Animals At NJ Shelter Died Too Soon, Other Alarming Issues: Rpt.

More than 20 deficiencies were found at a New Jersey animal shelter this month, including leaving cat vomit on couches and euthanizing animals too early, according to a state report.

In a report, Linda Frese and Colin Campbell of the New Jersey Department of Health said many animals at the Hamilton Township animal shelter in Mercer County "were being euthanized before being held the required seven days after intake or impoundment.”

“Records showed that numerous stray and surrendered animals that were received at the facility by animal control officers and other individuals were being euthanized within the mandatory seven-day holding period,” the report said.

Cats also were euthanized with a drug intended for dogs, and there were several areas of vomited cat food in the older section of the facility where the resident cats roam, including on the window sill, carpeted cat furniture, and cardboard scratchers and on the carpet under the cat litter pan, according to the report.

Jeff Plunkett, Hamilton’s health officer and department director, admitted to The Trentonian the Hamilton Township animal shelter was not waiting seven days before euthanizing certain animals at the facility.

The township would accommodate euthanasia requests on the spot for $100, much cheaper than what a private facility would charge for the same service, Plunkett told the publication. He also said at least 80 percent of the issues were fixed by Wednesday.

Stray impounded animals are required to be held at least 7 days to provide an opportunity for owners to reclaim their lost pets. Animals were also being accepted for elective euthanasia and were being euthanized on intake, according to the report.

"In the case of an owner surrender, the facility is required to offer the animal for adoption for at least 7 days before euthanizing it or may transfer the animal to an animal rescue organization facility or a foster home prior to offering it for adoption if such transfer is determined to be in the best interest of the animal by the shelter or pound."

Here were the other problems:

• There were numerous bottles of expired medications that had been prescribed by various animal hospitals to animals that had been housed at the facility, but there were no medication administration logs or other treatment records available to indicate why these medications had not been administered as prescribed on the prescription labels.
• Two employees administering animal euthanasia at the facility were not certified by a licensed veterinarian in the acceptable euthanasia techniques used at the facility.
• The isolation room where one kitten was housed was not adequately ventilated to provide for the health and comfort of this animal at the time of this inspection.
• Wire crates that were used to house dogs in the room where the ferret was located were stacked one on top of the other without proper support brackets creating a risk of collapsing.
• Food and water receptacles were not being cleaned and disinfected daily as required. A bird cage located in the previous reception area of the old section of the building contained food, but the animal caretaker stated that the bird had been removed from the facility approximately two weeks prior to this inspection.
• The small animal cages were not being cleaned and disinfected for a significant amount of time after an animal is removed from the facility.

Google photo