Writing Shotgun

ANIMAL CONTROL SHAKE-UP

Heather RegerTue. April 08
 

A resignation, a suspension and an investigation

Animal Control’s top officer is gone, a shelter employee has been suspended, and the city has launched an investigation into charges of animal mistreatment at the city’s shelter following a District Weekly probe, city officials said today.

Animal Control facility manager Wesley Moore resigned Monday after Long Beach City Manager Pat West announced he’s investigating several reports of alleged animal mistreatment at the shelter. Moore resigned after the suspension last week of another shelter employee, Victor Martinez, for alleged animal cruelty involving the brutal March 13 killing of a vicious pit bull.

One thing is certain, officials told a press conference: new leadership is needed at Animal Control.

The District investigation followed a shelter employee’s tip, and was based on another employee’s complaint of animal cruelty. That complaint documented the botched killing of a dangerous pit bull.

“The dog was flipping around and fighting so much that my syringe needle bent and I had to replace it before administering the drug,” the employee wrote in a formal complaint. “I lost my footing on a pool of blood as I walked across the room.”

The scene was so exceptionally gruesome that, when the dog was finally euthanized, workers hosed blood off floors, walls, doors, cages and cabinets in the euthanasia room, the complaint alleges.

West said “management issues” and “breakdowns in protocol and procedure” led to the inhumane deaths of the pit bull and feral cat. A former shelter officer told The District Weekly that the accidental euthanization of another dog due to misidentification was not an isolated event.

West promised several big changes are already underway. He’s asked an independent investigation firm to evaluate the shelter’s managers, and has temporarily hired two senior staff officials, along with Belmont Shore vet Dr. Loren Eslinger. She started Monday.

Lt. Michelle Quigley will act as the bureau manager until Roger Hatakeyama, a former shelter manager who helped design the shelter, returns next week to deal with employee and internal issues. West says he has asked Long Beach city audit manager John Keisler to deal with more “bureaucratic responsibilities.”

The high-profile press conference didn’t answer all questions. For several months, the shelter has been short of at least six staffers—an issue West said was unrelated to funding. Additionally, staffers say they’re overworked and that morale is in freefall.

“I can’t look you in the eye and tell you why this has happened,” West said. “It’s something the investigation team will have to look into.”

Contact reporter Heather Reger at hreger@thedistrictweekly.com

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  • initialsource
    Happy to report, change is a commin’….slowly. Our new mantra is “Answers and Accountability”. Chant along with us now. Oh, we have some news to report, this is where we divert you to our new blog location and hope you join us. We are currently seeking supporters, friends and like minded people, though, all are welcome.

    http://www.myspace.com/initialsource
  • R U kidding me
    Did you see this joke!!! You know Quigley called him and asked him to write this in the Press Telegram letters to the Editor. Always has to lie to get good publicity. Everyone who knows the truth (that's you LBAC) needs to write this guy and tell him the truth. She killed these cats. The owners got 3 cats back to keep them quiet about the 70 she illegally killed. Look at the previous posts. Why isn't this being investigated. Maybe it is, that's why she called him now, after all these months, to ask for a media-whore favor. Well it won't work, we are going to put the truth out and let them request the info themselves. Writing on the records now and lying and falsifying the records is a crime, FYI, but still not beneath you to try (sorry, now you'll have to run back and erase what you illegally wrote) PS. don't use white out, it's obvious

    So check this out then go and answer him back in the PT, always printing fluff bull s**t. Hey DW, why don 't you put the real story out. I bet initial source knows a lot, as do others. Hayden Violators!!!!!

    "Team effort

    As an employee of Mental Health America of Long Beach, whose mission is to improve the quality of life of mentally ill residents in Long Beach, it gives me great motivation just knowing that other agencies in our community are willing to help us.

    One of our council members notified our office that a member of our community needed our services. Part of their issue included the care of about 70 cats, which they were housing in their two-bedroom apartment. The Long Beach Animal Control Center found new homes for the animals and instructed the original owners in proper cat care.

    As a result, a limited number of cats were reunited with their original owners. Kudos to Lt. Michelle Quigley and her assistant, Susana Delima, who were instrumental in finding a win/win solution.

