Ingham County Animal Control and Shelter Report 5/10/18 Deborah MacDonald Director of Statewide Response Senior Investigator Michigan Humane Society 6175 Trumbull Detroit MI 48208 Phone: 313-262-4022 On 3/28/18 MHS received a request from the Assistant Director of Ingham County Animal Control and Shelter to perform an investigation at their facility. The focus of this investigation being the decline and or euthanasia of 5 dogs being held for pending court cases. During the course of my investigation I interviewed staff and management, reviewed photographs, emails, necropsy reports, notes and medical records. I spoke with 3 veterinarians that had direct knowledge of the condition of these dogs. Below are my findings. ANIMAL ID # 35516 Dreamville 7/27/17 7/27/17
9/27/17 9/27/17 History Dreamville was admitted to the Ingham County Shelter on 7/27/17 as a court hold in conjunction with dog fighting investigation. This dog was in good physical condition and weighed 40 lbs. upon intake and 44.8 lbs. on 8/11/17. On 9/13/1, animal care staff observed that the dog had vomited. The dog was observed to have vomited every day until a request for a medical exam was submitted on 9/18/17. During that 5 day period the dog was cared for twice by the shelters Vet Tech Sami Beckley. On 9/19/17 the shelter veterinarian Dr. Worthington advised Animal Control Officer Catlin Budzinski that the dog was thin, vomiting and may need an x-ray. Dr. Worthington also advised ACO Budzinski that the dog would need to be tranquilized as it was very aggressive. ACO Budzinski advised Director Dinon of the information received from the vet. Both Dr. Worthington and Director Dinon indicated that they would follow up with each other. Per the official Animal Health Record, on 9/20/17 the vet observed the dog but was unable to perform a physical exam. At this time the dog was still vomiting and would not eat. Medications were prescribed. On 9/25/17 the Dr. Worthington observed the dogs to be in worse condition. She discussed euthanasia with Director Dinon, as surgery was not an option due to the dog s aggressive nature. On 9/26/17 the dog s condition was worse per the veterinarian, she Director Dinon was advised of dog s condition. On 9/27/17 animal care staff reported that the dog was seizing, the vet recommended euthanasia and consent was given by the Director. A necropsy was performed on the dog at Michigan State University, with findings stating that the dog was emaciated and had a duodenal foreign body (rope segments). Findings
This dog was symptomatic for 14 days with minimal treatment. On 9/19/17 an x-ray was recommended by the shelter vet to confirm a foreign body, no x ray was performed. This dog was not a candidate for foreign body surgery due to its aggressive nature. On 9/25/17 Dr. Worthington discussed euthanasia with Director Dinon. On 9/26/17 Dr. Worthington again advised Director Dinon of the dog s condition. From medical records, that are minimal and appear incomplete, the dog was suspected of having a foreign body around 9/19/17, at this point a decision should have been made to treat or euthanize the dog. An x-ray would have aided in the decision making process. The dog was not euthanized until 3/27/17 when it started seizing, 8 days after the initial recommendation to x-ray. The delay in deciding to treat or euthanized resulted in unnecessary suffering. This dog lost 9 lbs. while in the care of Ingham County Animal Control and Shelter. The decision to euthanize dogs on court case hold is the responsibility of the director per the director. ANIMAL ID # - 35520 Jay Jay 7/27/17 10/14/17 History Jay Jay was admitted to Ingham County Animal Control and Shelter on 7/27/17 as a court hold in conjunction with dog fighting investigation. This dog was in good physical condition at time of intake and weighted 39 lbs. on 8/11/17. On 10/14/17 animal care staff advised Dr. Worthington that the dog appeared to be seizing. Dr. Worthington examined the dog, adjustments were made to the dog s medications and the dog was to be watched over
for the next couple of days. Later in the day the dog became comatose and nonresponsive. The dog was euthanized. A necropsy was performed on the dog at Michigan State University, with internal hemorrhaging as the finding. The dog was screened for rodenticides and the test was negative. Findings Michigan State University was unable to determine the reason for internal hemorrhage The dogs weight was good and there were no external injuries noted ANIMAL ID # - 34959 Skully 6/23/17 3/21/18 4/23/18
AND ANIMAL ID # - 34960 Jonah 6/23/17 3/21/18 4/23/18
Skully and Jonah were admitted to Ingham County Animal Control and Shelter on 6/23/17 as a court hold in conjunction with a dog fighting case. Both puppies were in good physical condition. On 2/12/18 ACO Budsinski advised Vet Tech Sami Beckley that Skully and Jonah looked thin. On 2/26/18 ACO Budzinski noticed that Skully and Jonah looked very thin, requested a vet exam and spoke with Dr. Worthington who stated that she had tried things and nothing worked. On 3/8/18, a vet exam was performed and anxiety medications were increased. On 3/10/18 a fecal exam was positive for whipworms and the dog was treated. On 3/21/18 ACO Budzinski observed the dogs to be very underweight. On 3/26/18 ACO Budzinski advised ACO Jodi LeBombard of the dogs condition who in turn Advised Deputy Director Anne Burns. Deprty Director Burns instructed ACO Budzinski to take the dogs to Southside Animal Hospital to be assessed. A history was not given to Dr. Joyce Henderson when the dog was presented to her on 3/26/18. Dr. Hendersons findings: Skully - 2/9 on the Purina body condition scoring chart emaciated with little appreciable fat covering and moderate muscle loss over torso and hips. Ribs and ischium are easly seen and palpated. Old injuries and scars and presure sores. Pododermatitis on paws, swollen left rear hock. Jonah 1/9 on the Purina body condition scoring chart emaciated with no appreciable fat covering and moderate muscle loss over torso and hips. Ribs and ischium are easily seen and palpated. Healing wounds on all four legs, some being presure sores. Infection between toes of right front and rear paws. Findings Skully and Jonah were found to be under weight 2/12/18 and then emaciated on 3/26/18 showing a continuing decline in weight once weight loss was brought to the attention of the medical staff. Skully weighed 34 lbs. on 3/26/18. On 4/23/18 Skully weighed 43.9 lbs., a weight gain of 9.9 lbs. Jonah weighed 35 lbs. on 3/21/17. On 4/23/17 Jonah weighed 43.9 lbs., a weight gain of 8.9 lbs. Both dogs responded gaining weight with increased feeding and worming. Regular weighing and monitoring would have alerted medical staff to weight loss, allowing for a more timley response.
