Commissioners investigate animal shelter following euthanasia

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Two separate investigations by county commissioners have begun to look into the Mobile County Animal Shelter.

The investigations follow the euthanasia of 49 dogs at the shelter following a distemper outbreak in January.

Mobile County Spokesperson Nancy Johnson said on Wednesday County Commissioners Connie Hudson and Jerry Carl are both investigating the shelter.

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Commissioner Connie Hudson said she’s evaluated the practices and procedures of the Mobile County Animal Shelter.  She said she wanted to personally speak with shelter employees involved in order to gain a better understanding of why 49 dogs were euthanized before notifying commissioners.

“I think the public outcry, the concern about animals and the treatment and so forth; and of course, we‘re all equally concerned. We want to make sure not only are we meeting out statutory obligations for animal control, but we’re doing it in the most humane way possible,” Hudson said.  

Commissioner Jerry Carl said he has done his research and learned what the shelter is doing right and wrong. He believes something needs to be done with the policies and procedures.

“That’s our biggest problem is we really don't have a solid way of dealing with it each time. We have the heart, but we don't have the mechanism in place to get it done,” Carl said.  

By law, Carl said the animal shelter is required to take in stray animals it catches but it’s become overcrowded.

FOX10 questioned the commissioners as to what they uncovered, but neither would disclose their findings.  

“We’re looking for as best practices, how can we function in a manner that's acceptable; that's considered to be best practice in an animal shelter,” Hudson said.

Based on the outcomes of their investigations, the commissioners said they will seek appropriate corrective actions to deal with problems identified.

The commissioners are conducting separate investigations and have not met about their findings yet.

That will come at Thursday’s 10 a.m. meeting at Government Plaza.

The commissioners announced their investigations in January and also said confusion has surrounded the issue of whether the county shelter has a policy that bans the adoption of certain breeds of dogs with a reputation for being aggressive.