When I was hired as an officer by Long Beach Animal Control on May 16, 2005, I was very excited about the opportunities I thought would be presented to me by working for the City of Long Beach. I am an Eagle Scout, have a Bachelor’s degree in biology–option in zoology–and worked at Long Beach Animal Control for more than two years … until September 15, 2007.

Soon after I started, I realized I was not going to get the professional training and equipment I expected. The training experience was very little, and less than pleasing; the trucks were run down, I had to supply some of my own equipment; it was also a fight to get city-supplied equipment repaired or replaced when needed. Regular pay raises required by the union contract never happened when they were supposed to. The union contract also states officers are supposed to get one extra uniform a year. I had two uniforms the whole time I worked there and I was denied numerous times when I asked for at least one more. I had to wear a polo shirt if I got my uniform dirty while my other one was at the dry cleaner; which happened regularly due to the dirty job I performed.

Being an Animal Control Officer required me to make decisions all day long about how to perform my job: the order of handling calls, how to handle a specific call, how to write up the paperwork, and so on. In one breath, management stated I needed to use my head, make logical decisions, and not bother them. The next breath they chastised me for making a decision they–at that particular moment–happened to feel was wrong, and also yell at me for not contacting them. Even if after a previous similar situation everything was fine, the next time–based on his/her mood–management decided I should have done it differently.

Management enjoyed controlling everything/everyone with fear. This is allowed to happen only because there is no written procedures manual to follow. It also does not help that the union is not able to address the hostile work environment because management will not meet with them. This is because management does not want to change what is working well for them.

Overtime happened on a regular basis, especially since we were perpetually understaffed. I was always hassled when management signed my overtime slips; they verbally gave me a hard time and acted like they were not going to sign it. Even if they sent me on a call close to the end of the day they questioned how long I took to finish all my work after getting back to the shelter later than usual. They told me to ask if I could come in early if I had a lot of paperwork to do. I was always denied when I did ask. Investigations piled up. I could not get any time to type them. I was usually doing a half-hour overtime a day to finish my normal call load paperwork, and I did not even turn in overtime slips because I was too worn down from being hassled every time I turned one in.

Management has major preferential treatment issues at Long Beach Animal Control.

My days off were Monday and Tuesday, and I worked a number of different types of shifts at all times of the day and night. Officers accrue a day off a month as a personal holiday because if we are scheduled on a holiday we have to work, and do not get extra pay. Less than one percent of my requests for time off were granted, while other people were getting a couple days off a month. It is documented that during my last year at Animal Control I was scheduled for the most off-hour, and 8 hour turn around shifts.

Ever since I started working to re-involve the union with Long Beach Animal Control, everything I did was picked apart with a fine-toothed comb. I was being criticized at least once a week by management. I felt I did my job fairly well, and many of my co-workers agreed, but management made me feel like I was useless.

Every person who worked at Long Beach Animal Control expressed they felt the same way at one point or another. The employee turnover rate is tremendous. This leads to worse understaffing, requiring more irregular work schedules, exacerbating the issues. It also causes retraining of people on a constant basis, wasting thousands of dollars.

I am speaking up so that Long Beach Animal Control might enact changes–changes that can allow the agency to serve the public in the high esteem and ability the officers and the public desire, but which the management does not allow.

Tags: abuse, Carey Macy, incompetence, Long Beach Animal Control

COMMENTS

1

: ) You are brave!

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Posted By Christine on April 19th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
2

Thanks Carey

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Posted By Rebecca on April 19th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
3

All of you who have brought LBAC’S problems to the public’s attention deserve a medal. I know your job is very difficult and I’m glad there are caring people who will stand up for the animals. I know more people would but they are afraid, so thanks for having the guts to do the right thing.

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Posted By Thank You! on April 19th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
4

This is one of the downsides of the focus on “public safety” that obsesses City Hall. City management propagates the myth that more police officers and firefighters are the only way to achieve safer streets and better quality of life, and every other city function is ancillary. So while the police and fire departments may have what they need to do their jobs, everyone else is just scraping by on uniforms, training, pay, and equipment, just to make do.

Bottom line… unless you wear a navy-blue uniform in this town, you’re screwed. Nothing against cops or firemen, but the city should be taking a more holistic view of public safety, and selling it to the council and the constituency the way they sell the “more-police-and-fire” approach.

It’s really easy to point a finger at the the troops on the ground doing the work, but management is ultimately responsible for the climate that breeds a toxic work environment. These problems that Carey writes about are indicative of a systemic breakdown in our city government’s culture. This is why, for the last 10 years since Jim Hankla left, I’ve been hoping for a city manager from outside of Long Beach to bring in some new blood and overhaul the way we do business. I don’t see Mr West making the sweeping changes needed to make a real difference.

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Posted By Sam Lowry on April 19th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
5

You should have left soon after you started. Why didn’t you?

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Posted By To Carey on April 19th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
6

Carey, thank you for your story it one that rings true with anyone who has worked at LBAC. As a current employee in this unstable environment I appreciate you stepping up and telling it. Hopefully this will get the the people that have the power to make change at LBAC. Congratulations on your new position and much success to you.

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Posted By The "Q" Virus on April 19th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
7

Why don’t you leave.

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Posted By To Virus on April 19th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
8

Only one person willing to attach their name to a story. Gosh, LBAC MUST be horrific. One person.

