nonetheless, as part of a public records demand, we received
records on Zephyr from DACC that raiseadditional troubling issues.
According to Zephyrs original SMS records, she was not given
vaccinationsagainst the type of pathogens that exist in a shelter
environment; particularly a shelter like the Carsonfacility, that
as the enclosed photographs and videotape evidence (mpg)
demonstrate is marked bysubstandard care and falls below the
legally acceptable standard. Nonetheless, the records provided
inresponse to the demand under the Public Records Act claim that
she was vaccinated on November 27,
2007.
Since the original SMS records and the records produced in
response to the Public Records Act requestdo not match, this raises
the suspicion that the latter was doctored to make it appear Zephyr
wasvaccinated, when she was not. According to the latter documents,
Zephyr was vaccinated on November27, 2007. In addition, the records
include an 11/27 notation that Zephyr was very ill and should be
killed(i.e., the PTS notation which stands for put to sleep.).
Under these conditions, vaccination would be
PPP ... OOO ... BBB ooo x x x 777 444 999 222 666 SSSa a a nnn
CCC lll eee mmm eee nnn ttt eee ,,, CCC A A A 999 222 666 777 333
(((999 444 999 ))) 222 777 666 ---666 999 444 222 w w w w w w w w w
... nnn ooo k k k iii lll lll a a a ddd v v v ooo ccc a a a ccc y y
y ccceee nnn ttt eee rrr ... ooo rrr ggg
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The Hon. Yvonne B. BurkeBoard of Supervisors
January 6, 2008Page two
medically contraindicated. In other words, why would they
vaccinate a dog when she is very ill and theyare planning to kill
her? And why would they wait a month to do so? Not only is it DACC
policy that allanimals should be vaccinated on intake, which did
not occur as she was impounded into the facility inOctober, but
good veterinary medicine requires that vaccinations be given before
prolonged exposure toconditions which would lead to illness, such
as those found in the Carson facility because of
substandardcleaning and care.
Finally, if it was noted that she was very ill, if it was
obvious that she was not eating and suffering frommarked
emaciation, and if it was recommended that she be killed on
November 27, why was sheallowed to suffer and subsequently die in
her cage several days later?
Zephyrs death is tragic in that it was painful, prolonged, and
wholly preventable if DACC staff simplyfollowed basic sheltering
standards. They also failed to follow the law, making their actions
illegal. ButZephyrs inhumane treatment and death is not an
aberration that can be resolved with a narrow inquiry.Zephyrs
treatment and death are part of an endemic problem at DACC. What
happened to Zephyrhappens to countless animals on a regular basis.
It just happens that Zephyr was photographed byvolunteers healthy ,
sick and then dead .
We appreciate that you are holding a hearing on Zephyrs death,
but urge you to broaden the scope ofthe inquiry to address the
endemic problems at the County shelters of which this death is
simply onetragic example. We also urge you to inquire of the
Department of Animal Care and Control why it hasillegally
retaliated against rescuers and volunteers who have helped to bring
these matters to publicattention, by denying those individuals the
opportunity to aid additional animals at the shelters. In all
ofthese matters, we stand ready to consult with you at any time to
assist in your efforts to bring about thenecessary change at the
Countys shelters that is so desperately needed.
Very truly yours,
Nathan J. Winograd
Enclosures:
1. Images of filthy conditions at Carson facility run by DACC.2.
Video images (mpg) showing filthy conditions at Carson facility run
by DACC.3. Images of Zephyr healthy, sick and dead.4. Original SMS
records showing Zephyr was not vaccinated on impound or on 11/27.5.
Inconsistent records in response to Public Records Act request
showing Zephyr was vaccinated
on 11/27 though she was very ill and recommendation that the dog
be killed.6. Necropsy showing pneumonia with emaciation.
