By VICKI URBANIK

Several former members of the now-defunct Porter County Animal Welfare Board on Tuesday clashed with those who are initiating changes at the county’s troubled animal shelter.

The tensions erupted at Tuesday’s Porter County Commissioner meeting as the commissioners were considering final approval of two ordinances establishing new accounts for fees and donations generated at the Animal Shelter.

Former Animal Welfare Board members Lynn Gassoway and Dr. Mary Ann Sheller both questioned how the funds will be handled. Noting that the donation fund pays for an animal neutering program, Gassoway urged that only the interest earned is spent on the surgeries. Sheller urged the commissioners to delay approval of the ordinances, saying that there is “no really good reasoning” for the commissioners to take control of the money generated at the shelter.

However, commissioner control over the shelter is exactly what the commissioners had in mind when, last month, they disbanded the animal welfare board and agreed that when a new board is formed, it will be advisory only.

The commissioners’ decision to revamp the department -- essentially bringing it under their control just as several other county departments are -- was prompted by infighting on the animal board and complaints that shelter officials had not done enough in animal abuse cases.

An exchange broke out after Commissioner President Robert Harper, who has made reduced euthanizations at the animal shelter one of his priorities, read a statement highly critical of the animal shelter.

One comment in particular -- that the tax-supported animal shelter that gives the impression that it is providing protection for animals has turned into an agency “that does little more than kill anything that comes in the door” -- prompted Sheller to interrupt and say “that’s not true.”

Harper spoke of the successes at other animal agencies in reducing the rate of animal euthanizations, citing low-cost spay and neutering clinics, extended shelter hours, foster programs, and one-on-one education aimed at making people more responsible pet owners.

But Harper also spoke of a hostile environment at the animal shelter, where some staff and board members have blocked suggestions for improvements. He said that nationally, it appears that “those entrenched in the idea of animal control” are usually opposed to efforts aimed at protecting animals.

He cited in particular his proposal to bring in Neuter Scooter, a low-cost neutering program that was resisted by the animal shelter, due to a concern about the lack of follow-up care. He also said that he helped secure funding to hire a rescue person, but was again met with resistance from the animal welfare board due to a fear of mistrust of rescue agencies.

“In fact, some even raise the argument that it would be too stressful on the animal to travel over long distances which they sometimes do in order to go to the rescue,” Harper said. “How ridiculous, when the alternative is to kill the animal.”

Perhaps the most critical part of Harper’s statement dealt with animal euthanizations. Shelter volunteers have informed the commissioners that a dog was euthanized because the barking was deemed bothersome; the shelter has euthanized animals without sedation; dogs have been dragged down the hall and held down while shelter staff administered injections; a burned kitten died due to lack of care.

Harper said he was told by staff that there was no medicine available to sedate the animals before euthanizations. “And yet, we’re sitting on a fund with $82,000?” he said, referring to the donations fund.

Joining in the debate was Gail Carmona, an attorney and volunteer for the Independent Cat Society. She said the animal shelter has been “hoarding” the donation fund, refusing to spend the money on animal spay and neutering as intended.

But another former animal welfare board member, Steve Kirshner, objected to Harper’s statement, calling it a political speech. He said it’s wrong to suggest that the animal shelter doesn’t have a foster program, noting that he has personally fostered two animals himself. That prompted another audience member to question Kirshner, in turn prompting Kirshner to tell the woman to “shut up.” The commissioners called for order among the audience.

Harper received a round of applause from audience members at the conclusion of his statement. He said that he anticipates the commissioners will make some mistakes now that they have oversight of the shelter, but he also pledged that they “are going to try to do better” than what’s been done in the past.

Harper, along with North County Commissioner John Evans and South County Commissioner Carole Knoblock, unanimously passed the two new ordinances.

Posted 6/4/2008