Recent allegations of animal abuse at the Cecil County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Chesapeake City, Md., have led to the launch formal investigations by several agencies.
Two weeks ago, Nancy Schwerzler, president of the CCSPCA Board of Directors, published a statement on the CCSPCA’s Web site stating that she contacted the office of Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler on Jan. 9 to request a review of the allegations.
“I was advised that the Attorney General’s office would accept our request and review the allegations and conduct an independent inquiry,” she stated. “The board of the SPCA welcomes such inquiries which will be conducted in a fact-based, reasoned manner.”
The State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners issued two subpoenas at the animal hospital inside the CCSPCA on Jan. 16.
“The vet board did issue two subpoenas related to the SPCA in Cecil County case,” said Julie Oberg, spokesperson for the Maryland Department of Agriculture. “The vet board is investigating this matter.”
In addition, Elena Russo, Maryland State Police deputy director of media communications, said the Maryland State Police will lead an investigation.
“Maryland State Police Superintendent Col. Terrence Sheridan has agreed to do the investigation and he’s assigned it to our criminal investigation section,” she said.
Russo did not have any updates on the case as of Jan. 26.
These investigations come after Maryland Delegate Mike Smigiel (R-36th District) posted a detailed account on his blog. Smigiel included sworn affidavits made by former CCSPCA employees, photos and details of the alleged animal abuse in the account.
Numerous other stories have been posted as comments on Smigiel’s blog by people who claim to have had negative experiences with the Cecil County SPCA. Smigiel said the blog received 45,000 visits and 750 comments were posted in the first two weeks.
An online petition for people who support an investigation into the allegations has received 1,393 signatures as of Jan. 27.
Smigiel, an attorney, said he has six sworn and notarized affidavits from witnesses and has gathered pictures, internal documents, witnesses who are or were CCSPCA volunteers and others who have entered the facility and witnessed abuse.
“How do you say all these people are creating this story?” Smigiel said. “We’ve tried to be as responsible as possible. It isn’t just this wacky delegate.”
The allegations of abuse and cruelty at the CCSPCA include shooting of animals; euthanasia of animals that were not sick or aggressive; euthanasia of animals who growl or are of an “aggressive” breed – such as Pit Bulls; not scanning animals for identification chips before euthanasia; euthanasia of animals who had not been at the facility long enough for owners to claim their pets; inhumane euthanasia; improper or inhumane surgery; wrongly medicating animals; refusing or delaying treatment to animals who needed it and more.
Hundreds of citizens crowded a Cecil County Board of Commissioner’s meeting to express their concerns Jan. 13 and have appeared at subsequent meetings. A silent protest was held at the intersection of Md. 213 and U.S. 40 on Jan. 24. Another protest is planned for Saturday, Jan. 31.
Schwerzler stated on the CCSPCA Web site that the allegations were made by employees who had been fired, and any further allegations will be reviewed to determine credibility and what appropriate actions should be taken.
“The Cecil County SPCA strongly denies a series of allegations published on an Internet site by Del. Michael Smigiel, which he states were made by former employees,” she stated. “Most of them have been reviewed previously, including by outside independent parties that apparently found insufficient evidence to support them.”
The Transcript’s calls to Schwerzler and CCSPCA Director Jeanne Deeming were not returned.
Smigiel also invited any of the accused CCSPCA employees to take a polygraph test, which he offered to pay for if they pass.
Each of the witnesses who have signed sworn affidavits agreed to a polygraph test.
In addition, Smigiel said the CCSPCA received $674,000 from Cecil County last year for operating costs and the director earned a salary of $85,000.
“There are a lot of questions about what’s been happening with the finances,” he said. “The county has paid for certain services and it doesn’t appear we’re getting the quality or extent of services we’re supposed to be getting.”
Chesapeake City, Md. —
