Official Failures Cited In Md. Case Of 9 Dead Dogs

CUMBERLAND, Md. (AP) -- The private foundation responsible for Allegany County animal control is acknowledging it failed to respond to calls about abandoned pets in a home were nine dogs died.

The Cumberland Times-News reported in its Friday edition that more than five weeks elapsed between the first call and the response last month by animal control officers. In the interim, the animal shelter logged three more calls about the home.

The failures were detailed in a report to the county commissioners by the Allegany County Animal Shelter Management Foundation. The foundation contracts with the county for animal control.

The foundation says it now reviews responses to every call daily, and has added a dedicated animal-control phone line.

A former resident of the home has been charged with animal cruelty.
---
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)