AR-News: (NJ) Camden County Animal Shelter: More comes to light

[CompassionForCam at aol.com]

Blackwood, NJ



Abuse and corruption at the Camden County Animal Shelter: sixth in a series 
of public information.



More horrific details are available but as of yet we cannot make them public.



ACTION NEEDED! 

The group responsible, Humane Society of Southern New Jersey, is still in 
charge of this 'shelter'!



The group has ten board members, including Richard Perr, Esq., Edward 
Sheehan, DVM and Peggy Dorsey, Camden County College, Animal Science Program. 



Please write to the Camden County Freeholders. 

Names, addresses and sample letter below. 



The following are excerpts from one of the court documents pertaining to 
witness statements. Camden County (NJ) Docket No. 7-236-02:



"I was familiar with most the of dogs that had been taken…they were in good 
health and adoptable before the testing…I saw that the dogs that returned were 
lethargic, had mucous dripping from their nostrils and eyes and some were 
coughing…most could not stand…none of the cats could stand. Virtually every 
animal taken for testing was very sick. I watched a large dog unable to stand for 
days. I have never seen a group of dogs taken so universally, suddenly and 
irreversibly sick at the at the same time…their conditions worsened…I believe 
three dogs survived and no cats survived."





THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS JUST BEEN RELEASED!

For more, please see BACKGROUND below.





Excerpts are from a NJ SPCA investigation report (via OPRA request): 



 "I [investigator] visited the above shelter and spoke with Glen[n] McCleery 
[director of HSSNJ, the group that runs the county shelter]. He admitted that 
they take dogs and cats to the Clarion Hotel, Cherry Hill [NJ] and allows the 
manufacturer [Sound Technologies] to demonstrate and train various 
veterinarians and vet techs in the operation and use of an ultra sound."



"He [McCleery] stated that a veterinarian picks up the dogs…"



"I asked what kind of room the lab tests are done. He stated that they set up 
a laboratory in one suite and in the adjoining suite they have a conference 
room to discuss the procedures and technical results." 



"He said that they drug the animals before they leave. I asked what type of 
drug is used. He stated Ketamine." 



(Ketamine produces a dissociative state in a user. Effects can range from 
rapture to paranoia to boredom. The user feels its hallucinogenic effects and 
experiences impaired perception. Ketamine commonly elicits an out-of-body or 
near-death experience; it can render the user comatose. For more info: 
http://www.health.org/nongovpubs/ketamine/ )



"Mr. McCleery stated that the dogs are taken to the hotel by Dr. Sheenan 
[sic] and after they are done with the dogs and cats he returns them." 



"He (McCleery) said one of his directors who is an attorney Rick Purr (sic) 
215-893-8724 told him what the shelter is doing is legal." 



"He (McCleery) also stated that Peggy Dorsy, (sic) Director of Animal Science 
Program [Camden County College] is aware what they are doing, 856-227-7200."



"Called Richard Perr, who identified himself as the Chairman of the Board of 
the CCHS (Camden County Humane Society is the former name of the group, later 
renamed to Humane Society of Southern New Jersey, HSSNJ)"



"I asked if he (Perr) gave McCleery permission to use the animals at the 
Hotel. He said yes, and then said he and all the board members gave permission to 
use animals."



"(Perr) said that Dr. Sheenhan (sic) and other vets take the dogs and cats to 
the Hotel and transport them back."



"Received a call from [witness]. She said that the dogs and cats were shaved 
on the front leg[s] where an intravenous tube would be attached. The animals 
were shaking and temperature was low…They usually got sick after a few days and 
many of them were euthanized." 



"She said that when a black cat came back from the experiment it was found 
that it had a heart murmur. Glen[n] McCleery wanted it put down, for he didn't 
want to spend any money on the cat. She objected and was dismissed by him. She 
said that Dr. Fox would have more information."



"[Witness] advised me that she was one of the original employees that 
open[ed] the shelter in 1997." 



"She (witness) refused to sign an affidavit that was being submitted to the 
State Drug Control. She was asked to sign a statement saying an incorrect 
amount of controlled drugs is on the premises. There is missing control[ed] drugs 
and she refused to sign and [was] thus terminated."



"[Witness] The animals that came back immediately developed respiratory 
infections, so bad that snot kept pouring from the animals…they did not recover. 
They were eventually euthanized." 



[Witness] stated that Glen[n] McCleery came to her a few days later very 
upset that he didn't get his $500 cash as Sound Technologies had promised." 



"Dr. Fox was upset for she wanted to pick the dogs and cats but she was not 
asked as she thought she would. Dr. Fox, Village Vets in Medford, NJ 
609-953-8733." 



"(Lane Naffziger of Sound Technologies company) called and then came in 
personally [to] pick out the animals he wanted…Originally they were supposed to be 
animals that were going to be euthanized, but he wanted to pick out animals 
that he wanted." 



"Dr. Dina Fox was in that day, she took Lane around to pick out the animals 
but she was upset because they were supposed to be animals we picked out and 
the fact that Lane wanted them so soon." 



"[McCleery] was upset because he was supposed to get paid $500 for letting 
Lane take our animals to the seminar and that he wasn't sure if the money was 
per day or per animal." 



