Animal Advocates, Town Still at Odds Over Shelter Care

A group of animal advocates that have been hounding Riverhead Town for years to improve conditions at its animal shelter were back at it again on Friday, at a press conference at Town Hall calling for improved operation at - and privatization of - the Youngs Avenue facility. But town officials say that all things considered, service at the shelter is on par as the town continues efforts to privatize operations.

About a half dozen individuals spoke up on Friday, arguing again that the town is not welcoming to volunteers and as a result, hinders its ability to adopt out dogs. 

"For the most part, the Riverhead shelter volunteer program is minimal," said Gina Rizzo, who has been volunteering at the shelter for over a year. "And it's minimal for no other reason than the people in charge ... They're not letting the public know we need more help."

Following ourcry after a pitbull was euthanized in December 2010, less than  the town started bringing a dog to town board meetings in an attempt to get more attention to the shelter dogs. And Lou Coronesi, the embattled A.C.O., resigned last fall after pressure persisted for the town to remove the head of the animal shelter, which is overseen by the Riverhead Police Department.

Still, Rizzo said education is lacking around town, and one recent incident had Rizzo and others calling for improved oversight.

The town's policy is to spay or neuter each dog it adopts out, and one dog - a pitbull named Kelly - was spayed in preparation for finding a home. Weeks after the surgery, with no particular signs of concern reported, Kelly - believed to be an older dog, possibly up to nine years old - was found dead in her cage one morning.

Police Chief David Hegermiller said that because of Kelly's age, her death was an unfortunate incident and no wrongdoing appears evident.

"The logs appear to state that everything was normal," Hegermiller said. "But sometimes, unfortunately old dogs die. If someone could tell me that a dog wouldn't have any more babies we wouldn't spay it, but we can't tell that."

To the larger criticism that services at the shelter are lacking, Hegermiller said that budget cuts have affected the shelter just as much as it has the rest of the town. One full-time A.C.O. position was eliminated in 2011, and following Coronesi's resignation, only a temporary head A.C.O. was hired as the town hopes to privatize the facility soon. But those criticizing the shelter have been a very difficult group to please, the chief said.

"As with everything, these bad economic times presents a problem for all of us," he said. "We're being asked to do more with less, but we do the best we can with what we have ... There hasn't been an A.C.O. in there that the animal advocates have got along with."

In the meantime, the town continues its efforts to privatize the shelter, an effort dating back . Sue Hansen with Responsible Solutions for Valued Pets, present at Friday's press conference, said she believes the town is low-balling North Fork Animal Welfare League in its offer as politicians grandstand, telling the public they're working toward better solutions.

"It would be nice to turn the shelter over to someone who thinks they can save every dog," the chief said. "We're trying to do that."