2 Former AWL Euthanasia Techs Slapped With 2-Year Suspensions

CHICAGO RIDGE, IL — Three former employees at the center of probe into euthanasia practices at the Animal Welfare League accepted a settlement offer Monday from the Illinois Department of Finance and Professional Regulation rather than face harsher disciplinary actions or fines. The former employees were accused of violating the Illinois Humane Euthanasia in American Shelters Act while employed as euthanasia technicians at the Chicago Ridge animal shelter.

The Chicago Ridge Village Board also plans to revive discussion of Trustee Ed Kowalski's proposed humane animal shelter ordinance modeled after similar municipal ordinances adopted in other states to address conditions in local animal shelters. If passed, Chicago Ridge will become the first municipality in Illinois to adopt such an ordinance.

The state licenses of Mark Estrada and Steven Mensching were suspended for two years following a preliminary hearing at the Thompson Center. Brian Selmeister, who is said to have improperly euthanized 488 animals, voluntarily surrendered his euthanasia license.

Four others named in IDFPR complaints who are still employed at Animal Welfare League did not attend Monday’s hearing. An administrative hearing has been set for Aug. 5. All seven face multiple counts of failing to weigh animals before they were destroyed or inaccurately recording dosages of telazol and pentasol, which are regulated under state and federal laws. The IDFPR fined the Animal Welfare league $10,000 and placed the shelter’s euthanasia license "indefinite probation" earlier this year.

In addition to his duties as a euthanasia technician, Mark Estrada was an approved state humane investigator charged with investigating cases of animal cruelty. Witnesses described Estrada allegedly banging dog cages. Dogs that reacted were deemed "vicious" and slated to be killed.

Estrada is also the son of AWL’s former long-time director and president Linda Estrada, who received a cease-and-desist order last year to stop practicing veterinary medicine without a license. His mother left the shelter, which she headed for almost three decades, a year ago. One of the complaints notes a euthanasia tech "aiding and abetting" Linda Estrada in her illegal practice of euthanasia and veterinary medicine.

Mensching, who was abruptly fired last November, said he accepted the state's settlement offer because he wants to continue working with animals. The IDFPR complaint cited him for not weighing and keeping inaccurate records in the euthanization of 46 animals.

"I never liked [euthanizing]," Menshing said. "Linda made me do it. It was that or lose my job."

Menshing says he received training required to obtain his euthanasia license from the state, which requires animal shelters to weigh animals so that the correct dosages of sedatives and lethal drugs can be administered to prevent animals' needless suffering. He alleged that Linda Estrada ordered the AWL euth techs to over dose the animals, even though she was not licensed to give such orders.

"She said, 'this is the way to do it,'" Mensching said. "It was her way or the highway. We'd always go over [the animal's estimated weight] for the tranquilizer before the kill shot."

Exam Room C, where most of the shelter's euthanizations took place, was not equipped with a scale. It wasn't until after an IDFPR investigation in February 2018 that a scale materialized.

"I don't care what happens to Linda Estrada," Mensching said. "I want to see [AWL board president] Chris Higens and all the rest out."

Attending Monday’s hearing was Chicago 15th Ward Ald. Raymond Lopez, a dog lover and outspoken critic of Chicago's chronically troubled animal care and control center. He called the 2-year suspension of the former employees' euthanasia licenses a "slap on the wrist."

"Linda Estrada is a sadist who took pleasure in torturing animals," Lopez said. "The fact that she couldn't be bothered to bring in a scale until after a state inspection says it all."

"This highlights the importance of Trustee Ed Kowalski’s ordinance," Lopez added. "If the state can't control the shelter's criminal activities, then the village has to step forward."