On January 20, 2016, in a small animal Shelter in the affluent community of Palm City, Florida, six cats were euthanized by Staff. These patients were under direct veterinary care for treatable upper respiratory infections (URI), undergoing brief Veterinarian assessment only hours before their demise. They were found to be of stable and improving health. While the attending Veterinarian was in surgery, the staff killed these patients for no other reason than they needed to make room for more sick cats. The Veterinarian was never consulted in the decision. The patients were simply disposed of, their cages filled with more sick animals. Shortly after, said Veterinarian resigned her position. Thus began the current turmoil at The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast (HSTC).
HELLO
FRIENDS!
CALL TO ACTION
Please help the animals of the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast (HSTC) by demanding the following -->
LINKS &
DOCUMENTS
FULL TIME SHELTER VET
At the present time there is NOT a full-time vet at The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast. Currently there are 2 part-time veterinarians working. One vet works 3 days performing spay/neuter surgeries and casually “treating” shelter animals. The other veterinarian works 2 days doing spay/neuters for the public, HSTC calls the program “AniMobile,”. Shelter animals are not viewed by the vet on these two days. In conclusion HSTC has a veterinarian working 3 days a week, although they are open 7 days a week.
ACTION: Hire a FULL-TIME experienced Shelter Veterinarian allowed to make decisions on overall facilities management, animal flow, disease management and health care protocols.
ACTION: Stop all outside spay/neuter programs (aka AniMobile) until a full-time Veterinarian is on staff to manage disease outbreaks within the shelter, thus minimizing the impact of diseases being introduced to the publics animals.
HSTC EUTHANASIA STATISTICS
Under Florida statute 823.15 (2)(a)
(2)(a) Each public or private animal shelter, humane organization, or animal control agency operated by a humane organization or by a county, municipality, or other incorporated political subdivision, shall prepare and maintain the following records and make them available for public inspection and dissemination for the 3 preceding years. The following data will be available on a monthly basis commencing July 31, 2013:
1. The total number of dogs and cats taken in by the animal shelter, humane organization, or animal control agency, divided into species, in the following categories:
a. Surrendered by owner;
b. Stray;
c. Impounded;
d. Confiscated;
e. Transferred from within Florida;
f. Transferred into or imported from out of the state; and
g. Born in shelter.
Species other than domestic cats and domestic dogs should be recorded as “other.”
ACTION: Personally request euthanasia statistics from HSTC General Manager, Candace Veach, for the last three years up to and including April 2016. Directly record denial by HSTC management and report to local law enforcement, Sgt. Colussuano at (772)220-7141.
HSTC IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES
The Humane Soceity of the Treasure Coast (HSTC) is a private facility with NO association to the national Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).
ACTION: Demand the Standards of Care as set by the Association of Shelter Veterinarians in conjunction with the Humane Society of the United States, be immediately conformed to.
PETITION BOCC TO END THE EUTHANASIA OF ADOPTABLE ANIMALS IN MARTIN COUNTY, FL
ACTION: Please sign this petition to End the Euthanasia of Adoptable Animals in Martin County, Florida.
INTRACARDIAC EUTHANASIA
The Martin County Sheriffs Office found that 63% of euthanasias are performed by the third-choice method of intracardiac euthanasia. They also found that staff at the HSTC were not appropriately determining an animal was anesthetized to not feel pain upon injection of sodium pentobarb into their hearts.
ACTION: All intracardiac (aka heartstick) euthanasias be immediately stopped. Animals should only be euthanized by intravenous or intraperitoneal injection of sodium pentobarb, as is STANDARD PRACTICE in private veterinary facilties.
ACTION: All 'owner requested' euthanasias, wherein a public member brings their household pet for euthanasia, be immediately discontinued until the use of intracardiac euthanasias is resolved. No owner should have their beloved best friend be subjected to a potentially painful procedure without proper sedation and adequately trained staff.
HSTC Current Euthanasia Protocol - Received through the Freedom of Information Act
MARTIN COUNTY CONTRACT WITH HSTC
The current contract Martin County has with HSTC clearly declares a Veterinarian must determine an animal is suffering before it is euthanized.
Martin County FL CODE OF ORDINANCES
Sec. 9.32. - Observation and treatment; humane destruction of certain animals.