"(Witness)…the dogs came back, some were drowsy, all were shaved arms, and 
chest area and stomach. Most of the dogs and cats had to be euthanized because 
they had severe upper respiratory infection."



"Called Dr. Dina Fox, Village Veterinary Hospital, Medford, NJ. She [k]new of 
Animal Testing that was being done with the animals at CCHS, and felt it was 
a benefit for the animals."



"I asked her [Dr. Fox] if the dogs were sedated and she said yes but not 
while they are in transit."



"Called [witness] she said she asked Dr. Fox why are they doing this, Dr. Fox 
said they were going to be euthanized anyway."



"(Witness said) Kristen (McCleery's daughter) told her that Lauren (her 
sister) made a lot of cash money assisting the testing and she wanted to go next so 
she can make money also."



"(Witness said) Kristen told her the dogs were taken this morning and Lauren 
will be attending, she is gonna make a lot of money. Her dad got money too."



End quotes.



A hard copy of the report, including names of witnesses, is available to the 
public via the Open Public Records Request Application (OPRA). Contact Camden 
County Administration 856-225-5354 mlonetto at camdencounty.com 

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/opra/forminfo.html 







BACKGROUND: The Camden County Animal Shelter is a publicly owned facility. It 
is operated by the Humane Society of Southern New Jersey (HSSNJ) under the 
direction of Richard J. Perr, Esq., an individual with strong ties to county 
government. 



In October 2002 Richard J. Perr, Esq., et al, were charged by the NJ SPCA for 
illegally providing shelter animals for experimentation, a practice known as 
"pound seizure". According to eyewitnesses, most of the animals involved 
suffered and died as a result. In March 2003 the superior court ordered that Perr, 
et al, cease and desist from offering shelter animals for experimental 
procedures.



Perr, et al, never denied their participation in pound seizure and instead 
callously labeled it: "Advancing [our] humane purpose by promoting animal 
education." 



We call it: the marketing of cruelty and death!  

For additional detailed witness statements, court documents and additional 
background information see: 
www.pawsnj.org 
www.compassionforcamden.org  

Shelter operations are overseen by the Camden County Board of Chosen 
Freeholders, specifically Freeholder Laurelle A. Cummings, Director Health & Human 
Services.

HSSNJ consists of the following people: 
(Information taken from www.guidestar.org. Affiliations are ours and are 
added for identification)

Richard J. Perr, Esq. (Fineman, Krekstein & Harris, PC, Haddonfield, NJ) 
Chairman
Edward Sheehan, DVM (Sheehan Veterinary Clinic, Camden, NJ) Member
Peggy Dorsey, (Camden County College Animal Science Program) Member
Kristin Walker, Member 
James Clarke, Member 
Nicholas Troiano, Treasurer
Susan Van Ackooy, Vice Chairwoman/Secretary 
Jay Feinman, Member 
Robert Wright, Member 
Shawn Huber, Member 


As a result of public pressure, in July 2003 the Camden County Freeholders 
passed a resolution allowing the shelter's operations to be opened to a public 
bidding process.

On January 30, 2004, Camden County accepted bids from HSSNJ and the Animal 
Welfare Society of Camden County. 

The successful bidder may be announced at a freeholder meeting in April 2004. 
 

April 2004 also marks two years of the first discovery of the shelter's 
involvement in pound seizure. 

We must win for the animals!

 
ACTION NEEDED! 

PLEASE WRITE TO THE COUNTY FREEHOLDERS ASKING THEM TO PROVIDE THE SHELTER 
WITH PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT. 

See sample letter below. 

The address for all Freeholders is: 
Camden County Courthouse, 520 Market Street, Camden, NJ 08102 

Jeffrey L. Nash 
Freeholder Director 
856-225-5466 
jnash at co.camden.nj.us 

Laurelle A. Cummings 
Health & Human Services 
(includes Shelter) 
856-225-5575 
cummings at co.camden.nj.us 

Edward T. McDonnell 
Deputy Director 
856-225-5458 
mcdonnel at co.camden.nj.us 

For a complete freeholder list please see: www.camdencounty.com 



Sample letter: 
Re: Camden County Animal Shelter 

Dear Freeholder: 

Taxpayer and private money has been spent to investigate and evaluate your 
current shelter vendor/management. 

All reports, including a recent HSUS report, reinforce public outcry of 
unsuited management. All are shocking and disheartening. 

In addition, your management is responsible for one of the highest euthanasia 
rates in the state. 

Seven years of failure is enough! 

I am appealing to you to remove current management and award the shelter 
contract to a qualified group. 

Your name, address, phone, email. 



Also, please write to the editor of the Courier-Post: 
cpedit at courierpostonline.com
Philadelphia Inquirer: editor at phillynews.com

Your letters should be original and re-drafted to fit the editorial pages of 
the paper. Please remember: identical letters are never printed. 

Thanks for you efforts to help end the tragedy.


Additional information, contact: 
Marion Churchill 
Compassion for Camden 
856-751-1571 
www.compassionforcamden.org 
email: compassionforcam at aol.com 



"The world is a dangerous place, 
not because of those who do evil, 
but because of those who look on and do nothing." 
Albert Einstein

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