Animal shelter closes

* Several animals euthanized, shelter closed after inspection reveals crowding, disease at local facility.

The Nevada Police Department closed the animal shelter run by the Humane Society Friday on advice from the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

The news follows a recent inspection by the Missouri Department of Agriculture, which netted several suggestions from the department ranging from adding employees to addressing animal health issues, according to a letter from Barbara Weakley, treasurer of the Vernon County Humane Association.

A press release from Nevada Police Chief Christine Keim said that the shelter had recently been inspected and several violations found as well as an apparent breakout of disease. Several animals were euthanized by a licensed veterinarian.

The facility was sanitized several times and will remain closed until it is ascertained that no chance of any virus remains and until at least the next city council meeting.

The press release went on to say it is unknown at this time if any charges will be filed.

The news brought a quick influx of messages from outraged citizens to the offices of the Nevada Daily Mail; citizens raised concerns about the quick closing, with no notice to the public, and Weakley reported several details relating to the closing from her point of view, citing, among other things, deep concern that animals had been euthanized.

Weakley said, "A large number of healthy, frisky dogs have recently been exterminated at the city's animal shelter."

Keim insists that the animals euthanized were not, in fact, healthy at all and maintains that the decision to euthanize was appropriate.

Keim said that 17 of the animals at the shelter at the time were saved and relocated. Some were relocated to local veterinarians and boarded; others were relocated to the El Dorado Springs animal shelter.

The city's animal control officer will continue with regular duties, and alternative sites such as the El Dorado Springs shelter will be used to house animals taken into custody by the Nevada animal control officer.

Editor's note: The Nevada Daily Mail continues to investigate matters related to the current happenings and the future of the city's animal shelter. Look for more in-depth coverage in tommorow's edition of the Nevada Daily Mail.