Animal Welfare League ‘Making Progress’ After Surprise Inspection

CHICAGO RIDGE, IL -- A Chicago Ridge trustee is urging the public to make monetary donations and adopt their next pet from Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge so that the troubled animal shelter can keep moving forward toward reform. Tr. Ed Kowalski along with Southwest Suburban Humane Society CEO Emily Klehm and SSHS veterinary technician Megan Schoenbeck made a surprise inspection at the shelter on Thursday. AWL has become the center of public outrage after horrifying photos and videos emerged showing sick and dying dogs and cats.

“Today the village went in for an inspection of medical records, including euthanasia protocols and procedures,” Kowalski said. “Independent consultants from [SSHS of Chicago Heights] were brought in for documentation and evaluation purposes.”

The village trustee said the information they gathered during Thursday’s inspection show an extreme shortcoming on the part of the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

“We have years of reports of the Department of Agriculture inspector passing [AWL] with flying colors,” Kowalski said. “In turn you have a board that believes nothing is wrong based on faulty information from a state department that is failing them. I don’t blame them. Now that the board has accurate information, let’s see what they do.”

Kowalski, an animal advocate, formed a panel to address ongoing issues at the animal shelter. AWL is reported to be under investigation by the Illinois Department of Finance and Professional Regulation into the alleged activities of the shelter’s former executive director and board president Linda Estrada, who resigned in May. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency raided the shelter in February amid reports of missing drugs. That investigation, too, is said to be still open.

“[This board] has had a lot of information thrown at them,” Kowalski said. “Many of the code corrections have been made. The air ducts have been cleaned and many other corrections that we have asked for. We have to work on focusing on the animals inside.”

AWL is said to be conducting a national search for a new executive director since Estrada’s departure. Meanwhile, members of the grassroots Reform AWL Chicago Ridge group continue to peacefully protest in front of the embattled animal shelter (the next protest is scheduled for July 17) at 10305 Southwest Highway in Chicago Ridge. Animal advocates have demanded a complete firing of the shelter’s board of directors, as well as Estrada’s sons, who are reportedly still employed at the shelter. Facebook burns daily with stories of strays put to sleep, astronomical redemption fees to reclaim lost pets and mass euthanization of animals.

The latest rumor to surface is of an outbreak of canine parvovirus, or parvo, a highly contagious viral illness that affects dogs. The virus causes vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss and a lack of appetite. A less common form of parvo attacks the heart muscles of very young puppies, often leading to death. Kowalski said Thursday’s visit did not turn up any evidence of a parvo outbreak.

“One of the things Animal Welfare League does right is treat parvo,” the village trustee said. “The veterinary care is excellent for treating and curing parvo in dogs.”

Kowalski said he and the SSHS consultants met with AWL Board President Chris Higens and interim executive director Diane Spryka during Thursday’s surprise inspection. One subject briefly touched upon were the volunteers and rescue groups that claim to have been banned from the facility for speaking out about the shelter’s troubles under Estrada’s tenure.

Whistle-blower Shannon Gaglione-Nelson was sent a cease and desist letter by AWL’s attorney after she says she delivered donated supplies at AWL’s Chicago facility on Wabash Avenue.

“There is a history aggressive defensiveness,” Kowalski said. “This fear-mongering and intimidation nonsense has to stop.”

With public emotions running high, Kowalski asks for people to be patient, cautioning that a lot of work remains to be done at Animal Welfare League but that change isn’t going to happen overnight. The shelter is done to one veterinarian, according to insiders. Donations and adoptions have dropped off due to the negative publicity.

“The Village of Chicago Ridge is trying its best to remedy the situation. At the end of the day it’s about their animals and their safety,” Kowalski said. “I urge the public to continue donating. [AWL] needs funds to make reform work and to hire quality leadership. If you’re looking for a bully breed, please go in and adopt. There are hundreds of dogs in there.”

Kowalski lays the blame for the shelter’s problems on the state’s agriculture department. He says he’s requested the inspector to come in an address the village board.

“We’ve uncovered so much in the last six months,” he said. “The Department of Agriculture should have been a partner to help AWL address these issues years ago. Complacency is a major reason why we’re in this situation today.”

Klehm would not comment on Thursday’s surprise inspection at Animal Welfare League. A full report is expected to be presented to Chicago Ridge village board members in the coming weeks.

“I was asked by Mr. Kowalski to take a tour of AWL as an independent shelter management expert,” Klehm said via email.