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Posted By Only one person on April 19th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
9

at all the animals in the city of long beach that john q public doesn’t give a rats ass about. blame everyone but yourselves for the job that lbac has to do.

http://www.lbreport.com/news/apr08/euth2.htm

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Posted By Lookie here on April 19th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
10

You are right Mr. Macy about how lack of training and lack of a written Policies and Procedures Manual for this department made it a frustrating and a challenging job, especially for someone who has never worked in this field of work prior. Animal Control Officers play a huge part in public safety and do a difficult job with many hats to wear. They are the voices of the animals that are abused and thrown away in the streets. Yet the public and city leaders, only see the old stigma “dog catcher”. “Just put some gas in that old truck and give em’ a net, maybe a shirt or two, a badge, a stick, and send them off to catch dogs”. Animal Control Officers do alot more than catch dogs. They are called when that vicious dog is terrorizing a neighborhood and expected to control, contain, and carefully place that dog into thier truck without hurting it, even though its trying to bite the ACO’s head off. Police Officers often shake they’re heads in disbelief when they see an ACO approach a dog that’s all teeth and growling, you often hear them say “that’s all you have is a sitck??”While they have thier shot guns, machine guns, and other weapons aimed at the dog. ACO’s are called on to check on that poor dog that has been left tied up in the sun or rain all day with no food or water or shelter, and to investigate any and all reports of animal cruelty in the city and to write any reports associated with that investigation for possible cruelty charges. ACO’s are called when a citizen finds a stray dog running the streets or to pick up that litter of kittens, or those feral cat’s in cat traps. ACO’s are called when the neigbors 15 foot python strays into your bathroom. ACO’s are also called when that bloody carcass is lying in the street in front of your house or festering in your alley. ACO’s are called when that poor dog, cat , opossum, you name it get’s hit by a car and survives while bleeding and dying in the street. ACO’s are required to educate the public regarding animal laws and answer all those animal questions the public gives them regarding loose cats dogs, etc. ACO’s are required to do all that and lots and lots more while working odd shifts, long hours, and to keep a smile and always have good customer service skills w/ the public.

I hope that after all this controversy clears up. The public, city managers, gods above will see how tough an ACO’s job can be. and at least pay them more than the trashman.

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Posted By ACO's need a raise on April 19th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
11

give all of lbac employees a well deserved raise

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Posted By yes on April 19th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
12

are you part of class action suit

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Posted By to macy on April 20th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
13

hmmmm…well I was just reading that crumb-snatcher journal the long beach post, they have the euthinasia report. It really shocking about but not surprizing how many dogs statistic wise were declared vicious by Quigley. 75 percent of all dogs coming in were declared vicious or unadoptable, thats not right.Shows us folks what the public already knows, Quigley enjoys killing animals,she must really be a cat hater to snuff the life out of 5,000 cats in a single yr.

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Posted By jan.hjorth on April 20th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
14

public is at fault not lbac or any of its employees

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Posted By bunk on April 20th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
15

what is link to lbpost article. dont see your referenced material there. i saw details in lbreport which i thought you all hailed as great for requesting the info. make up your minds either you hate the lbreport or you dont

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Posted By to hjorth on April 20th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
16

You are showing your ignorance! If people took responsibility for their dogs, cats and other “pets of the month”, the number of animals euthanized would dramatically decline. I thank Quigley and the hard working souls of the Long Beach Animal Shelter for saving 64% of the dogs that, through no fault of their own, found their way to the shelter, including the approximately 29 per month that are brought in by their owners!

Cats unfortunately do not fare as well, mostly due to the feral cat population. Only 16% of the 5,405 were adopted. 5,405 cats what does that tell you? Think about it before you jump into your truck with a bag of kitty chow and drive around town feeding the endless colonies of feral cats! You are not helping you are part of the problem!

Bottom line…SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR ANIMALS! Be responsible.

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Posted By Youth N. Asia on April 20th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
17

spay and neuter, then quigley wouldn’t have to do your job. she’d be without a job and thankful that she was

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Posted By quigley is not the problem on April 20th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
18

Quigley’s inability to work with people to resolve problems ( remember she works for the people of Long Beach ) her enthusiasm for killing dogs. I have seen her glee arguing for a dog to be killed in one of those hearings. The shameful high kill rate at animal control. Over 75 % of the dogs that go into animal control will not come out alive ( the kill rate would be much higher if SPCA didn’t take dogs off death row ). She has the unwavering support of her boss Ron Arias and the city manager Mr West. The team of Quigley/Arias will turn the facts around to justify their morbid, sick desire to kill dogs.They both most GO. Time to hire people to take their place that care about animals and the people that love their animals. The people of Long Beach want a no kill shelter and Animal Control works for the people. I pay more tax dollars than Quigley/Arias/West put together. I am disgusted by the way they treat dogs and people. Fire them Already! PS: Press Telegram your nothing more than a rag masquerading as a fourth class newspaper.

.

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Posted By jan.hjorth on April 20th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
19

This article you wrote sums it all up. You are a cry baby that needs to grow up. Your were a joke of an Officer, you were the butt of most LBAC jokes. You were a constant screw up and a chronic complainer. Everyday you were heard whining about one thing or another. You hated the areas, you were assigned. You were always getting “slammed with calls” as you put it. The hours were a stress on you, etc. I never heard a person complain so much about nonsense. Just do your job and shut up. You would spend 30-45 minutes complaining about a certain call, when you should have been handling about 2-3 calls in that time. Now you’ve joined the other complainers and jumped on their band wagon, and the way you handled this situation was juvenile and proves my point of what a crybaby you are. GROW UP!! Let’s face it , you were never cut out to be an ACO and you never should have passed probation and you never should have been given keys to a city vehicle, which you wrecked several times. I hope you don’t have the same problem at your new job. Your workers will probably just lock you into one of those porta-potties that you now paint.

