Advocates may take San Jose to court to force improvements at animal shelter

"Welfare advocates, long highly critical of the San Jose animal shelter, are warning of a potential legal fight if the agency fails to improve animal care accusing the city of neglect, gross negligence and repeating violations of state law. Advocates have been at odds with the city for years over the state of their beloved shelter, prompting an audit that confirmed the validity of many of their concerns about mismanagement, operating over capacity and inadequate care."

"We have exhausted all standard protocols for elevating concerns, Partners in Animal Care & Compassion founder Kit O'Doherty said in an interview with Bay Area News Group. I just saw and directly experienced a very predictable pattern, no matter what the concern was. It could be a very small concern to a very grave one and the pattern is: deflect, deny, dismiss, delay, patronize, gaslight and ultimately concludes with some nonsensical explanation."

"While the city claims it has made progress in implementing the audit's recommendations, volunteers, rescue and foster groups and former employees paint a different picture: animals left without food or water, a lack of training, regular shortages of critical supplies, botched routine surgeries leading to deaths and the euthanasia of adoptable pets or those with treatable conditions. The latter, advocates say, constitute a violation of the state's Hayden Act."

Welfare advocates warn of potential legal action if the San Jose animal shelter does not improve animal care and comply with state law. An audit validated many concerns about mismanagement, operating over capacity and inadequate care. Volunteers, rescue and foster groups and former employees report animals left without food or water, lack of training, shortages of critical supplies and botched routine surgeries resulting in deaths. Advocates report euthanasia of adoptable or treatable animals and assert those actions violate the state's Hayden Act. Ryther Law Group delivered a demand letter seeking remedies unless deficiencies are addressed. City officials assert progress on recommendations and express appreciation for community partners.

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