More than two dozen staffers and volunteers at the Denver Animal Shelter have written complaints about management in the past two weeks, including allegations of improperly released pit bulls, delays in reporting of an incident of bestiality, a case of covering up for a cat hoarder and ethnic discrimination.
The two letters, one signed by staff and another by longtime volunteers, were sent to Nancy Severson, the director of the Department of Environmental Health, members of the City Council and the mayor’s office, calling for an investigation into the shelter’s director, Doug Kelley.
“It never feels good to get these letters,” said Severson, whose department oversees the shelter. “These issues that they have raised have happened in the past, and we have dealt with directly. These items aren’t news to me.”
Issues raised in the letters involved the release of more than 100 pit bulls since the city enacted a ban on them.
Kelley said the majority of the pit bulls released were done so under the guidelines of the city ordinance and reviewed by the city attorney’s office. The pit bulls came under a rule allowing for their release to owners who agreed to send them out of the city, Kelley said.
“We’re very careful to stay within the parameters of what pit bulls can and cannot be released,” he said.
Another issue brought up involved a veterinarian contracted by the shelter who had been investigated for hoarding cats. That veterinarian’s contract was not renewed as a result of performance issues and the cat hoarding, Kelley said.
Staff and volunteers at the shelter were disturbed by a Sept. 22 incident in which a volunteer was caught coaxing a dog to give him oral sex. The incident happened on a Saturday, and they were troubled that Kelley had not reported it to police until the following Monday.
Gustavo Castanon, 33, of Denver was arrested and later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty.
Kelley defended his decision to delay reporting it so that he could get guidance from the Denver district attorney’s office to ensure the case was investigated properly. “The volunteer was off the premises and the dog was safe, so we wanted to make sure the investigation was done properly and completely,” Kelley said.
Other issues outlined in the letters involved what employees said appeared to be ethnic bias in promoting staff and in handling of personnel issues, which Kelley flatly denied.
Severson said any formal claims of discrimination filed with her office would be investigated.
Manny Gonzales: 303-954-1537 or mgonzales@denverpost.com
