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Winter 2002 |
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UPDATE! |
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Compassion for Camden, Inc. - A Humane Society - Est. 1992 www.compassionforcamden.org |
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A betrayal of Public Trust Pound Seizure uncovered at the Camden County Animal Shelter |
President's Notes: |
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In April of this year, Marion Churchill, founder and president of Compassion for Camden (CFC), discovered that the Camden County Animal Shelter and Adoption Center had involved itself in a practice commonly known as “pound seizure”. Pound seizure refers to the use of shelter animals for testing/experimentation, an illegal practice and a crime of the fourth degree in New Jersey. No other shelter in the New Jersey allows this practice. Note: The Camden County Animal Shelter and Adoption Center is county funded. The county freeholders award an annual operating contract to the Camden County Humane Society (CCHS). As of recently, officially or unofficially, the CCHS changed its name to the Humane Society of Southern NJ (HSSNJ). The new name choice seems strange since the organization has very little to do with Southern NJ outside of Camden County. As of October 2002, there are several lawsuits pending against the HSSNJ. Could the Camden County Freeholders have initiated this name change in an effort to distance HSSNJ from the county name for fear that the lawsuits could hurt the county image? During casual conversation involving fundraising with Glenn McCleery, Executive Director of HSSNJ, Churchill listened in shock as he detailed a particular “fundraising event” which netted the organization $1,000 per session. McCleery openly informed Churchill that he allowed an ultrasound machine company to remove a number of dogs and cats from the shelter to be used as test subjects for ultrasound experimentation. At the time Churchill did not seek further information and none was offered by McCleery. Having heard enough, Churchill immediately explained the unethical and potentially illegal nature of the practice. She pointed out that he should discuss this with his board president Richard Perr, an attorney. Feeling secure that the practice would stop, Churchill gave the issue no further thought. Then in August 2002, Churchill paid a rare visit to the Camden County Animal Shelter. What brought her there was the plight of a rescued Camden dog who was in need of special rehabilitation. |
It's a sad state of affairs to have to report on the Camden County Animal Shelter's use of shelter animals for testing. Are the dogs and cats at that shelter viewed as nothing more than cheap commodities? On the other hand, cheap or not cheap, the county shelter or its management or family of management appear to have received money by offering animals to the ultrasound equipment company. Whether or not the ultrasound testing was benign and non-invasive, we don't know. But whatever the case, New Jersey law does not specify procedures that animals can or can not be subjected to. And it's just as sad to have to tell you that almost 60% of dogs and 80% of cats that arrive at the county shelter are killed there. Why is this? The list is long, but this one sticks out: the shelter is not accessible to the public during “shopping” hours. Which means it's open only one evening per week and not open at all Sundays and holidays. The very hours and days when every merchant in their right mind keeps their shop open. It can be argued that no other shelter in the state has such a poor record. But Richard Perr, the guy in charge of the organization that has run the shelter from the very beginning, writes in an email: “…the shelter continues to be one of the premier facilities in the state…” Frankly, I don't know what ever prompted Perr to use the word 'continues' because I don't recall the shelter to ever be 'premier'. -M.C. |
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Page 2 |
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"...and I am
-Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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continued from page 1 During the August heat wave, this dog (that Churchill named Andy) had suffered greatly on the streets of Camden. For about a week the dog was spotted with a plastic container stuck over his head, which barely allowed him to breathe.Compassion for Camden associates and a private animal control officer tracked the dog without success for several days. City animal control finally caught up with Andy and placed him in the County Shelter. The story about Andy received quite a bit of coverage in local newspapers and on web sites. Many people were following Andy's story and calling the shelter hoping to adopt him. McCleery voiced his opinion that the dog was not good candidate for adoption based on some aggressive behavior. Oddly, about one week after his arrival at the Camden County Animal Shelter, Andy disappeared from the shelter. The dog's whereabouts is still unknown to Churchill. McCleery claimed that the dog "ran away". But Andy has never been seen since inspite of a $ 1,000 reward offered by Compassion for Camden. During her visit to the shelter to check on Andy, Churchill learned through casual conversation with McCleery that the ultrasound testing was still going on. She was stunned that McCleery had paid no attention to her warning and had allowed the practice to continue. However this time she remained silent. Compassion for Camden went into high gear, phoning and emailing local and national humane societies, animal rights organizations and law experts. The experts agreed that ultrasound testing did appear to be breaking New Jersey law. They advised that the situation |
be brought to the attention of the NJ SPCA for prosecution.
Churchill's affidavit to the SPCA became the vehicle which started an intensive investigation of the Camden County Animal Shelter and its contractor the HSSNJ. Horrific details came to light. According to the SPCA's investigation dogs and cats would be taken out of the shelter by the ultrasound company and shipped to the Clarion Hotel in Cherry Hill, NJ. There they would be sedated and used for testing over a period of days. Upon return to the shelter most animals had become ill. Some were shaking violently, puss was oozing from their nose and ears, others were unable to stand. Most of the animals were "put down" at the shelter. Whether or not the ultrasound testing alone was responsible for the condition of the animals has yet to be proven. But, one thing seems apparent, adoptable dogs and cats had been taken from the shelter to be returned as candidates for euthanasia. In late October 2002 the NJ SPCA filed charges in NJ Superior Court Camden County against the Camden County Humane Society/Humane Society of Southern NJ, their board president Richard Perr, employee Glenn McCleery, Sound Technology and their employee Lane Naffzinger. It seems clear that such testing on animals, not to mention the disappearance of the dog Andy, is breaching public trust in the county's sheltering system and worse, may be responsible for causing pain, suffering and death to the very animals they are paid and entrusted to protect. continued see Post Script page 4 |
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"The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals
- Leonardo Da Vinci 1452-1519 |
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Page 3 |
| How Didn't They Know? by Kristen Sharer |
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When Billy was 6,
It was a sweet little bunny
Accidental, they said.
