Audit: Shelter altered ‘no-kill’ stats

Director cited in report quit last year; new leader praised for past initiatives

The former director of Broward County’s pet shelter doctored records to inflate the organization’s apparent progress toward becoming a “no-kill” facility, according to an internal county audit.

Thomas Adair, who resigned in September, would go into the computer system and alter euthanasia records for dogs and cats to read “owner requested,” a category that prevented such kills from counting against the shelter’s record, the audit said.

“We conclude that animal dispositions are not accurate, performance measure numbers are not accurate, and weaknesses in internal controls exist that may allow improprieties to occur,” states the audit, performed by the office of County Auditor Robert Melton.

County Administrator Bertha Henry said county management “fully accepts the auditor’s findings” and agreed to accept all recommendations in the report, which included switching to a more secure software system.

Adair could not be reached for comment.

The incentive to alter records arose from a 2012 mandate by the Broward County Commission to make the county a no-kill community, which would mean that animals that were healthy or had treatable conditions were never killed, even when the shelter was full.

A key measure is the shelter’s live-release rate, which improves when more kills are classified as “owner requested.”

Adair altered 218 records to

“owner requested” between Oct. 1, 2015 and Aug 1, 2017, according to the audit. In reviewing a detailed sampling of 30 of these, 16 lacked the supporting evidence to justify the change, the audit said.

“Since the director is no longer employed by the county, we have no further recommendation regarding disciplinary action regarding the director,” the audit states. “We found no verifiable evidence that other employees were involved in inappropriate changes to the recorded euthanasia.”

A new shelter director, Lauralei Combs, started March 19. A former executive with Austin Animal Center of Texas, the largest no-kill municipal facility in the country, she is a “proven leader and advocate for a no-kill community philosophy,” according to a county news release.

Hallandale Beach vice mayor Michele Lazarow, a prominent animal rights activist, started the investigation when she requested records from the shelter. She said it appears the county took the problem seriously and has taken steps to address the situation, including hiring a new shelter director.

“I think that they handled it appropriately,” Lazarow said. “And I like that they hired somebody who wasn’t the usual hire. She came from a background of similar circumstances, where she was able to implement lifesaving programs. We needed them to think outside the box, and I think with this person they did.”

The number of dogs and cats killed at the facility has declined steadily, according to the audit. Last year there were 3,333 killed, down from 10,709 in 2013, the year after the County Commission established its no-kill goal.

County Commissioner Chip LaMarca said he was optimistic the shelter would show real progress with its new leader.

“We have hired the best no-kill shelter director in the country and we are moving forward on a tremendously positive plan to virtually end unnecessary euthanasia in Broward County,” he said.