AWL Euthanasia Technicians Targeted In IDFPR Complaint

CHICAGO RIDGE, IL — Seven current and former licensed euthanasia technicians from Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge have been summoned to appear at a preliminary administrative hearing Monday before the Illinois Department of Finance and Professional Regulation. All are facing multiple counts for failure to perform their duties while euthanizing hundreds of shelter animals and sloppy record keeping, pursuant to the Illinois Humane Euthanasia in Animal Shelters Act. The hearing will be held at the Thompson Center in downtown Chicago.

Named in separate complaints are Julian Arevelo, Mark Estrada, Theresa Harris, Steven Mensching, Brian Selmeister, Donna Sendra and Linda Schnickel, who currently hold active licenses to euthanize animals in a shelter setting under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.

The complaints, provided to Patch by the IDFPR, detail dozens of instances between 2016 and 2019, during which the AWL technicians did not weigh animals prior to putting them down. Failure to weigh an animal before it is euthanized can result in receiving less than a fatal dose of medication, causing the animal to suffer a slow and agonizing death.

The shelter's "euth techs" are also accused of failing to record separate doses of telazol, used to sedate animals before pentasol is injected, a drug designed to induce rapid, painless and humane death in animals. Both drugs are considered controlled substances. State and federal laws require controlled substances to be secured in a locked cabinet and dosages recorded to prevent malfeasance.

Schnickel, a night supervisor, faces additional counts of aiding and abetting former AWL President Linda Estrada, who was handed a cease-and-desist order last year by the IDFPR for allegedly practicing veterinary medicine without a license. According to the complaint, Schnickel enabled Estrada to also perform the duties of certified euthanasia technician and licensed veterinarian. Schnickel is said to have left notations in the shelter's euthanasia log book indicating that she had euthanized animals under Linda Estrada's orders, who is not a licensed veterinarian.

Estrada left the shelter last year after serving 20-plus years as AWL's president and executive director. The former shelter president's son, Mark, is one of the seven euthanasia techs targeted in the IDFPR investigation.

Earlier this year, Animal Welfare League's state euthanasia license was also placed on "indefinite probation with practice restrictions" for a minimum of five years at AWL's Chicago Ridge facility at 10305 Southwest Highway, and its Chicago location at 6224 S Wabash Ave. The disciplinary measures and fines were based on IDFPR investigations which took place in February 2018, after former and current volunteers and employees raised alarm about conditions inside the Chicago Ridge facility, according to information obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.

In light of the ongoing complaints about animal shelter by volunteers and former employees, the Chicago Ridge village board is considering a "Humane Shelter Ordinance." If adopted, the local ordinance would require animal shelters operating within Chicago Ridge's boundaries to establish humane euthanasia protocols and to provide quarterly records of euthanized animals to the village.

Findings of violations could result in the seven euthanasia technicians' licenses being revoked or suspended or the techs being disciplined. The IDFPR administrative hearing is considered a civil procedure. While evidence gathered against a respondent during the administrative hearing is not admissible in a criminal case, it does not preclude criminal charges from being filed at a future date.