According to a Conroe Police Department investigation, Casey, a male blue heeler and Australian shepherd mix, chewed its leg off while at the Conroe Animal Shelter for two and a half days.
How we got here
At council’s Aug. 7 workshop meeting, Interim Police Chief Lee Tipton discussed the investigation regarding Casey and Care Corporation, which started July 23.
According to CPD’s investigation:
- July 7: Casey was brought into the animal shelter at 10:59 a.m. and placed in an intake-holding kennel. The animal shelter sent a text to Operation Pets Alive saying Casey needed to be rescued, and at 12:11 p.m., an OPA representative replied they could not help.
- Casey received an anti-inflammatory medication twice a day, but there are no time logs of when the medication was given.
- July 8: Hurricane Beryl then made landfall, leaving minimal staffing at the animal shelter. Staff left the facility by 1:15 p.m., and Casey stayed overnight.
- July 9: In the morning, animal shelter staff found Casey had chewed his injured leg off at the injury location. No emergency care was provided, and a dog cone was placed on Casey after the injury was discovered. At 4:51 p.m., Special Needs Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation arrived and took possession of Casey.
The investigation also found that the city's contract with Care Corporation does not define or stipulate what "emergency medical attention" consists of and that the shelter does not have emergency medical equipment or medications. When an animal is in an emergency situation, Care Corporation's options are to euthanize or rely on a rescue.
The investigation also found deficiencies within Care Corporation’s contract, which include:
- Vaccination delays
- Sterilization delays
- Lack of full water bowls and food prior to lights out
What they’re saying
- “The responsibility to oversee the animal shelter was the police department's responsibility,” Interim Police Chief Lee Tipton said. “We failed. We failed the animals; we failed the citizens and we failed the council. ... As interim chief, I wanted to make it clear that I will do everything in my power to implement checks and balances, and strict, strict protocols to prove and show that this will never happen again.”
- “Devastating. I'm embarrassed, and you [Interim Police Chief Tipton] have a hard job, and I’m so sorry that you're in this position,” council member David Hairel said. “But fortunately, those of us here can find a way to make this better. The name of our city can hopefully be cleaned up.”
- “This is absolutely uncalled for. It's unacceptable, and I'm embarrassed. I appreciate you lieutenants standing up. ... This cannot and will not happen again,” Mayor Pro Tem Harry Hardman said.
- “We didn't get it right. I appreciate your department stepping up and saying that,” Mayor Duke Coon said. “We won't always get things right, but when we find there is an issue, we’re going to fix it. ... We own this, and we take responsibility for it. I, as the mayor, take responsibility for what's happening with that shelter today. We're going to fix it; we're going to be better.”
Conroe City Council will vote on the termination of the city’s contract for the animal shelter with Care Corporation at its next meeting, Aug. 22.
Council member Shana Arthur proposed relocating funds given to the members on the city’s planning commission to the animal shelter. Arthur said it would be about $72,000 a year.
View the police department's investigation documents below.
