Policies and procedures at Multnomah County Animal Shelter (MCAS) in Troutdale, OR, were overhauled last week in response to a 2018 County audit alleging critical lapses in judgement and poor animal care.
The audit seriously questioned the shelter’s rationale for deciding which animals with “behavioral problems” were to be euthanized while other animals with the same issues were spared. Shelter officials were blasted for inadequate record-keeping regarding these decisions.
Multnomah County Board of Commissioners dismissed auditors’ claims when results were presented to them nearly five years ago. Instead, The Board vigorously defended MCAS’ performance: “Given what you have to work with, you are doing a tremendous job,” Commissioner Lori Stegmann said.
Recently, the shelter has been chided for delays in resuming in-person adoptions when most other shelters had done so under relaxed COVID restrictions. Delays were fueled by inadequate staff to care for its animal residents resulting in census spikes and staff sacrificing office space to accommodate the influx of new pets.
Newly-installed Management was bewildered at the shelter’s state of affairs and vowed that past failings will not be repeated.
“I realized that the amount of critical staff that we were missing was pivotal to the process for in-person adoptions,” Marian Cannell, Shelter Operations Manager, said at a press conference last Wednesday. “There was a big struggle to provide basic, daily care.”
Incoming Operations Manager, Erin Grahec, hopes the pet-loving public will give new leadership the chance to make reforms: “We are going to hold ourselves accountable and I would ask the the community to do the same.”
Grahec said the shelter is working with newly-elected Multnomah County officials to improve shelter systems and processes to ensure optimal pet care and adoptions going forward.
“We are just beginning to transform this organization, but we have real hope that we can tackle some long-systemic problems and, together, create a shelter that meets the health, safety, and welfare of animals and people in Multnomah County,” Grahec told local ABC affiliate, KATU News.
MCAS resumed in-person adoptions last Wednesday for the first time since COVID restrictions were enacted three years ago. Adoption fees for the next month have been waived.
“An adoption fee does not mean that you’re going to take good care of an animal,” said Karen McGill, the shelter’s feline care specialist. McGill believes that the temporary waiver will help strapped families offset the cost of veterinary care “And even being able to spoil them a little bit more with toys.”
The shelter resumed accepting strays after a week-long pause due to yet another census spike and lack of space. Shelter officials reached out to other shelter systems to help absorb the overflow.
Jessica Vega-Pederson, New Multnomah County Chair, said in a press release: “In addition to continuing to focus my attention on the resources of our organization to support animal services, my office will direct a review of MCAS’ practices.”