Indiana Animal Shelter Accused of Freezing Kittens to Death
Woodson said an animal control officer twice, asked her to put injured but alive kittens in a plastic bag and then into a freezer to kill them
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Authorities in southern Indiana are investigating allegations that an animal shelter has been freezing kittens to death as an alternative to accepted forms of euthanasia.
Bridget Woodson told the Courier & Press that she quit working at the Spencer County Animal Shelter and spoke to authorities after the animal control officer twice asked her to put injured but alive kittens in a plastic bag and then into a freezer to kill them.
"I had to do something," Woodson said. "I'm super concerned about the animals. If this is deemed as acceptable and no one is held accountable, what else will start to slip through the cracks?"
Woodson shared with the newspaper a screenshot of a text exchange she said was between her and the animal control officer. During that exchange, Woodson claimed the officer told her that "the freezer is no less humane" than euthanasia by a veterinarian.
The officer did not respond to messages requesting comment.
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The Anti-Cruelty Society is committed to providing compassionate care for any animal in need. It attempts to find a home for every healthy dog and cat that reaches the shelter, it prevents cruelty to animals, provides low or no cost spaying or neutering, and takes an active role in the community by offering education on animal issues. 157 W. Grand Ave., IL 60654n(312) 644-8338
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A.D.O.P.T. Pet Shelter has placed over 20,000 dogs and cats into permanent and loving homes since its inception in 1989. 420 Industrial Drive, Naperville, IL 60563n(630) 355-2299
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A Refuge for Saving the Wildlife's mission is to work with all avian rescue groups in order to eliminate the need for rescue groups by educating the public. Until that is accomplished, they provide a sanctuary for various birds that are in need of a home. 2720 Dundee Road, Suite 229, Northbrook, IL 60062n(847) 509-1026
Chicago Animal Care and Control advocates public safety and ensures the humane care of animals through sheltering, pet placement, education, and animal law enforcement. 2741 S. Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60608n(312) 747-1406
CatNap from the Heart is a limited-access shelter for cats, birds, and small mammals. All pets live comfortably there or in a foster home until the right human companion can take over. CatNap has no time limit for any animal; they are committed to finding the right home for all of them. 1101 Beach Ave., LaGrange Park, IL 60526n(708) 352-3914
Heartland Animal Shelter has been saving the lives of homeless pets since 2002. Heartland’s staff and volunteers are committed to giving the shelter animals everything they need to be healthy. 2975 Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook, IL 60062 (847) 296-6400
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Michiana Humane Society dogs have been tested for heart-worm (dogs that test positive may be in treatment and people can check for those listings on their site), and are treated for fleas, ticks, or other parasites. The dogs also receive at least one combination vaccine at Michiana Humane. 722 IN-212, Michigan City, IN 46360n(219) 872-4499
Naperville Area Humane Society's mission is to promote the humane treatment of companion animals and create lasting human-animal bonds. They host several fun events throughout the year, which directly benefit their dogs and cats. 1620 W. Diehl Road, Naperville, IL 60563n(630) 420-8989
Orphans of the Storm
Orphans of the Storm takes responsibility for every orphaned, abandoned, or abused dog and cat that reaches its doors. They aim to shelter them, provide the best medical and physical care for them, as well as nurture them back to health if necessary and help find the warm and loving long-term homes that they deserve. 2200 Riverwoods Road, Riverwoods, IL 60015n(847) 945-0235
PAWS Chicago is a national model in animal sheltering, committed to bringing an end to the killing of homeless cats and dogs. Their mission is to build no-kill communities, end the overpopulation of homeless animals, and to transform animal welfare. 1997 N. Clyborn Ave., Chicago, IL 60614n(773) 687-4700
Anderson receives no federal or state funding. Instead, the shelter relies on the generosity of adopters, foster caregivers, staff, volunteers, community members and businesses to support their life-saving mission. 188 N. Randall Road, Aurora, IL 60542n(847) 697-2880 ext. 80
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South Suburban Humane Society is dedicated to promoting the well-being of pets and the people who love them. Through the care and sheltering of animals needing protection, as well as promoting the human-pet bond through adoption services, the South Suburban Humane Society makes every effort towards ending pet homelessness, reducing pet overpopulation, and creating a better world for pets and their people. 1103 West End Ave., Chicago Heights, IL 60411n(708) 755-7387
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Spay and Stay attempts to connect and collaborate with compassionate individuals in Lake County to humanely control the population of feral and stray cats. They provide veterinary resources and coaching for caretakers to trap, neuter, and return (TNR) cats in their area. They teach trapping techniques and colony care to reduce the number of homeless kittens born and improve the lives of adult cats through sterilization and vaccination. 555 E. Townline Road, Vernon Hills, IL 60061n(847) 289-4557
Friendly and Feral Cat Rescue is a non-profit, all volunteer, no-kill organization that works to find loving, permanent homes for cats in their care. They operate in northwest Chicago, specifically Cook County. 1375 N. Roselle Road, Schaumburg, IL 60195n(847) 394-0260
Cicero Waggin' Tails' shelter animals have already been vet checked, temperament tested, have had a parvo test, been de-wormed and given their distemper, bordetella and rabies shots. All pets are also spayed/neutered and micro-chipped before leaving the shelter with their new family. 1634 S. Laramie Ave., Cicero, IL 60804n(708) 652-0825