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Posted By Scary Carey NOTT!! on April 20th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
20

you want a no kill facility open a noahs ark, maybe you can rent same warehouse with your money

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Posted By to hjorth on April 20th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
21

#19 is one of the people responsible for the low morale at LBAC. This is the type of person that will kick you when your down. This is the type of person who will watch a fellow officer struggle and offer no help. Don’t worry Mr. Macy, you are respected and liked by the people that matter. Forget about the macho, arrogent,cop want-a-be’s at the shelter. The new ACO’s at LBAC are being trained by #19 or someone just like #19. It is obvious. Changes are coming because of people like you Mr. Macy, not by the macho, arrogent ACO’s remaining at the shelter.

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Posted By #19 is in charge of training on April 20th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
22

Be a part of the solution not the problem. Don’t place blame on LBAC, Quigley or any other public servant. Wise up there is no such thing as a no kill shelter…period end of story.

Take responsibility for your pets. Spay or neuter.

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Posted By Youth N. Asia on April 20th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
23

if you dont have a pet to spay or neuter offer to spay or neuter someone elses pet or donate to friends of long beach

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Posted By and on April 20th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
24

ya,bro, like im going to give Quiggy’s friends (FOLBA) a dime! When they support the mass killings at LBAC. Best to be giving your money to a good rescue org. that has’nt yet been popped by Quiggy and Co.

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Posted By jan.hjorth on April 20th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
25

for every dime you dont give how about i give two one for me and one for you

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Posted By ya ya bro on April 20th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
26

We all know what the answer is spay and neuter but that is not the issue. That is not going to be resolved overnight. The unwanted animals we have on this earth need a safe place to go right now. Animals need a place to go if their owner dies, goes to the hospital or to jail. They need a safe place to go if they get away from home and are lost. You will never get rid of animal shelters. The real problem is right now. I agree that spay and neuter is the answer but you are trying to convince the wrong people. Almost all the people posting on this site are shelter employees who push for spay and neuter 24 hrs a day. We need to take care of the animals here right now while we promote spay and neuter at the same time. I agree with you that there is no such thing as a no kill shelter. No Kill = needless suffering.

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Posted By To Youth N. Asia on April 20th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
27

yeah #19 is an a-hole, no question!

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Posted By The "Q" Virus on April 20th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
28

Oh I almost forgot QUIGLEY MUST GO!

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Posted By The "Q" Virus on April 20th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
29

quigley must be promoted to the highest level possible

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Posted By yet another on April 20th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
30

#4- you are right that more money needs to go to Animal Control as a public safety agency.
#5- I stayed in the job because I loved the animals and I loved most of my fellow coworkers who treated the animals and people with respect.
#8- you are completely right
#10- that is a good list of what animal control officers do! ACO’s are the first responders when you call 911 about a vicious animal. armed with only a stick doing a job even the police are afraid to do.
#12- I am not part of a law suit
#19- no comment
Friends of Long Beach Animals is a great organization! They promote respecting animals, proper pet care and control, and spaying and neutering. There are too many people out there who have pets that do not understand the amount of responsibility it takes. Also, too many people just let their animals get pregnant then do not know what to do with the litter. Too many people do not control their animals. These animals end up causing nuisances to the public as either an animal that is dangerous, is constantly loose, is relieving itself on other people’s property, is constantly barking, etc. They could also be a nuisance or threat to their owners if not treated as a living being with physical and psychological needs. There are also laws in every city regarding animals. In essence, animals are like having children because the owner has to take care of all the animals needs. The biggest difference is that each breed needs something different. People need to research and understand what they are getting into. That is where organizations like LBAC and Friends of Long Beach Animals educate as many people they can on how to keep their animal from ending up in a shelter.

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Posted By Carey Macy on April 20th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
31

At least Carey is not from the “B” band, or a whiney Princess that always needed a “man” to help her do her job, or an officer that couldn’t pass a test but moved up anyway, Or some num-nutts always playing unsafe pranks just to try and “fit in”, or the head of a secret group that spends way to much time trying to figure out if an officer is a male or female just because they use the uni-sex bathroom, or a big dumb ooaf that pouts for days when he gets in trouble…is that not a cry baby? No, you, oh-ignorant one, are the butt of all the jokes at LBAC…P.S. How is that wardrobe working out for ya?

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Posted By Hey Scary Carey Not on April 20th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
32

egek needs your help at neds can you assist so does apbt

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Posted By nedittes on April 20th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
33

We have an Officer in the department that was a B-Bander-who is it? I bet I can guess-Is it BIG LOVING? ha ha

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Posted By Rachel on April 21st, 2008 at 4:51 am
34

#19 Hmmm-you sound like management! And since you know so much about everybody else,I’m guessing you are a gossip too! But is your hair red or ove processed blonde. And since you are on the complainers and cry babies, how about Mr. B band who whines and pouts any time he has to do something else besides eat his del taco’s and play with Tippi in the office, theres a whiner and complainer.Im leaning to the overprocessed blonde.But maybe you could have short hair & glasses and a beet red face, huffing and puffing while you write in tis thread. You are definately not the tall handsome officer, he is out actually working(but staying clean!) So #19 you must be the over-processed blonde that clicks her heals down the hall on her way to pet the animals during city time! What do you do now that you don’t have Wes and Tonya to follow around hmmmm? Oh I know, planning a party for the next person to leave LBAC? But don’t forget, a good hostess is usually at the party silly! Oh please let me have a party for you, I will donate a my hairstylist’s number!

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Posted By takes 1 to Know on April 21st, 2008 at 5:50 am
35

I was trying to work through “the chain of command” and the Union when I was there. But management just kept suppressing everything! That is why I am so active in doing something now that I am no longer working there. I am not bound by the “chain of command” that let me down. Also, I am no longer constantly around the judging and ridiculing people in the office who had to try to verbally beat down anyone who did the right thing, because they got insecure of themselves.

