Sussex seeks answers for animal shelter
Complaints of poor conditions at the county animal shelter and questions of who's to blame have embroiled Sussex County.
The conditions of the animal shelter, located on Robinson Road about a half-mile off state Route 40, were exposed by animal-rights activist Eileen McAfee, who documented conditions inside the shelter Aug. 11.
She took pictures and video of a kitten lying in a feces-filled litter box, animals in need of medical attention, and dirty food and water bowls.
"These are animals; there is suffering. These are beings that need immediate help," she said.
County Attorney Henry Thompson told the county Board of Supervisors that sole control of the animal shelter falls to the county administrator, Mary E. Jones. It was the board of supervisors' regular meeting on Thursday, Sept. 18.
"The Board of Supervisors has no jurisdiction over the animal shelter or its employees," Supervisor T. Wayne Birdsong said the board was told.
However, supervisors have the authority to hire, fire or reprimand Jones, a majority vote needed to enact some type of measure against her. The six-member board is split down the middle about taking action against Jones, Birdsong said.
"It boils down to cover up and protect," Birdsong said.
Sussex Commonwealth's Attorney Lyndia Ramsey declined to comment on whether a criminal investigation is under way.
Repeated attempts to reach Rufus E. Tyler Sr., chairman of the Sussex Board of Supervisors, were unsuccessful.
McAfee mailed her findings to supervisors, the county administrator, county attorney, commonwealth's attorney and sheriff.
An inspector from the state Office of Veterinary Services made an unannounced inspection Sept. 18. Among the findings were: housing areas not properly disinfected with sufficient frequency; waste not removed with sufficient frequency to minimize animal contact; and an accumulation of waste matter and debris on the wall and gate surfaces of the enclosures.
"We have done several inspections down there and will continue to do more," said Elaine Lidholm, director of communications for the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Jones declined to comment on personnel matters but mentioned several steps the county is taking to shore up the animal shelter.
A part-time shelter attendant was hired in August to assist the two full-time animal-control officers with cleaning the shelter, feeding and watering the animals. She also said a volunteer program is being developed for the shelter, which was holding 23 cats and 29 dogs yesterday.
On a visit to the animal shelter yesterday, the kennels containing the animals had been cleaned recently enough that water was still on the floor. Food and water for the animals appeared fresh. Several puppies were receiving shots to protect them from parvo, a deadly viral disease that is destructive to cells in the intestines. Three dogs suffering from parvo were euthanized Tuesday night.
"We've been working for a number of months to improve the facility and staffing," Jones said.
One of the shelter's two full-time employees is restricted to limited duty as he recovers from injuries suffered last year in a car accident while on patrol in the county. Since the condition of the shelter was made public, Jones said inmates and other county personnel were used to help clean the facility.
The Board of Supervisors also is discussing alternatives to who ultimately is in charge of the shelter. One option is to transfer authority from the county administrator to the Sussex Sheriff's Office.
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