DuPage County Animal Care and Control is a self-supporting shelter for stray and owner-relinquished non-native animals. They rescue animals that are lost, diseased, injured, or in peril. They also aim to prevent and control rabies through vaccinations prior to being adopted out to their new families. 120 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187n(630) 407-2800
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Tails Humane Society is a limited admission animal shelter which acts as a safe haven for over 2,400 animals each year. Tails' misison is to build a community with the care and companion of animals. 2270 Barber Greene Road, DeKalb, IL 60115n(815) 758-2457
Tree House Humane Society
Tree House Humane Society promotes the inherent value of every animal and strives to educate the public about proper and responsible animal care. It has a special focus on the care and placement of stray cats that have particular needs, but ultimately is committed to finding every healthy or treatable animal a home. 7225 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60645n(773) 262-4000
Humane Indiana is committed and dedicated to protecting pets, perserving wildlife, and nurturing the health and well-being of animals. They have been helping animals in Northwest Indiana and Chicago for more than 76 years. 421 45th Ave., Munster, IN 46321n(219) 922-3811
Help Save Pets in Chicago and Downers Grove are dedicated to saving and finding homes for dogs and cats about to be euthanized at animal control facilities. They are proud to share financial and statistical information with friends, volunteers and donors, especially those looking to learn more and make a donation. 511 W. North Ave., Chicago, IL 60610n(312) 428-2571
Help Save Pets in Chicago and Downers Grove are dedicated to saving and finding homes for dogs and cats about to be euthanized at animal control facilities. They are proud to share financial and statistical information with friends, volunteers and donors, especially those looking to learn more and make a donation. 941 63rd Street, Downers Grove, IL 60516n(815) 436-2700
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Winnebego County Animal Services' mission is to professionally and compassionately provide the community with humane shelter care, rabies control, enforcement of animal laws, adoption services, and find responsible pet ownership. It continues to be a respected community leader and credible resource for the care and protection of animals and people of Winnebago County. 4517 N. Main Street, Rockford, IL 61103n(815) 319-4100
Wheeling Animal Group Saves has access to doctors from Wheeling Animal Hospital who donate their skills as well as the supplies and vaccines to ready their pets for adoption. All donations to WAGS are gratefully accepted and aim to help to find loving homes for many abandoned pets. 532 S. Elmhurst Road, Wheeling, IL 60090n(847) 520-7387
Orange County Sheriff's Department
Hinsdale Humane Society is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to the care and adoption of homeless animals. They advocate education and public service to encourage the compassionate treatment of animals and prevent their suffering and neglect. 22 N. Elm, Hinsdale, IL 60521n(630) 323-5630
Humane Society of Northwest Indiana receives no funding from local, state, or federal sources or any national groups. Instead, they rely on volunteers and those who donate monetarily or anything from blankets to cleaning supplies to food or toys -- all with the common mission to help animals while at the shelter, before finding them forever homes. 6100 Melton Road, Gary, IN 46403n(219) 938-3339
Magnificent Mutts and Meows will host adoption of dogs at the Pet Supplies Plus location listed below. The shelter is a licensed, non-profit organization dedicated to caring for and finding loving homes for any breed of dog that was abandoned, abused, or neglected. Their goal is to reduce the number of dogs in kill-shelters by educating the public on the importance of proper training, animal health, and puppy mills through public outreach and training programs. 720 E. Ogden Ave., Naperville, IL 60563n(708) 703-5047
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Magnificient Mutts and Meows is a licensed, non-profit animal shelter dedicated to caring for and finding loving homes for any cat in need of assistance, for any reason. Part of their mission is to educate the public on issues involving animal health and training. It will host adoption of cats at the following Pet Supplies Plus location: 198 North Ave., Villa Park, IL 60181n(708) 205-6862
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McHenry County Animal Control and Adoption Center has Animal Control officers who investigate minor and major offenses to animals throughout the year. The department promotes community events including pet adoptions, proper pet care, and dog bite prevention. 100 N. Virginia Street, Crystal Lake, IL 60014n(815) 459-6222
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Animal Services and Assistance Programs houses more than 100 cats. Some of them are senior cats and/or in need of daily medical care so they remain at Animal Services where they can receive comfort and love, but many are still available for adoption. The program will hold the "Clear the Shelters" at Blain's Farm & Fleet at the following address: 19309 Kishwaukee Valley Road, Marengo, IL 60152n(815) 568-2921
Animal Outreach Humane Society members have helped end the killing of adoptable animals in their community. It is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization that was started by a group of 28 individuals from different walks of life and age groups, united by their belief in the importance of animals. 3370 Shoppers Drive, McHenry, IL 60051n(815) 385-0005
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The "slow chilling or freezing of unanesthetized animals" is an unacceptable form of euthanasia, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals.
Shelter officials declined to comment to WFIE-TV . The shelter's Facebook page has also been taken down.
"This is the only shelter resource in this town and for so many surrounding towns. I don't want it closed," Woodson said. "I just think the guidelines and policies absolutely need to change. The management and board absolutely needs to be changed."
The Spencer County Sheriff's Office turned the investigation over to the prosecutor's office due to a potential conflict of interest. Chief Deputy Prosecutor Thomas Pulley declined to comment on the case.