    Herb R. Limoges

    MHA Village Services coordinator

    Long Beach"

    So are the employees that were hired to do breeding enforcement now her personal assistants???? Long Beach dollars wasted again, get rid of that program for crying out loud, they clearly are using all the resources for other things. Theft of city money....again.
  • ITS almost TIME
    Need stories? Go to pet-abuse.com. There so many stories there that you will never find the time to read them all.
  • Nicole
    No matter how you feel about animal control, we should all realize that they are not the only problem. Irresponsible pet owners are a major source of problems for Long Beach (and everywhere else). Do you have any stories about the disastrous deeds of vile pet owners? If so, post them or email them to me at nicole@thedistrictweekly.com.
  • Takes 1 to Know
    Just stop-Who said hate? No where in my comments did I state I hate people, on the contrary I love people, I like working with them, for them and of course the animals. The city might only be interested in the euthanasia incident, but there was all the behind the scenes stuff that lead up to it. Do you know that if management had listened to RVT on the day of the incident, it just might have been addressed and corrections made, but what did management do about it when she told them, they brought the same people in to do euthanasia the next day! Did a supervisor stay inside the room this time to eval the employee's animal handling? Nope, they went on their merry way, business as usual. And so there you have it, lack of concern for animals and the staff. I have no hatred for anyone that works there, however, I do take the blantant disregard for RVT, the officers assigned to euthanasia, both days and the cruel way this animal had to die! This isn't gossip my friend, it's the truth, so if the P.I. isn't inverested in that, then it won't be impartial, that's for sure. I would love to stop coming here and ruining your day! But until the City understands that there are people here who really care, and keep writing, they might just listen. If the city doesn't listen, then maybe someone of authority might come across these blogs or hear of them and do the right thing. Just stop, sorry you aren't going to get a rise out of me, I do have a job, thanks : )
  • Just stop
    Just stop it all now it is an embarrassment to the buisness.

    If only your time was spent working while being paid to do so none of this would be happening. Instead you choose do do people like this. You all have obviosuly spend so much time not working and drumming things up not handleing business and it's all everyone elses fault. I have spent more time trying to get these nasty things removed that have individuals names on it because it's disgusting. The City is only interested in the "alleged" brutality and negelct not this gossip and personal hatred you have for each other.
    Please stop all of it and wait for what ever it is you are waiting for. In the end I hope you get nothing because you all don't deserve it.
  • Waves
    Waving to the private investigator. PI person you should interview Heather.
  • Takes 1 to Know
    #173 Roger didn’t and wouldn’t take the constant badgering and temper tantrums that Quigley would throw out, for all to see on many occasions, but she had everyone in such a choke hold that no matter what you did, it was wrong, and if you questioned, you were wrong, it got so bad many wouldn’t make decisions. She would have a fit about that too, so as a leader you must have patience and be able to put yourself in the other persons position before lashing out with hurtful or demeaning comments!
    Those of you who don’t work at LBAC, say why do you stay ? I asked myself that everyday, I stay because there is hope at the end of this tunnel of Quigley & Peltier’s continued harrasement and city contract violations. It’s coming and no one can stop it, you see. Too many people are just wating for the investigator to call them in and talk. Many are afraid, but know that they must do the right thing here for everyone, including themselves. I can’t wait for my turn. I have been watching and documenting violations for the last 3 years. I have papers to document everything I will say. No matter how hard they try to discredit me(Q & P) no matter what they say, they can not deny my allegations. You see Quigley & Peltier, we are not as dumb as you thought, quietly and with patience we wait for our turn, and it will come. As God has said the “meek” shall inherit the earth. Please don’t confuse meek with weak!

    So here it is folks, to be considered a good supervisor you must...
    1) Set a good example-Quigley & Peltier, don't have a clue
    2)Be fair-Quigley & Peltier,not even close
    3)Be available & approachable-Quigley & Peltier,are you kidding me?!
    4)Intelligent-Quigley might be a bit too much-Peltier,not so much!
    5)Evaluations for employees-What's that? I haven't had one since 2004 (this is the forum to discuss issues and concerns with employees,Quigley, you should have had plenty of time for these evals, you had time for all the memo's you wrote
    6) compassionate, care about staff we aren't the enemy-Quigley you created the dividing line, and Peltier the only thing you are compassionate is yourself.
  • InvestigationS
    To # 174 , This publication is doing the investigaton. Don't think for 1 moment that the private investigator is not reading the comments. I know he does. As for #175, I hope that people do call Mr. Keisler and share their experiences. Most of the current staff are afraid to speak up because they feel that when everthing is over the same group of people that need to go are still there. SPEAK UP PEOPLE!!!!!
  • Investigation
    I don't trust the city of Long Beach and I know many people think they are just going to cover things up and it will be business as usual BUT, there is a person to call to report your problems. The following was taken from the Gazette:

    "City Manager Pat West said John Keisler also has been assigned as acting business manager. As part of the investigations, city officials want to talk to people who’ve had negative experiences with Animal Control or have concerns about the facility. West said these people should call Keisler at 570-3051."

