As promised at Tuesday’s Lowndes County Board of Commissioners meeting, the Lowndes County Animal Shelter (LCAS) allowed the public the opportunity Wednesday afternoon to get a behind-the-scenes look at the facility that has recently come under fire.

Employees, both past and present, have accused several shelter employees of inhumane treatment of animals, the mishandling of tranquilizers and illegal operating procedures.

Paige Dukes, county clerk and Linda Patelski, animal welfare director at LCAS, guided about nine citizens through the facility to answer questions and discuss protocol for the services provided.

“I made the offer to allow the media the opportunity to look and see what the circumstances are,” said Joe Pritchard, county manager. “The ability to see something first hand and provide a perspective on the situation and certainly to allow the public to have the same look of the actual facility and what the staff is like.”

All employees, from shelter attendants to animal control officers, were busy taking phone calls, assisting clients with animal adoption and various paperwork duties. The physical appearance of the shelter, especially the main entrance area, was well-kept and tidy. Information booklets were available and posters depicting the benefits of animal companionship adorned the walls throughout the facility.

“I prosecute misdemeanor cases, but so far this walk through hasn’t taught me anything new,” said Sandra Guest. “I was just curious, but I’ve been to the shelter before. It’s a little different temperature and not as a noisy as usual.”

Inside the kennel areas, animals appeared to be healthy and alert, eager for human attention. Despite the initial odor, each kennel area appeared clean. Water and food bowls were full, cats had fresh litter and information was present for each animal detailing entry dates, names, age and condition or adoptability.

“I’ve been an advocate for animals my whole life and I read about it in the paper and took the opportunity to come and see things,” said Jessica Hughes. “I really didn’t learn anything from the visit, because I come here often, but it looks better than it ever has before.”

Patelski discussed how bite cases are separated from other animals and kept in a locked room, preventing the public from touching the animals without supervision.

No area of the facility was denied to reporters or citizens, including a storage area outside that was under lock and key. An old gas chamber could be seen in the corner, but is now being used to store a Shop-Vac.

Two mules, who had arrived about a week ago after residents reported they were walking the streets, could be seen under the shade on the 1.4 acre plot of land behind the facility.

According to Dukes, the back area is used to house larger animals that are reported, but has also been used to give traveling animals an area to rehydrate.

“I’m interested in the allegations, strictly that,” said Judy Haverkamp. “I just think that an investigation needs to be done and I intend to make phone calls to the Department of Agriculture about these things.”

According to Haverkamp, she has heard reports of animal abuse occurring at the shelter before the issue was made public through the media, but has never personally witnessed any.

“I think that there’s a lot of questions that need to be cleared up,” said Haverkamp. “The commissioners need to clean house and do their job. As far as how they keep this place, I’ve never heard anything bad, that part’s good. I’m just curious about the timing of this walkthrough. It seems kind of strange. The allegations really have nothing to do with the shelter itself, but more to do with the operators. Taxpayers pay these salaries and we have a right to know what’s going on here.”

Pritchard was available after the tour to meet with citizens, but no one appeared.

According to Pritchard, cameras are being installed throughout the facility to ensure adherence to the regulations of the Department of Agriculture. The euthanization log is now required to be kept in the office of the director after being filled out, to eliminate the chance of someone making changes.

Drugs are now kept under double-lock and training for employees is in line with Department of Agriculture guidelines.

“It’s no longer a case of an individual making a claim, as it will be evident by the physical evidence provided by the security cameras,” said Pritchard. “The standard operating procedures such as frequency of inspection of the animals and how often an animal will be reviewed or examined, along with the veterinarian care, have been revised to the general procedures set by guidelines of the Department of Agriculture and the animal control ordinance we adopted several years ago.”

“You take that policy, coupled with the updated standard operating procedures, added to the technical verification and I think that addresses the issues,” said Pritchard. “My purpose is to eliminate any problem or potential problem.”