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Posted By Carey Macy on April 21st, 2008 at 7:43 am
36

#19 continuing-I think Im wrong- you are the RED one! Only you would write horrible things like you did. You would stab anyone in the back-you want friends so badly, yet you dont have a clue on how to be one!! I hope in your new place you take my advise and don’t act ‘dizzy’, and one day they might let you be OIC there. Do you know that you also were the butt of jokes! By people that you called friends! I stood up for you and defended you wil officer b-band made fun of you, silly girl.They used you for info-you cant keep a secret if your life depended on it! Don’t you know I still hear the crap they say about you and i feel sorry for you, even still. And you complained and cried the most..Im afraid of the dark, im afraid so please come help me big strong ACO man. You were one of my friends too, until you stabbed me in the back when I was down, so good luck with the OC and good ridense to people of your kind, I was sad when you left, but not anymore-

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Posted By takes 1 to Know on April 21st, 2008 at 8:10 am
37

Let us just remember that Victor was trained and treated the same way as Macy. #19 is probably snickering and proud that they have hurt so many. Carey Macy, I am proud of you. You have many people on your side, they are just afraid right now. Do not give up.

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Posted By Who? on April 21st, 2008 at 8:43 am
38

Ok, “takes 1 to Know”, you are killin’ me. You have it right on the mark, got ‘em all pegged. Thanks, someone is getting it….Wed is just around the corner, can’t wait to see what’s comming up. Carey, you have support and you are on the mark, they just don’t like being called out like that. Especially when all they can do to you now is rant a little on this blog. I’m sure they wish you were there so they could torture you with scheduling, shifts, and intimidation. Oh, and any jokes they did tell were just to cover up their own incompetence…..the story will clear up soooooooon. Grasshopper

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Posted By you are killin' me on April 21st, 2008 at 9:45 am
39

Oh, Carey, you didn’t really want to ever go back and visit anymore did you? Hope not, the memo does not allow any past (or injured) employees to ever come and visit their friends (family) of so many years. It is another way to control what info comes in and what goes out (so many secrets). You know, Wesley’s memo (aka MQ) said to call the police…I wonder what the police would think. Why are they being called when no law is being broken. Are we using tax dollars for all those PD calls to the shelter because a past employee came by to pick up a friend for lunch. Maybe this is one of the reasons he got fired, you just can’t do what you want anymore. Maybe the public can now see how moronic the mentality of these folks are and what so many go through on a daily basis.

So, if it is not policy, and he signs it, does it exist when he is gone??? hmmmmm Grasshopper.

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Posted By to Carey and the memo on April 21st, 2008 at 9:55 am
40

Listen in the distance you can you hear it…it’s soft and low toot, toot toot, and it’s getting louder now Toot Toot Toot, now I hear that whistle blower, TOOT TOOT TOOT! Comin round the bend- takes 1 to know-your a funny person will you be my friend?

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Posted By Rachel on April 21st, 2008 at 10:12 am
41

Whistleblower Accuses Oakland Animal Shelter of Systemic Abuse By MATTHEW ARTZ

A former employee at the Oakland Animal Shelter has detailed what she says are systemic abuses by shelter management. The list of wrongdoings include euthanizing dogs that were cleared for adoption, euthanizing dogs without sedatives and in one case mistakenly leaving a live dog in a freezer in a barrel with dead dogs.

“I just couldn’t be part of that anymore,” said Lori Barnabe, a veterinary technician and animal control officer with Oakland from 1999 through 2004. Barnabe, who now works for an animal hospital in Alameda, detailed her concerns about shelter management to Oakland officials last month in a five-page letter obtained by the Daily Planet.

“We’re taking these charges very seriously,” said Oakland Deputy City Administrator Niccolo De Luca. He said Oakland Police, which run the shelter, were investigating Barnabe’s accusations and that the city administrator’s office would now take an active role in selecting the shelter’s next director. Last June, former Director Glenn Howell resigned to become Director of Animal Control Services for Contra Costa County.

In response to the allegations, and the ongoing search for a permanent replacement to Howell, Oakland councilmembers Jane Brunner and Ignacio De La Fuente have called a town-hall meeting Thursday, Feb. 17.

“We don’t have answers yet, but from what we have seen already in my opinion seems serious and needs serious investigation,” Brunner said.

Oakland Police and shelter officials did not return phone calls for this story, but are expected to attend the meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. at Oakland City Hall.

In addition to questioning the shelter’s euthanasia practices, Barnabe accused shelter brass of altering critical computer records to hide illegal euthanasias, holding dogs in kennels for cruel lengths of time, violating the rights of residents to retrieve their dogs, releasing stray dogs back to owners unneutered, failing to provide shelter workers with safety gloves, and overall neglect often resulting in unintended animal cruelty.

“These practices need to be investigated before the hiring process for the shelter top position is complete,” Barnabe concluded in her letter.

She accused Acting Director and longtime shelter official ReShan McClarty of violating state law governing euthanasia. Last Sept. 26, she wrote, McClarty ordered that 26 dogs be put to sleep even though the shelter had run out of a sedative. Barnabe also charged that the acting director ordered the euthanasia of a dog whose owner had said she would reclaim it.

Moreover, she wrote, he erased information from computer memos that indicated that a rescue group wanted a particular dog and altered temperament information about the dog, making it seem more violent, after it was euthanized.

On numerous occasions, she wrote, the shelter supervisor refused to speak to owners of impounded dogs, sometimes resulting in unnecessary boarding frees for owners. In one instance, according to Barnabe, the owner of an aggressive dog impounded by animal control was never given a hearing as required by shelter rules. It was held for over seven months and eventually euthanized, she added.

