Tag: veterinarians
Animal shelter workers: We were forced to freeze kittens to death
Indiana cops are investigating a disturbing case of animal abuse, in which shelter workers allegedly euthanized kittens by freezing them alive.
Several ex-employees have come forward and claimed to have witnessed the cruel and inhumane procedure being performed at the Spencer County Animal Shelter on at least two different occasions.
One former worker named Bridgett Woodson spoke to local media outlets about the horrific things she saw during her three and a half months working at the shelter. She told reporters that she was asked to participate in the kitty killings twice — with the most recent case coming on July 31.
“The first time I was given an option to either just put it in a bag and put it in the freezer with no sedation, nothing — because I’m not a vet, I don’t have the license to be able to do that,” Woodson explained, speaking to WEHT.
“The second time I was not given the option, and I was just told to go ahead and put it in the freezer,” she said. “I mean, this cat was still up and moving and I had told her, and I still got the same response.”
Woodson reportedly refused “both times” to put the cats in the freezer and eventually took it upon herself to call the vet. She was allegedly ordered to carry out the killings by a Spencer County Animal Control Officer, the Courier & Press reports.
“I had to do something,” Woodson told the newspaper, noting how she quit her job and eventually got cops to investigate.
“I’m super concerned about the animals,” she said. “If this is deemed as acceptable and no one is held accountable, what else will start to slip through the cracks.”
Spencer County Sheriff’s Office Detective Chris King, who is handling the case, told WEHT that a number of witnesses have come forward since Woodson first accused the shelter of animal abuse. They claimed to have seen at least two freezer killings — one of which included the deaths of four kittens at once.
County officials expect the investigation to be taken over by the Indiana State Police due to conflict-of-interest reasons.
The animal control officer allegedly involved in the kitty deaths, identified by WEHT as Christina Payne, refused to answer requests for comment over the weekend. Woodson has been sharing text messages they exchanged about the alleged abuse with local media outlets.
“Hey. I took the cat to the vet and had it put down,” the ex-employee wrote in one text to Payne, according to the Courier.
“You can take the cost out of my pay check if that’s a problem,” she said. “I will not be putting live animals in the freezer if there’s another option available, please don’t ask me to do that again.”
In response, Payne wrote: “That’s fine but so you know, the freezer option is no less humane. It’s fine though Bridge. I’m here for my employees. Always.”
The American Veterinary Medical Association Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals considers the “slow chilling or freezing of unanesthetized animals” an unacceptable and inhumane method of euthanasia. It’s unclear when the investigation will be complete, but state police officials told the Courier that they expect to have an update in the coming days.
via: https://nypost.com/2018/08/13/animal-shelter-workers-we-were-forced-to-freeze-kittens-to-death/