A new review process is being launched at Orange County Animal Services less than a month after 9 Investigates exposed dogs dying from routine surgeries.
The procedures were paid for with tax dollars.
Investigative reporter Karla Ray said outside veterinarians will help make sure shelter animals get the quality care taxpayers expect.
9 Investigates reported on three cases where dogs either required extensive care or died after spay surgeries inside the clinic, each within weeks of each other.
Though changes aren't being made to the clinic, a review process is being launched in an effort to eliminate similar outcomes.
A dog named Dawn isn't ready for adoption after a failed spay attempt at Orange County Animal Services. 9 Investigates reported on dogs Sienna and Tully, who both died after similar operations at the same clinic.
Rescue coordinators, such as Heather Henderson of Sniffing Snouts, are asking for a change.
“I would like to see some sort of standard of care with these animals,” said Henderson.
A new email address has been created, clinicreview@ocfl.net , to file a complaints or concerns about clinic outcomes.
All complaints and any unexpected deaths or complications will be reviewed once a month by the shelter and outside veterinarians.
“If we have a case with a poor outcome and our vets get together and one of them says, if we had this or that or this, then we can look into it and improve upon that,” Orange County Health Services director Dr. Christopher Hunter said.
Meetings, which will start next month, will be open to the public, but the discussion will only be amongst the veterinarians in attendance.
Cox Media Group