    I don't know if John Keisler will do anything or not, but I do know this: if no one calls, then the city will conclude that there really isn't a problem if people don't even bother to call. So please report your experiences to Keisler. The more people who call, the greater the chance of some meaningful reform.
  • Real Investigation
    I thought Heather was doing the investigation #173.
  • office insider
    Hahahahah # 165, you are funny. Michelle, sealed Wes' fate and he is just now realizing how she did. She is still there, and she has no worries. The investigation is a joke and she knows it. I was really hoping for a change. Now, I don't think we are going to get that.
    MIchelle is still a mean, cocky, nasty person and it shows everyday. And now that she is in charge of operations we're all suffering. Her attitude has gotten worse because she has no one to answer to, well unless Roger's there and then she may give it a little break so he dosen't catch her by surpirse. Please can we get a real investigation going,


    Hey #166 you are funny too, Michelle wanted the Senior Officers to be called Lieutenant and then she created the title Sergeant(which means someone to do her job while she's giving everybody hell and staying locked up in her office).
  • To 177
    You overplayed your hand this time, "that". Even "minions" et. al. isn't that stupid. At least that Neanderthal spells a few words correctly. Your misspellings are way over the top. Just give everyone a break and go away. Take your garbage to the city council. They will love you.
  • Takes 1 to Know
    Patience...is a virtue : )
  • The one
    If we are going to start putting names down again let me know I have alot to say..
  • Enough Already!
    For 170--"rah, rah", "neds", "minions"--whoever you are. You have dumbed-down this comment section to the point of idiocy. Why don't you find another venue for your meaningless word-barf? You are barely literate and everything you post reflects your low level of intelligence. There are people who post here who really are trying to make a positve change. You're not one of them.
  • buncha also
    why do you keep coming back every night trying to defend yourselves. You got something to defend? Your job? Your lies?
  • Guess Who?
    #168 if you work there you would know?
  • Guess Who?
    Yeah, the only scapegoat here is Vic. Hopefully he has a good attorney and maybe can turn around and sue the City. He didn't violate any written policy because there isn't one. And there is no "standard" procedure for handling an animal this out of control or whatever it was.

    Oh and can you all please stop refering to these officers as a Sergeant or Lieutenant there are no such positions. These officers are considered ACOII and ACOIII(Senior Animal Control Officer) These titles were self given to boost their ego and appear like they are more important than they really are.
  • DogNme
    Hey John Gonzales says that Wes was a scapegoat and it's sad that he was let go over the phone...awww no wonder Quigley is so ruthless, she learned it from Ron Arias, the head of the department! Poor Wes, I didn't shed one tear for him, but I did cry over that poor dog being euthanized. Management could have stopped this from happening. They could have stayed in long enough to make sure this extremely dangerous dog was handled safely. But look in classic LB style, they suspend Vic, while they investigate, (scapegoat #2) Now there is Quigley, who as Lieutenant in charge of "Operations", allowed this to happen,left a cat to suffer overnight, oh the city hires an investigator, but look-she isn't suspended? With or without pay, doesn't matter, she is allowed to still sit at her desk and delete incriminating evidence behind her closed door.
    John did you know that Quigley put the last straw on Wes back that sent him on his way, go ahead ask her-see if she tells you the truth!
  • Guess Who?
    Q...cya....P...cya...C...cya...minions...cya
  • wow
    The most important thing is that animals were authorized for euthanasia by everybody but a Vet. The law breaking the law.
  • Takes 1 to Know
    California Penal code 597f. Permitting Animals to Go Without Care; Veterinary Care for Injured Cats and Dogs

    (b) It shall be the duty of all officers of pounds or humane societies, and animal regulation departments of public agencies to convey, and for police and sherrif departments, to cause to be conveyed all injured cats and dogs found without their owners in a public place directly to a veterinarian known by the officer or agency to be a veterinarian that ordinarily treats dogs and cats for determination of whether the animal shall be immediately and humanely destroyed or shall be hospitalized under proper care and given emergency treatment.

    Cat left in a carrier, signed off as euthanized, left to suffer over night-that sounds like a violation to me-oh but wait, if it's Quigley, it's ok-no investigation or write up for her-she is above the law- the rest of us get written up for blowing our noses, it's all political now, lets see who screams the loudest!
  • Takes 1 to Know
    ACO for life-you could only wish you were Tonya-go back to b band land and yell at someone so you can feel better.
  • The "Q" Virus
    #143 If you don't know who QPC are, then you don't work there. Betcha #152 is one?
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