A woman who was at the Tangipahoa Parish Animal Shelter when more than 170 animals were euthanized said she has new information on Friday. Mary Ann Newcomb worked at the shelter but quit on Friday because she said the way the animals were euthanized was inhumane.
Newcomb called herself a kennel hand. She was working the day of the mass euthanasia at the shelter. She said she hasn't been able to sleep since. "They were sticking these puppies without sedation," she said. "They were sticking them to the heart, blowing their hearts up. The screams are still in my mind."
Sitting with a kitten named Socks in her lap, Newcomb said she couldn't believe what was happening on Monday. She said she began hiding animals so they wouldn't be put down.
She took Socks the kitten home with her, but she said 170 dogs and cats died cruel deaths. "There was no sedation used," Newcomb said. "This doctor had no right to do these animals like this. He had no right."
Amite veterinarian Dr. Tiger Halsey is one of two veterinarians Tangipahoa Parish President Gordon Burgess called in to assess an outbreak of disease in the shelter. Newcomb said Halsey handled the euthanasia.
Former euthanasia technician Becky Pittman said it's never been shelter policy to put an animal down without sedation. "Without sedation, no, absolutely not," Pittman said.
Newcomb said parish leaders made it clear that day that they simply wanted to clear the shelter out and start over.
Burgess denied that claim late Friday afternoon. Earlier this week he was asked the same question. "First of all, my heart would not let me do that," he said. "I mean, no way."
The Tangipahoa Parish Animal Shelter remains closed.
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