When Billy was 10,
Boys will be boys,
When Billy turned 12,
No harm was done.
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When Billy was 16,
When Billy was finished
The town went on weeping
What happened, they asked,
What about me?
And the elderly dog,
From Marisa Herrera (lovenature@pacificcoast.net)
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Opinion Page, Courier-Post, Cherry Hill, NJ, Wed. Nov. 27, 2002
Letters to the Editor What about Fluffer? Re: "Suit: Shelter let animals be used as test subjects" C-P 10/31 You're 90 some years old. You've been living alone with your beloved cat named Fluffer for some time. Yesterday, they told you it's time for the nursing home and they made it clear that Fluffer can't come. You've had Fluffer ever since he was a kitten and hate the thought of leaving him behind. You cuddled Fluffer last night and with tears running down your face you told him not to worry because he'll be going to the Camden County Animal Shelter. You told him they'll find him a good home. Fluffer seemed to understand when you told him that you've contributed to the shelter for some time, but more than that, you trusted that the county shelter, which is overseen by the Camden Freeholders, would do the right thing. Then you read in the paper that the SPCA filed a lawsuit against the shelter's operator, some humane society that was contracted by the freeholders to run the shelter. It says in the paper that the lawsuit claims this humane society allowed its animals to be used as test subjects in some motel. You don't understand why the paper calls is a "humane" society because you read in horror that, according to the lawsuit, upon return to the shelter most of the animals had become ill and most had to be killed. You're devastated and heartsick. What about Fluffer?
Newt Kirkland
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Page 4 |
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Post Script |
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Compassion for Camden was instrumental in the construction of the Camden County shelter. For years we appealed to and often fought the county politicians to provide a shelter for Camden's huge population of abused and neglected dogs and cats, the highest number in the state. In 1996 the county caved in to the public's demands and hesitantly made plans for the construction of a reasonably sized shelter. The shelter opened its doors in the fall of 1997, but it ended up being about half the originally promised size. A smaller shelter means more animals must be killed in order to make room for others to enter. It's as simple as that. Right from the start, the shelter's poor beginnings clearly reflected on the level of care the animals received there. Bad management and constant staff turnover have all added to the turmoil. The county shelter appears to get very little attention from the county freeholders. On the occasions that the public would complain to the county it was hardly taken seriously. For the most part we have stayed away from the operations of the county shelter, only visiting there less than a half dozen times over the last five years. We reported wrong doings on a few occasions, without any real hope that problems would be rectified. The public should insist that Glenn McCleery, Richard Perr and the entire board of the Camden County Humane Society/Humane Society of Southern NJ be dismissed and the county install a suitable and caring contractor. The public's funds and trust shall not be abused and the animals of Camden in need of refuge from cruelty and neglect deserve at the very least that their shelter is indeed a safe haven. -M.C. please, see Action Alert page 6 |
| New Jersey Law 4:19-15.16: Illegal to sell Animals for Experimentation. No dog or other animal so caught and detained or procured, obtained, sent or brought to a pound or shelter shall be sold or otherwise made available for the purpose of experimentation. Any person who sells or otherwise makes available any such dog or other animal for the purpose of experimentation shall be guilty of a crime of the 4th degree. |
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The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) honored Marion Churchill, founder and president of Compassion for Camden, in November for going "above and beyond" in her efforts to protect animals. The award ceremony, held during a reception at the Nassau Club in Princeton, included Neilsen Lewis, Esq. for extensive pro-bono work on behalf of wildlife, Sandy Levin, Executive Producer NJ Network for outstanding animal protection shows and the Manner's Family for an innovative turtle rescue project. HSUS presented all honorees with an award in recognition of their dedicated service in furthering the protection of animals and a compassion and concern for all living creatures. Nina Austenberg, Director, HSUS, called the awards ceremony the Academy Awards of animal protection. We thank HSUS for a beautiful event in celebration of extraordinary people dedicated to the ethical treatment of animals. |
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Page 5 |
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As I write this and look back to that experience in my life, I should tell you that a few years after Sarah's rescue and quite by chance, I met the person who once had Sarah. The North Camden woman had followed the news coverage and approached me during one of our mobile humane education sessions in her neighborhood. She told me of a puppy she had bought in a local bar and that she had named the puppy Bud. She went on to tell me that the dog was eventually stricken with a distressing case of mange which she was unable to cure with home remedies. At the time, I was uncomfortable and shaken by the news and the discovery of the former caretaker. Though, over the years I haven't dwelled on it or given it much thought. But, it's these few words that will always remain with me when she told me that Sarah "ran with wild dogs." Sarah touches my life every day. If it can be done at all, it will be — because of her — that home remedies may be administered in conjunction with attainable veterinary care, and tragic tales of "wild dogs" from the mean streets of Camden will come to an end. -Marion Chruchill |
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