A lack of proper procedures endangered both employees and animals at the shelter, Barnabe wrote. Instead of providing shelter workers with disposable rubber gloves when handling animals with communicable diseases like ringworm, scabies and mange, the shelter provided one pair of gloves to be shared by employees.

Employees, she added, were never reprimanded for mistakes that unintentionally led to animal suffering. In one case, Barnabe wrote that kittens left to the shelter in the night drop box were not retrieved the following day, causing one of them to die from overheating.

Pam Smith, a volunteer with the group Fix Our Ferals, said shelter management barred her from the shelter last year after she complained about abuses.

“They’re very worried about their public face,” she said. “Anyone critical of them gets banned.”

Police traditionally run city animal shelters. Berkeley, which transferred control of its shelter from the BPD to a civilian shelter administrator remains a rare exception.

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Posted By To LBAC on April 21st, 2008 at 4:04 pm
42

looks like no one had a life today. keep rattling

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Posted By looks like on April 21st, 2008 at 7:51 pm
43

Your reading it and keep coming back, looks like you must like it here.

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Posted By LOOKS LIKE on April 21st, 2008 at 8:04 pm
44

nah just waiting for lbac and quigley to come out of this in great shape

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Posted By looks like on April 21st, 2008 at 8:12 pm
45

LT. Quigley needs to go if the animals and employees are to a good life at the shelter !!!!!

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Posted By The Last Word on April 21st, 2008 at 8:56 pm
46

Your waiting for nothing. This is the calm before the storm.

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Posted By To looks like on April 21st, 2008 at 9:02 pm
47

Hey, Quigley has changes records too. I guess Oakland and Long Beach are not so far away. She killed an animal without a release from the owner within minutes of it being dropped off at the shelter (you know which one NC, you were there too). Wesley was notified prior to it being done, but he didn’t do anything (what’s new), he said that Quigley already had the form (she lied). He failed to check when notified, before it was done. he let Q doctor up the records the next day and she called the owner and got the form telling them it still needed to be done (lied to owner too) wow. (good time to come clean Wesley, Michelle). The animal was already dead when she got the permission. This was not a mistake, it was a conscious decision by Quigley, knowing they did not have the paperwork. Her ego just wont allow her to listen when someone is telling her she is making a mistake. Wonder if they got around to investigating that one yet…..someone has a copy of the record……before and after. Oh, it just goes on and on this list, years and years, time to go MQ……..goodbye!

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Posted By looks like Oaktown on April 21st, 2008 at 9:42 pm
48

bwhahahaha

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Posted By long beach not oakland on April 21st, 2008 at 9:46 pm
49

What about euthanizing animals instead of giving them vet care. I think is is against the law to euthanize a treatable animal. Suffering is not old.

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Posted By looks like joketown on April 21st, 2008 at 9:49 pm
50

To bwhahahaha. Do you vomit in your mouth when you laugh like that?

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Posted By Get Rid of Quigley Now on April 21st, 2008 at 10:00 pm
51

bwhaahahaha. lb is not oakland

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Posted By do not get rid of quigley ever on April 21st, 2008 at 10:10 pm
52

Can’t keep her forever, just like the shelter animals. 6 days are up. Call rescue.

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Posted By holding period up on April 21st, 2008 at 10:17 pm
53

I vomit in my mouth when I think of, or heaven forbid, actually see Wesley or Michelle walking down the hall….well, down to 1 now. there are two others that make me wretch though (the big one and the really dumb one), but they are usually off somewhere gossiping where they can’t be seen…. inside cottage 8? Keep an eye on ‘em Big Daddy. You can send the dumb one back to the truck stop or trailer park, the big one back to mommies. bwhahahaha

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Posted By wretch on April 21st, 2008 at 10:17 pm
54

seems you are,,,quit

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Posted By disgruntled on April 21st, 2008 at 10:21 pm
55

Not quitting untill you are fired.

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Posted By No way on April 21st, 2008 at 10:26 pm
56

why quit, this is getting good. Love watching all the squirming and the control freaks having no control. Watching the very same people that took advantage of the system now being held to the same standard as the rest of us. Can’t wait for all the girls to come back, then it will be good fun for all. They make Quigley so nervous…..love it!

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Posted By wretch on April 21st, 2008 at 10:28 pm
57

they make quigley so nervous,,,you say so,,,na followors said same thing

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Posted By bwahahaha on April 21st, 2008 at 10:31 pm
58

Oh, believe me, NA made her nervous. She was very afraid that certain things would come out….NA didn’t have the right ammo, but she didn’t know that then. I’m sure she is wondering what they know now. If someone asks me, I would tell them. That probably makes her nervous too……which one am I? Oh, well. Guess she will just have to be nice to all of us now so we don’t roll over on her, especially the big one.

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Posted By wretch on April 21st, 2008 at 10:37 pm
59

NA followers did not get a manager to resign. NA followers did not get you to type here.

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Posted By Who got results on April 21st, 2008 at 10:37 pm
60

our very own RVT…go girls

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Posted By wretch on April 21st, 2008 at 10:41 pm
61

RVT did not get a manger to resign. The city manager made him do it to look like they have done something. The shelter manager suspended Victor to look like the shelter did something. The RVT is not there and they think she quit. NOT!!!!

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Posted By To wretch on April 21st, 2008 at 10:46 pm
62

na should subpena you for thier appeal than you can be a supporter

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Posted By bwahahaha on April 21st, 2008 at 10:49 pm
63

She has quit nothing but doing their dirty work. They uncovered things Wesley was doing because the RVT shined a spot light on the shelter. They found things that employees could really nail them for, who knows, maybe they are nailing them. They are shining many more lights now. They will find what the other have done very soon. So, yes, the RVT. What did you do?

