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Employee fired after charges of animal abuse

Sheriff says group not honest about dog's initial condition

By TERESA RESSEL
Daily Journal Staff Writer

Thursday, May 29, 2008

POTOSI — Washington County Sheriff Kevin Schroeder has terminated the employee who has been charged with animal abuse, but is criticizing the Midwest Bloodhound Rescue for not being completely honest about the situation.

In a press release issued Wednesday afternoon, Schroeder said the bloodhound, Mosley, was adopted with the intention of training him for search and rescue operations.

He said shortly after the adoption, Mosley developed two quarter-sized spots on his back where he was losing hair. He said Lt. Charles LaLumondiere, who was to be Mosley’s handler, took the dog to the vet clinic where he received treatment for “possible allergies.”

“The hair began to return and he was doing fine,” Schroeder said.

In November, the dog was handed over to the department’s detention officer, Lance Mason, who Schroeder said is a certified trainer. The dog was to begin obedience training.

“In January, D.O. Mason reported that Mosley was losing hair, and dropping body weight,” the sheriff wrote in a press release. “D.O. Mason was instructed to take Mosley to Lawson Veterinary Clinic again and get Mosley treated.

“The prognosis of the Veterinarian was that Mosley had Demodexil mange. DVM Alicia Toler further advised that this condition had been with Mosley since birth. She stated that if the disease is treated within the first year of life that it can be cured, however if it is not, the disease will be reoccurring the rest of the dog’s life. It can be treated, but never cured.”

Schroeder said they reviewed the adoption agreement with Midwest Bloodhound Rescue and learned the dog had been treated for mange before the adoption.

“However this information was down-played and did not come to light until after Mosley had been adopted by the Sheriff’s Office,” he said.

He said communication began with the group in an attempt to come to an agreement about the dog since his condition was going to hinder his ability to be used for police purposes.

“After contacting the rescue group, they advised that our Veterinarian was wrong and that we should get another opinion as to Mosley’s condition,” he said. “The end result was that the rescue group agreed to take Mosley back.”

He said shortly after Mosley was given back, he learned the extent of the dog’s condition from the group’s Web site and began investigating.

“I was appalled at Mosley’s condition, and would have never believed that his condition would have been allowed to deteriorate to such a degree before being advised,” he said. “I read the statement of the volunteer that transported Mosley as to the living conditions that Mosley was in and it (threw) a red flag.”

The volunteer reported that Mosley had been kept in a 4 by 4 pen with a dirt floor and was found with no bedding, food, food pan, or water.

The sheriff found that hard to believe. He said it was later learned the volunteer was not honest in those statements.

“The volunteer was interviewed as part of the investigation and her statements were found to be totally false,” Schroeder said. “When interviewed she stated that it was dark when she picked Mosley up and she could not see what the conditions of his kennel were in.

“She had no explanation as to why she reported the false information.”

Schroeder said he did decide to terminate Mason in light of the charges that were filed Tuesday. Mason was charged by Special Prosecuting Attorney Wendy Wexler Horn with two counts of misdemeanor animal abuse.

“D.O. Mason was a good employee,” he said. “I would have never thought this would happen”

He said this ordeal has affected the lives of good people. “There have been slanderous remarks about Charles LaLumondiere, the Sheriff’s Office, the County Commission, and me,” he said. “It even went as far as entering the political arena, as two of my opponents in the upcoming election sought to use this story to discredit me in their bid for election to the office of sheriff.”

He said now the truth is known and the healing process can begin.

“I will personally be in contact with the Midwest Bloodhound Rescue group, Missouri Police Working Dog Association and PETA as to the facts and findings in this investigation,” he said.

The Midwest Bloodhound Rescue group has said that the dog did have a small outbreak of mange before the adoption, but it had been treated and the dog had fully recovered.

Sandi Singer, director, is upset LaLumondiere hasn’t been held responsible because he signed the adoption agreement, agreeing he was responsible for the dog’s proper vet care.

In the adoption application, LaLumondiere reportedly stated he would keep the dog in the office or in a barn during the day and inside the house at night.

The signed contract requires the adoptive family to provide prompt and timely vaccinations and proper veterinary care, and proper nutrition. It states that the dog shouldn’t be tied up and a fenced enclosure with adequate shelter from the elements.

Teresa Ressel is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 179 or at tressel@dailyjournalonline.com.

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