Animal Advocates Call for District Attorney Investigation of Shelter

A group of animal advocates, in an attempt to keep town employees overseeing the town's animal shelter "accountable," are continuing their quest to remove head Animal Control Officer Lou Coronesi from his position as head of the Riverhead Animal Shelter.

At a press conference on Monday afternoon, the group of about a dozen volunteers and local residents announced that they have appealed to District Attorney Thomas Spota, asking his office to investigate the management and operations at the Youngs Avenue facility after repeatedly being "stonewalled" by town officials.

"This request for an investigation is about accountability," said Sue Hansen, a member of the group Responsible Solutions for Valued Pets, a volunteer organization that has called for Coronesi's ouster. 

"Authority without accountability cannot be tolerated," Hansen said. "It is the enemy of open government and threatens everything under its control. And this holds true whether you are dealing with an animal shelter or other 'more pressing problems.'"

Since reports arose over the winter that Coronesi called for a dog to be euthanized less than the group has continued barking for Coronesi's removal, though he remains. Coronesi had also stated the dog, Bruno, bit a child, though after the dog was put down reports showed Bruno bit a 22-year old

In addition to 'the Bruno incident,' Coronesi's criminal record - particularly that it includes animals - remains a point of emphasis for the group. According to records from the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, the head animal control officer was found guilty in 2004 of taking wildlife without a license, possessing wildlife unlawfully taken, taking wildlife during closed season, and possessing restricted live wildlife. He was fined $775.

In a letter dated April 20, Rex Farr, president of the Greater Calverton Civic Association, wrote to Spota: "We in Riverhead want only to have a shelter that is run humanely and one that we can be proud of. Not much to ask, but impossible under present circumstances."

Robert Clifford, spokesman for the D.A.'s Office, offered the following, via email: "The matter is being reviewed. Beyond that, we decline to comment."

Farr said it was "embarassing" to hold press conference calling for an investigation of the town's animal shelter; he asked reporters at one point if they had anything bigger to cover. 

But Farr said he and other animal advocates had "no other options." 

"It's like every time we step forward, we get hit with a two-by-four," he said on Monday. Farr said he was confident a vote to remove Coronesi from his current position would pass a town board resolution; however Farr said Supervisor Sean Walter has refused to allow the matter to come to a town board vote.

Matt Hattoff, president of the Riverhead chapter of the Civil Service Employee Union, said a D.A. investigation would not be worthwhile.

"Don't you think the town's well aware of what happened, if anything happened?" he said. "This has already been investigated by the town. It's done. It's a dead issue. The only ones not letting this die are a couple of volunteers who have nothing better to do."