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Posted By wretch on April 21st, 2008 at 10:52 pm
64

No, the RVT did not lie, they should try someone else.

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Posted By never on April 21st, 2008 at 10:52 pm
65

I’m sure they will subpeona many employees. But it won’t do them any good if they don’t know what questions to ask them. Who is carrying that hand? I bet everyone is after that person. I bet Wesley knows what they want to know.

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Posted By to bwhahaha on April 21st, 2008 at 10:56 pm
66

Who said the rvt lied?

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Posted By what? on April 21st, 2008 at 10:57 pm
67

NA will appeal and lose again. Filth is filth. The RVT will testify again but will never be a supporter. Believe it or not the animals were better off being at LB.

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Posted By never on April 21st, 2008 at 10:58 pm
68

NA said the RVT lied because she “altered” the records. Bullshit! The city led them to believe that. 1 person cannot treat possibly treat all those animals everyday and fill out all the files on a daily basis.

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Posted By Overworked on April 21st, 2008 at 11:06 pm
69

yes, the were. Only because there was such an eye on Quigley. If there hadn’t been, many more would have died. That is just how it is. The RVT cared for all those animals herself, with staff help. Quigley just played her politics. It would have fallen apart without the RVT.

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Posted By wretch on April 21st, 2008 at 11:07 pm
70

The RVT busted her ass for those animals. The City of Long Beach pays her back by lying in the press telegram accusing Victor of animal abuse and accusing her of breaking a protocol that never existed. Better than the certificate don’t you think?

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Posted By Thanks wretch on April 21st, 2008 at 11:12 pm
71

certificate?

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Posted By wretch on April 21st, 2008 at 11:18 pm
72

Did you throw up(out)on yours?

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Posted By certificate? on April 21st, 2008 at 11:33 pm
73

this beets neds,,,almost like oldjimbosspaceship,,,parodies paridise,,,

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Posted By speek your mind on April 21st, 2008 at 11:39 pm
74

I had 3 tacos

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Posted By dumb on April 21st, 2008 at 11:42 pm
75

from the streets of tijiuwana?,,,

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Posted By speek your mind on April 21st, 2008 at 11:46 pm
76

make shure to vote for your favorite victicrat today,,,one that will raise your taxes

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Posted By voting today on April 22nd, 2008 at 6:02 am
77

“The RVT busted her a** for those animals. The City of Long Beach pays her back by lying in the press telegram accusing Victor of animal abuse and accusing her of breaking a protocol that never existed.” This is absolutely true!

She worked ten to twelve hour days with no breaks to treat and document those NA animals! And all that time was needed because those animals were in way too bad of shape! We were also short staffed already so she got only a small amount of help when she should have had one or two full time helpers.

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Posted By Carey Macy on April 22nd, 2008 at 7:38 am
78

With all this publicity and scrutiny management now knows how the other workers felt every day having to look over their shoulders constantly. The only difference is us other workers were trying to do the right thing the whole time.

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Posted By Carey Macy on April 22nd, 2008 at 7:40 am
79

I was thinking how Long Beach Animal Control’s managements bad ways are coming back to bite them in the butt. [A little irony here in working with dogs and getting bit in the butt!! :) ] I thought of a way to live life without having to live in fear of your previous actions.

A circle of nobility and happiness. Always strive to do the noble thing and you will be rewarded by happiness. A person cannot live life to the fullest unless you do! If you keep to your values/morals/ethics than you will not have to constantly look back over your shoulder. You can spend more time living life because you are not spending all the time looking back and covering your tracks.. You can live in the moment and look toward the future. Also more people will love you for who you are and respect you for sticking to your own personality; this allows you to feel more love and give more love. To love and be loved (by family, friends and girlfriends/boyfriends) is essential to happiness. Leading back to the confidence and desire to do more noble acts. Making a circle of nobility and happiness.

And if you are getting undue problems from what you are doing you can at least feel good that you are doing to right thing for your own concience. Society will also show you that you are, which will help you keep that confidence in yourself to keep you doing the right thing.

This was the only way I was able to hold on in the depressing world of LBAC under the repressive management.

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Posted By Carey Macy on April 22nd, 2008 at 8:24 am
80

Why are you so understaffed when you have all of those great FOLBA volunteers helping you out?

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Posted By Get Rid of Quigley Now on April 22nd, 2008 at 8:29 am
81

4/9/08 LBPost.com printed- “Just days after, protocol was violated again as a euthanized cat when unchecked for 6 hours and was found to still be alive before being properly disposed.”

The title said Euthanasia Mishandling(S) There is another animal to investigate. This issue is being ignored and hidden for a reason. Who is responsible for this act of cruelty and why is it not public like the dog?

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Posted By Have we forgot? on April 22nd, 2008 at 8:46 am
82

4/10/08 Gazette printed – “Once investigations began, a second case involving a feral cat came to light. An attempt to euthanize the animal apparently failed, and the animal was left in a cage for more than six hours before it was discovered and dealt with.”

There also will be an outside investigator conducting the investigation into the mishandled animal incidents.

INCIDENTS!!!!

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Posted By Have we forgot? on April 22nd, 2008 at 8:56 am
83

Director Ron Arias said…”this incident and perhaps one other report are the only ones he’d seen on such matters.”

I bet you did not get a report of a dog who had to be euthanized because a chain was left on his neck for weeks at the shelter. Maybe the District can make that public for your viewing.

