SC: Animal shelter staff fired, six months after allegations of dogs shot

Animal shelter staff fired, six months after allegations of dogs shot
Submitted by Chris Dyches
Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011, 11:11am



CHESTERFIELD - After months of investigation and allegations of animal cruelty and dog fighting, the staff at the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office has been relieved of their duties.
According to a release from Sheriff Sam Parker, the decision "was made in an effort to begin a new start at the shelter" and the staff was fired on Monday.
The animal shelter has been under investigation by the Sheriff's Office, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and the state's Attorney General's office since allegations came out in March 2011 that some animals were being shot as a form of euthanasia.

The Chesterfield sheriff's office has been conducting an internal investigation since the allegations surfaced that animal shelter workers may have shot nearly two dozen dogs, before dumping them in a landfill. Sheriff Parker told WBTV that he believes the initial number was exaggerated, saying his office was investigating the deaths of six animals.
A month later new allegations surfaced about dog-fighting activities within the county animal shelters, but Parker told WBTV that those allegations were false.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Attorney General's Office released their findings in the case.
The findings orders the Chester County Sheriff's Office and the Animal Shelter to make changes that will take place over the next few years.

WEB EXTRA: Click here to read the entire order from the Attorney General Alan Wilson


As a part of the order from the AG, the shelter will be subject to random inspections from the Department of Health & Environmental Control and the Humane Society. According to the order, the Humane Society will be able to do random inspections until November 30, 2014. The shelter will also have to submit an annual report to the Humane Society through 2015.
The shelter and Sheriff's Office will be subject to report requests from the Attorney General's office for the next three years.

VIDEO: Chesterfield Animal Shelter workers fired

WBTV filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Sheriff's Office and learned the names of the four people fired from the shelter; Brian Burch, Eric Donahue, Lee Carnea and James Calvin Culledge. The animal control workers placed on administrative leave when the allegations initially surfaced.
Sheriff Parker says for the past six months the shelter operated with one full-time employee and two part-time employees and the shelter has seen "a tremendous increase in animal intake during [that] time. We will provide the shelter with [personnel] in order to be of better service."

Previous article: Dog fighting allegations hit SC animal shelter after dog shootings probed

The shelter was shut down for nearly a month after the investigation began. When it reopened, the Sheriff had deputies running the shelter, but ordered them not to drive the Animal Control vehicles because of hundreds of threats towards the officers.
"People say I'm making it up, we're not making it up," Parker told WBTV in March. "We've got vehicles parked with the Animal Control service that we're afraid to put officers in."
A volunteer who works with the shelter to adopt out dogs says a tip led her to the landfill. Deborah Farhi says she dug up two dead dogs that were shot in the head.
"I feel that we owe it to the animals and citizens of this county that we begin to set standards and be held accountable for our pets," Parker told WBTV. "This office and staff are humane and are asking for help and volunteers for our shelter. We are going to do what is right."
Sheriff Parker says that he hopes allegations of past mistakes will not keep the shelter from moving forward.

Previous article: SC attorney general investigating Chesterfield Animal Shelter abuse


"This office along with many others in this county have been judged and abused by many opinions and articles that weren't factual," Parker said. "Everyone makes mistakes and no one is perfect."
He hopes that the complainants and opinions will turn into solutions for the shelter, which still suffers from financial needs, cat food, dog food, cat litter and a helping hand.
"For this shelter to be successful, a joint effort must be made and everyone must be on one accord. We've been shown that working against one another leads to destruction and no one wins," Parker said. "Please keep in mind the goal we're working towards. It's not for personal gratification or acknowledgment, it's for the well being of God's creatures. This must be a team effort not a power struggle or opinion. We can't dwell in the past but must move forward in a positive direction."

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