Members of our Tangipahoa Chapter recently launched an investigation into the mass killings that took place at the parish animal control shelter.  Sadly, the lives of more than 160 cats and dogs were lost.

"We have been working closely with our local government and with this animal control facility for the past year and a half," says Randy Stegall, President of the chapter, "And we are disappointed that none of our representatives were advised, notified or informed of this action, until after the animals were killed.  We have fielded scores of phone calls from concerned citizens and several veterinarians, who feel that a different course of action was available.  Several veterinarians informed us that corona viruses are highly treatable, especially in adult dogs, with very inexpensive drugs and antibiotics," said Mr. Stegall.  "Everyone who has contacted us--and we have had communictaions from around the state and country--believe that our local government could have taken an alternative, non-lethal approach to this problem.  We agree wholeheartedly with those sentiments."

The Tangipahoa Chapter will file a public records request, which will allow them to review all of the animal shelter's internal communications; this should bring the actions which led to this tragedy to light.  The group also intends to create a Shelter Oversight Committee, which will help create and implement shelter protocols.  HSL's Jeff Dorson spoke at the group's recent press conference and discussed the need for state oversight over private and public animal shelters.  "We fully intend to use this opportunity to educate our state legislators about the need to create a shelter regulatory agency, like those already in place in other states, such as Texas," said Dorson.