An open letter to our community,
We are deeply saddened and profoundly sorry for the recent incident that occurred at our shelter. The actions by the staff on the video are reprehensible and do not align with our values or the unwavering commitment we hold to the well-being of animals in our care.
We understand the gravity of this situation and have taken immediate actions. We have terminated the individuals involved and initiated a comprehensive internal review to ensure that our policies and practices reflect the utmost respect for animals at all stages of their lives.
At our core, we are dedicated to improving the health and safety of animals. Our team consists of individuals who entered animal welfare to make a positive impact. We acknowledge the emotionally challenging nature of this work, but that does not excuse nor justify the behavior seen in the video. We recognize that continued exposure to suffering can have emotional tolls, leading to stress, anxiety, and compassion fatigue.
The dog depicted in the video was a stray who was suspected of suffering from distemper or rabies and exhibiting symptoms. On the advice of our veterinarian, the dog was humanely euthanized. Per state guidelines, the head of the dog was removed in order to be sent to the state laboratory for testing.
At Española Humane, we believe in accountability and continuous improvement. For 31 years we have proudly served this community, and this commitment drives us to share the steps we are taking to address this incident. We want to express our gratitude to the community for its ongoing support. We are here to listen, address any issues, and further strengthen the bond of trust between our organization and the community we serve.
-Bridget Lindquist, Executive Director and the team at Espanola Humane
