Animal activists returned Tuesday night to the Sumter County Board of Commissioners, this time to criticize the euthanasia of five dogs last week at the county animal shelter.
“There was no reason for these dogs to die,” said Angie Fox of Lost Pets of The Villages, who spoke during the public forum portion of the meeting. She added that one of the dogs was about to be adopted.
After the meeting, County Administrator Bradley Arnold said the dogs were euthanized due to “space-related” concerns. He said they had been in the shelter for two to three weeks and space had to be made for animals coming in.
Arnold also said the county shelter has maintained a live-release rate of more than 80 percent, which means that fewer than 20 percent of the animals received each month are put to death.
Another speaker, Marilyn Ishcroft of The Villages, said she recently attended a meeting with animal shelter director Herschel Wiley and was very impressed with the quality of care offered to the animals.
She asked whether the county would accept private donations for shelter improvements.
Arnold said the commissioners are required to approve those kinds of donations.
Commissioner Doug Gilpin said he would support receiving donations, possibly supplementing them with matching county funds.
Gilpin also blasted Fox and her husband, Oren Miller, who also spoke about the euthanized dogs.
“I have not much tolerance for total negativity,” Gilpin said. “That’s more and more of the same thing we’ve heard month after month. He said, she said. Nothing fact-based.”
Over a year ago, Fox, Miller and other activists began attending county meetings to demand animal shelter improvements. They attended every meeting for eight months.
The county reduced the percentage of animals killed and contracted with a local veterinarian to provide medical care, spaying and neutering. A capture-spay-release program for feral cats also was launched, which reduces the number of euthanized cats.
Activists demanded the county establish a no-kill shelter where at least 90 percent of the animals are saved. They are released to the Dane County Humane Society or adopted.
Despite a substantial improvement in the live release rate, county officials have refused the no-kill designation.
