Tangipahoa officials circling the wagons in defending their buddies

The latest article in the Advocate goes through a step by step process of how the decision to to euthanize almost all of the animals in the shelter was made. It reeks of bullshit.

• Neither of the two veterinarians who advised euthanasia have yet been named. Only one of them is to have inspected the animal.
• Burgess called Mike Strain and the state Department of Health and Hospitals’ staff veterinarian, who both advised euthanasia was the best course of action. This is pure speculation on my part, but since neither man inspected the animals to verify the call of the first unidentified veterinarian, this sounds more like calls to check into the public relations of the action rather than looking for real solutions. “If some of those pesky animals lovers raises a stink, get my back on this, buddy.”
• Dr. Gary Balsamo says that he did not recommend the mass euthanasia, but if two veterinarians already recommended this, then it must be the best course of action, as they would have more facts readily available. (He was out of state.) Again, note that it seems only one of the unidentified veterinarians had inspected the animals. It doesn’t sound like whoever was making these calls wanted an independent opinion. The caller seems to have seeking to bolster the argument, finding people to get on board with the decision to prepare for fallout.
• Donald Doty still is not named anywhere in this article. That’s a peculiar thing, in him being the director.

None of this matters all this much, as Tangipahoa Parish plays that it believes is its the trump card:

“While the parish is certainly disappointed that this course of action had to be carried out resulting in the euthanasia of over 170 animals, it also must be clearly pointed out that Tangipahoa Parish Animal Control is primarily a population control and abuse investigation agency, not a rescue organization,” the statement says.

Ah, so that’s how they’re going to play it, eh? (The emphasis in the last statement in the quote is mine.) No matter what the public thinks of the mass euthanasia of the animals, there can be no real outrage, because the facility is only fulfilling its mission. That’s lame. Sorry, that doesn’t work with an agency that relies on as much volunteer work as it appears to. Apparently animal rescue and humane socities have been trying to work with this institution for awhile, only to be brushed aside. The solution of a public agency is not to tell people to get over the noncooperation, but to change the agency.