Shelter staff wants best for dogs, cats in its care
I feel compelled to respond to The Arizona Republic’s suggestion that the men and women at Maricopa County Animal Care and Control have ignored serious problems in handling the animals they care for.
I know many of these people and have worked alongside them during my time as president and founder of the Phoenix Animal Care Coalition (PACC911) and as a member of the Citizens for Pets Community Task Force.
There is another side to this story, one largely ignored in the editorial published on April 1 (“Animal shelter should fall under vet board scrutiny”). I don’t doubt your sincerity in your concern. But please, many of these people have devoted their lives and professional careers to animal welfare. They deserve an unbiased hearing as well.
The county shelter is one of the largest in the United States. They care for 38,000 animals annually. Their veterinarians perform 19,000 surgeries a year.
Reporter Robert Anglen (“Operating with impunity at the pound,” March 29 Arizona Republic) highlighted four unfortunate cases over a 21⁄ year period. The surgical complication rate at Maricopa County Animal Care and Control is .05 percent. I believe their performance is superior when compared to other large public shelters. Indeed, what is the complication rate at a typical hospital?
The Citizens for Pets Community Task Force came at the request of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and is part of a countywide initiative to involve citizens and stakeholders in a review of all county departments.
I am a member of this task force and the group has worked diligently over the past five months. We expect a series of recommendations to emerge as a result of our combined efforts. Many recommendations have already been implemented by the staff at Animal Care and Control and they have embraced those policy and process improvements.
I’m sure the folks at Animal Care and Control would have no problem with state inspection of their shelters by the state Veterinary Medical Examining Board. But that is a legislative decision. The county is an administrative arm of the state and would accept state authority just as county government complies with any statute, policy or mandate.
Animal Care and Control truly cares for the animals in our community. Most of the dogs and cats come to the shelter abandoned, unwanted, wounded, neglected, unloved. Assistant Maricopa County Manager Rodrigo Silva and his team are doing their best to ensure these animals are adopted into loving homes or sent to other animal rescue groups. And more often than not, they succeed.
That should be noted and saluted as much as we lament the unfortunate losses.