A licensed veterinarian shall observe and, if appropriate, treat any impounded animal believed to have rabies or other zoonotic disease, at the expense of the owner, and shall destroy any such animal, without compensation to the owner, upon certifying that the continued existence of such animal endangers the public health, safety, and welfare. The designated impoundment facility is hereby granted discretionary authority to act immediately and humanely to destroy or otherwise dispose of any injured, sick or diseased animal when, in the opinion of a licensed veterinarian, the animal's continued existence, in such condition, would be inhumane. Any animal reasonably suspected or believed to be infected with rabies or any zoonotic disease shall be quarantined as provided below, and all additional costs associated with special handling and treatment of the quarantined animal shall be paid, as an additional fee, by the owner prior to redemption of the animal. Such lawful exercise of discretion by the designated impoundment facility to destroy an animal shall not relieve the owner from liability for any and all violations, fines and accrued charges or fees with respect to such animal, regardless of the ultimate disposition of such animal.
(Ord. No. 628, pt. 1, 2-11-2003)
We know from the Martin County Sheriffs Report report and staff statements, this is not practiced. Sheila Biehl, the HSTC Attorney, states she interprets the contract much differently, that in fact, a veterinarian does not have to be consulted for every euthanasia.
ACTION: Contact the Martin County Commissioners. They need to hear from you, the voting public, you will not stand for the HSTC interpretation of the contract.
Demand a Florida licensed Veterinarian make final form decision on euthanasia. HSTC must show good faith effort in this by doing two things:
1) Hiring a full-time Veterinarian and giving them full range of access in both medical and administrative
2) Show change in policy reflected by a written policy that clearly demonstrates they are following the County contract.
3) If HSTC does not make these changes by the end of their contract in September 2016, then their $560K/year contract should be cancelled.
KEEP
IN TOUCH
OUR ADDRESS
24/7 - WE ARE ALWAYS OPEN FOR THE ANIMALS
OPENING HOURS
CONTACT US
As of this date, countless animals have been inhumanely euthanized at the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast (HSTC). The public, past employees and volunteers, along with other humane organizations have filed complaints around the conditions, animal illness and overall mismanagement of the facility. In response, the prevailing Board has done nothing more than circle the wagons around their CEO, hiring an Attorney to release written declarations on their 'standard of care.' In a modest attempt at improving conditions, the Board hired the University of Florida Shelter Medicine program to make recommendations. That report is yet to be published. Understand: there is no one to hold the Facility responsible for enforcing these recommendations.
May 18, 2016, Martin County Sheriffs department concluded a two month investigation in to possible criminal charges associated with activities at the Facility. They found not enough evidence to press criminal charges. This does not vindicate the Facility: it simply states the level of abuse does not rise to criminality. Civil suit is an entirely different matter. You decide: Is this right in the eyes of the public's moral compass?
Please help the animals spreading the word about this cause and by demanding immeidate change at the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast.
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EVENT SCHEDULED:
🐾DOMESTIC ANIMAL CONTROL (DAC) TASK FORCE🐾
COMMISSION CHAMBERS – 2401 SE MONTEREY ROAD – STUART
September 7, 2016 – 3:00 PM
Please spread the word and try to attend this very important first meeting of the Domestic Animal Control (DAC) Task Force.
It is very important that the DAC Task Force and community not forget how we ended up here to begin with. We are hoping the DAC Task Force will be able to sort out the facts and determine the truth about how animals are cared for and treated at public expense ($560,000-a-year) in Martin County.
🐾AGENDA FOR DOMESTIC ANIMAL CONTROL (DAC) TASK FORCE🐾
Please continue to spread the word and sign the petition 'Paws to Zero' to end the euthanasia of adoptable animals in Martin County, FL.
Justice prevails when the power of love wins over the love of power,
ABOUT
OUR CAUSE
EUTHANASIAS FOR BEHAVIOR
At the present time animals at The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast are euthanized for behavior issues WITHOUT a trained Behaviorist. HSTC refers to this as “temperament testing,” on a pass/fail basis. Meaning that if the animal is failed by the un-trained employee who is performing the “temperament test” that animal is than euthanized.
ACTION: All animals undergo appropriate Behavioral Assessment by a trained Behaviorist. Pass/fail basis was abolished by ASPCA standards and has been ruled insufficient. No further euthanasias for 'behavioral reasons” be conducted until trained behaviorist has been hired.
Martin County Florida Code of Ordinances highlighted for Humane Animal Euthanasia.
Martin County Florida Code of Ordinances - Chapter 9 Animals
HSTC Current Euthanasia Protocol - Received through the Freedom of Information Act
