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Shelter volunteers urge Prince George's County Council to investigate alleged animal neglect
Summary
Volunteers and rescue partners told the council about delayed medical care, communication failures and an overcapacity of dogs at the county shelter, citing specific cases and asking for an accountability review and staff meeting.
Leah Schuler, a District 4 shelter volunteer and rescue partner with La Paz, told the council that she has witnessed what she called "distressing conditions" at the Prince George's County shelter and urged an immediate investigation. She described a recent case involving a dog named Willow, admitted Aug. 3 with a broken femur, who "was on pain meds for 7 days and left without pain meds until x rays were done on September 16" despite rescues requesting imaging earlier.
Schuler said volunteers and rescues face inconsistent rules and slow responses, including a requirement for 24 hours' advanced notice for evaluations that was not communicated to her, and that extension requests for urgent dogs were ignored for much of one day before being denied at 3:34 p.m. She asked the council to assess staffing, training, facility upgrades and policy changes and to hold responsible parties accountable if neglect is substantiated.
Volunteer Amy Pergoski, a District 1 homeowner and regular shelter worker, pressed the council to re-evaluate the county's longstanding restrictions related to dogs labeled as pit-bull types. She said the shelter was "packed with animals," and offered counts from the shelter website: "There were 185 dogs on the website on Sunday night. 80 were listed as pit bull types. Of those 80, only 3 came in spayed and neutered." Pergoski urged the council to consult veterinarians, trainers, shelter staff and rescue partners before pursuing policy changes.
The chair said she had asked the county council administrator to look into the issues raised. No formal staff report or timeline for an investigation was announced during the meeting.