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Posted By what report on April 22nd, 2008 at 9:23 am
84

#80 + #81. Ask 7:00am clerk who finally euthanized this cat in the morning.

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Posted By I know who to ask on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:34 am
85

Catch this quote from Peltier, then I’ll give you the punch line.

“Animal Control must also take “calculated risks” when dealing with vicious or wild animals, he said.

Peltier has two scars from dog bites - one on his hand from a pit bull and another on his shoulder from a German shepherd.

“It’s never the dog’s fault if you get bitten,” he said. “We’re trained for stuff like this.”

He is no more able to handle that dog than a PetCo groomer. He was impounding the dog for bite quarantine and it bit him. HELLO, it already bit someone, be careful highly trained officer. He mishandled the dog while loading it onto his truck and got bit in the hand. Oh, and when he got bitten, in the course of his duty, he tried to sue the animal owner. IT’S YOUR JOB MORON. You were the butt of every joke at AC…Now kindly go back up to the quote. More to come.

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Posted By laughing stock on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:59 am
86

Here is another one for ya…

“In his 15 years with Animal Control, Sgt. Steve Peltier has walked into scenes that would make most people’s skin crawl.

As a field services supervisor for Long Beach Animal Control, Peltier…”

First off, he has not been there for 15 years, more like 5ish. He worked at a pet store before that. He is not a Sergeant, there is no such position in Long Beach Animal Control, it is something Quigley and Moore made up so Peltier could feel important. And if he is truely a “field services supervisor” then he IS responsible for the lack of training of those employees in that horrible euthanasia incident!!

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Posted By laughing stock on April 22nd, 2008 at 11:05 am
87

and…

“Peltier does pick up the occasional stray dog or dead cat in the road”.

Because he occasionally actually has to help, but not much as he is clearly Quigleys favorite little man.

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Posted By laughing stock on April 22nd, 2008 at 11:08 am
88

Wow, he is really full of himself. He just left out a minor detail…

“Peltier saw similar incidents of hoarding during his eight years with L.A. County Animal Control.”

He failed to tell you that he was just a reserve ACO for the county, they wouldn’t hire him as a real officer due to his inability to follow their rules or get along with staff, so he just did it so he could wear a uniform and plastic badge. Call them and ask.

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Posted By laughing stock on April 22nd, 2008 at 11:13 am
89

Funny…. the city council was actually revoking business licenses tonight at the meeting. I guess LB can get away with questionable business pratices. Do as I say, not as I do. Typical. Shut down your shelter Long Beach.

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Posted By Typical on April 22nd, 2008 at 9:05 pm
90

Go see The Hammer in theaters now

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Posted By Hello on April 22nd, 2008 at 9:14 pm
91

Peltier likes to puff himself up- what a big man! He has strolled into LBAC thinking he would be untouchable! Thinking he could come in and make his own policies! Ha, this officer when he came in, was on probation, then put on probation again, because he just couldn’t pass the first time! Like a true b-band he didn’t have what it took to be an A band officer! ANd Quigley & Moore knew this, allowed him to supervise the field ha-look what a great job he did huh? 5 officers left under his “supervision”. Wow and if you ask him why he’s never stayed very long at any of the many other “agencies”, he will tell you he had problems with management! He told me this, nice huh? Now why would you make someone with his employment history,his low test scoring and his inability to follow simple policies an Officer in charge of field services? I want to know-Quigley are you really that dumb? Or maybe you really were afraid of him like most of us thought! Quigley must go!

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Posted By takes 1 to know on April 22nd, 2008 at 9:29 pm
92

Neds is for beginners. No time for that. Come back when you get your pro card.

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Posted By laughing stock 2 on April 22nd, 2008 at 9:30 pm
93

My son is verbally abusive and has low test scores, is there a position for him at the shelter? I think he will fit in well.

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Posted By hello takes 1 on April 22nd, 2008 at 9:35 pm
94

I wonder if Peltier wants to go see THE HAMMER in theaters now

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Posted By Hello on April 22nd, 2008 at 9:47 pm
95

Hello…You had your chance, you failed. Not only did you fail, you failed against this all this bulls**t. That is sad.

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Posted By To neds on April 22nd, 2008 at 9:59 pm
96

Oh is this Peltier night? Hey how about the time the field staff was short, the calls for service were piling up and Quigley took her Peltier out to court while waiting for the verdict on NA? Do you know that your tax dollars paid for both of them to be there for two days! They sat there all day, had a nice lunch and did it again the next day because the verdict wasn’t reached yet! Why wasn’t Peltier helping the field staff those two days? Because Quigley needed her Peltier to be there with her, awww! Quigley weren’t you in the Marines? Aren’t you tough in your “stone wash jeans and Swat gear! Makes you feel tough doesn’t it! You know what makes good management? NO! You do know how to make people feel like crap though and while you were running your show with the heavy hand, running and running staff down-and smiling for the camera, you had no clue that your “rein of terror” was slipping out of your little hands!

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Posted By Rachel on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:00 pm
97

How about the movie and then go to dollar beer night.

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Posted By What up on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:01 pm
98

Quigley and Peltier should quit and move away for the good of the shelter !

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Posted By Mike..... on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:02 pm
99

Rachel
You sound like you need a beer or a shot!!

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Posted By What up on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:04 pm
100

Lets go to Dollar beer night with What up. Kinda like your enemy throwing your going away party. Sounds Fun.

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Posted By To Rachel on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:05 pm
101

Naahhh, that’s a bad idea, scribble my name off

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Posted By To What up on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:07 pm
102

She can wait for the next verdict on the tax payers

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Posted By Movies is right on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:10 pm
103

scribble is coming????

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Posted By What up on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:13 pm
104

No scribble, sorry. wrong person.

