THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 1, 1994 TAG: 9412010426
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MAPLE LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
A Currituck County veterinarian plans to try to determine today what killed two black Labrador retriever puppies at the county animal shelter.
The puppies, who were found dead Tuesday in their cages, were treated a week ago for worms by the local humane society. This led some county officials initially to suspect the dogs died of an overdose.
But Dr. Ronald P. Cronogue of Grandy has told humane society members and county officials that something else probably was responsible.
``We asked if it was possible the medication killed them, but he thought that was very unlikely,'' Public Works Director Frank Bray said Wednesday.
The incident has prompted county officials to consider establishing a policy for giving drugs to ill animals housed at the shelter near the Maple airport.
``We don't have any directions for medication at this time, but we do hope to have something in place,'' said Bray, who oversees the animal shelter.
Bray is also a member of the Currituck Humane Society, which recently requested the county provide better conditions, particularly heating and bedding, for the dogs and cats at the 24-by-42-foot cinder-block building.
Bray said the county was unaware medication was being given at the animal shelter until a picture in The Virginian-Pilot appeared last Sunday.
The photograph showed Bill Neff, local humane society president, administering over-the-counter worm medicine to a puppy.
Treating worm-infested animals is just one of the new programs the all-volunteer humane society has introduced in the past month to improve the pets' chances of adoptions.
``That's inhumane to leave an animal like that,'' Jan Smith, a vocal humane society member, said Wednesday. ``Their bellies are sometimes completely swollen from worms.''
Smith said members of the Currituck Humane Society were upset that county officials would accuse them of unintentionally poisoning the animals.
``We want to improve conditions there. That's our goal - to make it a more humane environment,'' she said.
Bray stressed Wednesday that Currituck officials appreciate all the work that humane society volunteers have done, including launching a successful adoption hotline and providing free neutering and spaying.
During the past two weeks, 16 animals have been adopted, compared with 29 cats and dogs for the entire year, Smith said.
The county and the 4-year-old animal activist group have clashed since 1991 over conditions and control of the county-owned animal shelter.
A 25-page animal control ordinance adopted in 1992 was intended to appease both factions, but tensions remain.
The humane society eventually hopes to take over the shelter but must have certain standards in place, including a minimum temperature inside the building.
A recent appeal to county commissioners publicized in area newspapers prompted residents in and around Currituck County to donate bedding and space heaters, Neff said.
Currituck officials are considering purchasing a heating system for the shelter, but some question the move.
Opponents believe the county should not pay to comfort stray animals when some of its own residents lack sufficient heating and cooling systems in their homes. by CNB