This cat, Chrissy, was euthanized by the San Diego County animal shelter. Photo courtesy of Audra Scully

Many cats put to death by the San Diego County Department of Animal Services were euthanized even though they had treatable medical conditions, county officials have acknowledged.

The animals were put down over the past several years either because their illnesses would have required additional resources to treat or because there was simply no room within the shelters operated in Bonita, Carlsbad and central San Diego, the county said.

“The cats/kittens are treated,” county spokesman Michael Workman said. “Some respond well, others do not. There is limited space in the medical wards.”

Dawn Danielson, director of the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services. — Howard Lipin

He cited, in particular, a need to isolate certain cats with highly contagious conditions, and limited ability to provide that isolation.

“Euthanasia is a tragic outcome, everyone agrees,” Workman said. “We have some of the highest save rates in the country, thanks to a professional staff and many dedicated partners. But no discussion of euthanasia can be complete without highlighting responsible pet ownership. Get your dogs and cats spayed and neutered.”

The comments were in response to a request from U-T Watchdog, which has been taking a closer look at the county Department of Animal Services since more than a dozen volunteers came forward with complaints that dogs and cats were being killed unnecessarily.

The Watchdog reported in October that volunteers were upset because they believe that that Animal Services Director Dawn Danielson is not doing enough to save animals under her care. Instead, they listed a series of grievances that they argued make adoptions more difficult and killings more prevalent than need be. Although the county has goals not to put down “treatable” animals, the label “non-treatable” can be too easily applied, with lethal consequences for animals, the volunteers say.

Should county animal shelters open on Sundays to increase adoptions? Yes 86% (1373) No 14% (227) 1600 total votes.

Among other complaints, the volunteers said Danielson discourages adoptions by allowing animals — particularly dogs — to remain in their cages for days and weeks at a time without walks and by not opening the shelter on Sundays so more families can visit and adopt on weekends.

For this story, the Watchdog asked the county to explain the deaths of 18 cats in recent years — animals that volunteers said could have been adopted into to loving homes.

Former volunteer Audra Scully took portraits of the animals as part of a marketing plan to promote adoptions. Scully gave the Watchdog access to the county’s notes on each animal and permission to reproduce the photographs.

Workman said seven of the 18 cats were killed because they suffered from upper respiratory infections, a common but readily treatable illness. Another one of the animals was killed after staff members reported seeing it “coughing and sneezing.”

Two of the cats were put down because there was no room in the shelters; two others had “behavior” issues that prevented them from being adopted and still others were euthanized due to stress or other medical conditions, the county said.

On July 1, the Department of Animal Services joined “Getting to Zero,” a countywide initiative aimed at eliminating euthanasia among treatable dogs and cats and other species.

Before that, the county’s goal was not to euthanize any friendly/adoptable animals. Those labeled unfriendly or unadoptable by county staff could be put to sleep.

One of those was a tiny steel-eyed kitten named Ember. A stray covered in a thick coat of fluffy black fur, Ember was entered into the Animal Services system on Nov. 9, 2012.

According to county records, Ember had tapeworms, was congested and had a possibile upper respiratory infection. The animal was treated and dewormed but declined by two different rescue groups and the San Diego Humane Society, officials said. Ember was put to sleep a week after arriving.

Scully said Ember and many other cats could have been saved if the county was more committed.

“Solid black kittens/cats are one of the first ones to be euthanized,” said Scully, who is semi-retired and runs a small spay and neuter charity. “DAS thinks they are less adoptable because the public may not want to adopt them as much as a kitten/cat with different color markings.”

Isadora, a pink-nosed tabby, was dropped off at one of the county shelters on April 29, 2011, because the owner was moving and could not take the animal along.

Despite a staff file note saying “she meowed and then approached me, head-butted and purred,” Isadora was put down May 3, five days after arriving. Workman said Isadora “had severe dental disease, possible URI (upper respiratory infection), behavior issues unable to treat.”

Scully said each of the cited reasons for killing Isadora were treatable. “Severe dental disease can be solved by removing most of the teeth and feeding wet food if a teeth-cleaning were to not solve the problem,” she said.

Animal Services took in just over 21,000 animals in the 12 months ending June 30, 2014, the most recent year for which data is posted on the county website. Of those, 11,529 were adopted and 4,330 were returned to their owners.

Almost 6,600 of the animals were euthanized, including 981 dogs and 584 cats the county’s records said could have been treated medically.

Volunteers say hundreds of other animals are improperly listed as non-treatable and killed due to space and a lack of concern by Danielson and other top Animal Services managers. County officials dispute that assertion.

Last week, county Chief Administrative Officer Helen Robbins-Meyer announced she was appointing her chief of staff, Nicole Alejandre, to a temporary year-long assignment as assistant director of Animal Services.

“Adding Nicole’s administrative talents, strong communication abilities and organizational process skills will further the ideas and creativity of the department to maximize operational excellence,” Robbins-Meyer announced in an email Friday afternoon.

Previously Volunteers object to animal shelter practices

Workman said the re-assignment is an effort to improve operations within Animal Services and may stretch past the 12 months referred to in the Friday announcement.

“We’re always looking for ways to improve operational excellence,” Workman said. “This addition to the team brings new eyes and new ideas.”

Danielson, who has been at the county for more than 35 years, collects a base salary of $157,310 a year and a $600 monthly car allowance. Alejandre is a 15-year county employee who receives a base annual salary of $116,750.

Asked whether the new staffer might help get the shelters opened on Sundays to adopt out more cats, Workman reiterated, “New eyes and new ideas, we’ll see what that brings.”