Palm Springs Animal Shelter Being Sued
The Palm Springs Animal Shelter is being sued for violating state and local laws in treating animals.
The plaintiff also claims the shelter has an unacceptably high euthanasia rate.
The lawsuit was filed earlier Wednesday morning at the Riverside County court in Indio.
The national nonprofit organization Animal Legal Defense Fund is working with a Palm Springs attorney on the case.
Both claim that the shelter is not following the law.
Bella is a mastiff and stayed at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter from January to March 2010.
Marla Tauscher, attorney at law, adopted Bella one year ago.
At the time, Bella was severely underweight, and to this day still suffers from acute diabetes.
“I just couldn’t figure out how anybody could walk by this animal for two months and not realize something was wrong and not do something about it shocked me,” said Tauscher. “It really did.”
Bella is doing much better now, but her story and that of several other pets and Coachella Valley residents spurred Tauscher to file the lawsuit.
Tauscher claims the shelter is violating several provisions of Hayden’s Law.
It’s a Senate Bill that passed in 1998.
It calls for the reduction in euthanasia rates and California animal shelters, and to promote pet adoptions.
“They are required to provide adequate nutrition, water, shelter, exercise, a number of things and those are not really negotiable,” said Tauscher. “You have to keep their enclosures clean. You have to provide exercise for them. You have to provide proper food and water and medical attention as well.”
“I can say that our animal shelter facility and our folks care for the animal properly,” said interim police chief Al Franz.
Franz is responsible for the administration and management of the animal shelter.
He is named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
The plaintiff’s claim the shelter and the nonprofit Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter falsely advertise the facility as the, “only no kill shelter in the Coachella Valley.”
“That is the last resort,” said Franz. “When they come in and they’re injured or something, that’s not treatable (or) ill to the point where they’re not treatable, or they have severe behavioral issues and then a decision is made by our animal control supervisor. But, I stress to you that is the last resort.”
The lawsuit also claims that the shelter has routinely euthanize dozens of cats and dogs since 2009 before the city’s five day mandatory holding period.
It also alleges that the shelter has euthanized chows and pit bulls at an above-average rate.
“It’s false. It’s inaccurate,” said Franz. “We care for our animals.”
Tauscher did acknowledge that she once inquired about an administrator position with the Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter.
But says that has nothing to do with the lawsuit.
“I don’t believe I actually officially applied for it,” said Tauscher. “I gave them some documentation, and then I just decided I wasn’t interested. I didn’t pursue it any further.”
The lawsuit calls for the city to follow state and local laws.
Monetary restitution for the plaintiff’s will be determined at trial.
Tauscher says a court hearing will be set for a few months down the road.
