Animal Care And Control Releases Security Video Showing Staff Drag Dog By Neck
(CBS) -- Security video just released by the Chicago dog pound shows the staff dragging a lifeless-looking dog by his neck across the room moments before he died.
Steve Miller updates a story WBBM first reported with the Better Government Association last year.
The dog's name was Spike, and his owner took him to Chicago Animal Care and Control in March of last year.
Animal Control says Spike was aggressive - and in fact, that that's why the owner gave him up - and that Animal Control staff used two catchpoles to restrain him, grabbing Spike around the neck.
He died soon after.
The Better Government Association sued the Emanuel administration to get the security video, and a year and a half later, the city has now released it.
"The video is appalling," said Bob Herguth is director of investigations for the BGA. "Animal Care and Control workers that are supposed to be bringing dogs under control - they're trained to do this. How does this happen where the dog is basically choked to death?"
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The video shows Spike moving - then still - then workers dragging him by his neck down a hallway.
Today Chicago Animal Care and Control's acting director, Ivan Capifali, says in a written statement: "CACC is dedicated to caring for the more than 20,000 animals brought to our shelter each year and assisting in ensuring public health and safety as it relates to animals. In any matter where we identify potential employee error or misconduct, the commission follows established protocols to look into the matter and determine whether any policy changes are necessary.
"Following a review of the episode that occurred in March of 2014, CACC quickly disciplined three employees and provided special training on animal handling to CACC employees. In fact, a video on animal handling that was created by CACC in partnership with the National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA) is not only shown to all new CACC staff, it is now used by NACA in training nationwide."
Three employees were suspended without pay. The longest suspension was 20 days.
Earlier this year, Animal Control accidentally left a dog in a van for five nights - with little or no food and water.
And last year, Animal Control accidentally euthanized a dog.
The city is looking for a new director of Animal Care and Control.
Sandra Alfred, who was director for three and a half years, left in the fall.