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Posted By No scribble on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:16 pm
105

Scribble might throw your party.

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Posted By No scribble on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:17 pm
106

I would buy Rachel a Beer and Quigley a plane ticket out of town !

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Posted By Mike..... on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:20 pm
107

I would do the same thing.

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Posted By To Mike on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:23 pm
108

Dollar beer night? sounds good- where do we meet- Rachel I would love to hang out with you and share notes! No shot’s for me though, I can’t handle my hard liquor, sometimes it hinders my judgement and I follow male ACO’s into the mens bathroom! (giggle,giggle) Oh I’m such a princess.

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Posted By Takes 1 to Know on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:25 pm
109

Scribble my name off your party list.

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Posted By No Scribble on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:25 pm
110

no beer for sad sac’s

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Posted By What up on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:26 pm
111

That is against protcol. People get in trouble for that. Slapping is not a good training technique. Against protcol. Im telling the PT.

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Posted By Protocol on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:28 pm
112

Dont be bringing the SPCA in this. They did nothing wrong.

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Posted By Protocol on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:35 pm
113

SPCA hand picks the animals they want and then puts the rest on death row because they don’t like them or they are a wrong dog or a “big dog” not a lap dog and they don’t want to give them a chance for adoption.

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Posted By protocol says what on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:41 pm
114

The rest are sent to a farm where they live out the rest of their lives? What a minute, where are the rescue groups?

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Posted By protocol on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:45 pm
115

they are all harming the animals and not taking care of them.

What is what a minute?

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Posted By protocol says what on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:47 pm
116

did you know that Marlee Matlin was voted off tonight what the hell is going on in this world.

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Posted By dancing with the stars on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:55 pm
117

OOOOOOOHHHHHH too funny ya all! Listen I have nothing against the SPCA-LA you know they can’t take every dog and cat. But LBAC gets the bad rap when the animals don’t get picked for adoption, becuz u know what happens next-LBAC is the black sheep of this “partnership”!

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Posted By Takes 1 to Know on April 22nd, 2008 at 11:10 pm
118

The Dogs and Cats have voted Quigley out of the Shelter !!!!

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Posted By Mike..... on April 22nd, 2008 at 11:35 pm
119

Mike if only they could…….

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Posted By Takes 1 to Know on April 22nd, 2008 at 11:51 pm
120

they can’t

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Posted By Hello on April 22nd, 2008 at 11:56 pm
121

I am an Eagle Scout, have a Bachelor’s degree in biology — option in zoology — and worked at Long Beach Animal Control for more than two years

I do have a couple of questions.
What does it matter if you are a Eagle Scout?
You have a bachelor’s degree and wanted to be a ACO what gives?
Did none of the zoo’s want to hire you?
Just reading the story and a little lost in why someone with a degree would take a job that I don’t think you have to have a degree to do. Before you say it that it was for the animals well the animals don’t pay your bills so give me a real answer.

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Posted By Hello on April 23rd, 2008 at 12:03 am
122

Hello Long Beach and Los Angeles

Do you know the reality of what is happening in the shleters? Are you aware of how many pets are being put to sleep? Are you aware of WHY this is happening? What, as a society , can we do about it? LBAC is given the job of controlling the population. Keeping the animals off the street, so the public is safe, etc. We need laws to enforce mandatory neuter. We need less pets coming in to the shelter. Everyone wants to blame the kill rate on the shleters. What about pet stores? What about backyard breeders?

Most people in LB are clueless to the massive massive overpopulation in this town. And when they hear of pets being put to be sleep they blame the shelter. Well, the shelter did not breed and abandon that pet folks.

However, the animals must be treated humanely while at the shelter.

Mandatory spay and Neuter at all levels.

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Posted By Wake up on April 23rd, 2008 at 12:08 am
123

To Hello-So what are you trying to say huh? Because some one has a degree he shouldn’t waste his time at a no brainer like Animal Welfare? Since you answered your own question “if you say it was for the animals-they don’t pay your bills, so give me a real answer”! Why bother asking huh? You are the type of person who just doesn’ have anything intelligent to add here, so why not ask a dumb questionand then answer it yourself? Do you know what an eagle scout is? If you did, you would know why Carey added it to his list of achievements. I guess ding anything that makes a person feel good, or proud of his accomplishments gets you to scratch your head and go why- Why don’t you read his article “Why I left Long Beach Animal Control” and see if that helps?

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Posted By Takes 1 to Know on April 23rd, 2008 at 7:34 am
124

#127 is right about the fact that LBAC and other shelters get blamed for killings when the public is the reason for the overpopulation. Backyard breeders (accidental or not), pet stores selling without educating the buyer of the duties required to take care of an animal, and strays having litters in peoples yards because the owner did not care to alter the animal or contain it, they all lead to way to many animals that need homes. I also saw many occasions where a person was paying to drop off their older dog at the shelter (even if it was in good physical health) and saying they were going to get a puppy!

I explained my background to let the people reading this know I am educated and well versed at life and able to handle he job. I took the job because it was an outdoor job working with animals. It is a constantly changing, challenging job that has lots of perks helping the animals. The shelter is also right down the street from my house so I did not have the stress of a commute. I took the job because I felt it would be great on my resume as my first full time job out of college. I felt the pay would be fair, and the equipment and training would be above average because it was a city job. As you can see I was wrong about the last sentence. It was the good stepping stone into the current job I enjoy now so it served its purpose.

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Posted By Carey Macy on April 23rd, 2008 at 7:35 am
125

Thank you
I now understand that out of college it could be a stepping stone. It sounded as if you where a bit older and wondered about that choice as a career that as yo

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