Diarrhea has been an on going problem in the kennel in which these dogs were housed. As sanitizing outside holding areas is difficult and can result in the dogs in this area continually being reinfected with whipworm. A maintenance program should have been put in place to insure long term holds were not reinfected with whip worms as they can contripute to whight loss and diarrhea. Both dogs have infected paws and presure sores. There is nothing noted in the Health Record that indicates that these issues were recognized or treated. There is no mention of Skully s swollen and painful right rear hock or subsequent treatment in the Health Record. ANIMAL ID # - 36733 Bebe Bebe was admitted to Ingham County Animal control and Shelter on 10/24/17.
Bebe was examined by Dr. Worthington on 10/24/17 and was scored a 2 on the in house scoring chart, underweight hip bones prominent. Vertebrae much more prominent than normal. Ribs very easily palpable. Very thin on the internal body condition scoring chart. Weight 26.5 lbs. Bebe was examined by Dr. Heideman on 10/27/17 and was scored a 2/9 on the Purina body condition scoring chart and weighed 27.3 lbs. On 10/25/17 a fecal exam was performed and found to be positive for whipworms. A fecal exam was performed on 12/15/17 and was negative and was prescribed metronidazol for diarrhea. On 3/10/18 Bebe was treated for whipworms along with all of the other dogs in ward 3. On 3/27/18 ACO Budzinski noticed that Bebe was extremely thin similar to her condition when taken into custody. ACO Budzinski advised Deputy Director Burns, who stated that she would advise Director Dinon. On 3/29/18 Deputy Director advised ACO Riley to transport Bebe to Jackson County Animal Shelter to have a cruelty/neglect examination performed by Dr.Cathy Anderson. On 3/29/18 Bebe was examined by Dr. Anderson and was scored a 1/9 on the Purina body condition scoring chart. She was emaciated with significant muscle loss. She had mild dental disease and mild otitis in both ears. Findings Bebe weighed 26.3 lbs. on 10/24/17, on 3/29/18 she weighed 32.2 lbs. and on 4/11/18 she weighed 36.5lbs. This is a weight gain of 4.3 lbs. in 13 days. This dog responded by gaining weight with increased feeding and worming. Regular weighing and monitoring would have alerted medical staff to weight loss, allowing for a more timely response. Diarrhea has been an on going problem in the kennel in which these dogs were housed. As sanitizing outside holding areas is difficult and can result in the dogs in this area continually being reinfected with whipworm. A maintenance program should have been put in place to insure long term holds were not reinfected with whipworms as they can contribute to weight loss and diarrhea. Factors that contributed to the suffering and neglect of the above mentioned animals No written procedure for monitoring long term court cases.
No written procedure for documenting weight gain in failure to provide food and water cases. Medical records that are incomplete or kept in multiple locations for a single animal. As a result there is no complete medical record that contains observation, weights and treatments for an individual animal. A defined poliacy for the maintenance of medical records would assist in the review of an animals medical status and aid in calculating restution. No maintenance plan to control internal parasites in long term holds The use of an in house body condition scoring system in conjunction with the use of nationally recgonized scoring systems being used by outside veterinarians. No training for ACOS and Animal Care Staff in the use of an agreed on body condition scoring system. Lack of open communication between departments. Lack of training for medical staff in regards to shelter medicine, processing cruelty cases, animal fighting cases and supervisory responsibilities Supervising veterinarians that perform surgery often lack the ability to be on the floor supervising and attending to daily animal care and are required to rely on staff to perform those duties. No system in place that requires ACOs to monitor the status of their animals as evidence Inconsistant diet of donated food provided to long term holds and cruelty weight gains leading potientially causing digestive upset and diarrhea In adequate staff to handle large scale impounds Lack of oversight, couching and monitoring on the part of upper management Lack of awareness and response by the Director to address critical issues concerning the health and well being of the animals in the shleter in a timely manner.