Albany animal shelter director fired over allegations of mistreating animals

ALBANY — Andy Sartiano, the executive director at the Albany Humane Society’s animal shelter, was terminated from her position on Thursday after allegations of improper treatment of animals were confirmed by board members.

In a written statement to The Albany Herald, attorney Joe Dent stated: “The Board of Directors became aware of inappropriate action on the part of the executive director (Sartiano) regarding treatment of an animal. Such action is completely against the mission of the Albany Humane Society to nurture and improve the health of all animals under the care of the society in an effort to find the animals a permanent home with a loving and caring family. The incident was a one-time occurrence, and the Albany Humane Society takes seriously incidents in which protocol with regard to the treatment of animals is not followed. The Humane Society advocates for the ethical and humane treatment of all animals.”

The Albany Herald became aware of the allegations that had surfaced at the animal shelter after being contacted via phone calls and emails over the past week. On Friday, a person closely affiliated with the Humane Society sent a message: “I learned that the board had placed her (Andy Sartiano) on probation in June for instructing an employee to kill a kitten with his bare hands. The board would not agree to terminate Andy until your staff’s inquiry.”

On Wednesday, The Albany Herald went to the animal shelter, located at 1705 W. Oakridge Drive in Albany, and spoke directly with Sartiano about the allegations.

Sartiano insisted she was not allowed to conduct “oral interviews” but talked for nearly 15 minutes about a recent nationwide Clear the Shelter event, which resulted in 77 dogs being adopted.

Asked about allegations that an animal at the shelter had been improperly euthanized, Sartiano stated, “I don’t know anything about it. You can contact our Board President Dianne Barlow, and she can tell you what our policy is.”

Asked again, if any employee had been instructed to terminate the life of an animal without using standard procedures, Sartiano suggested a “disgruntled employee” may have started a rumor.

“You always have at least one disgruntled employee saying this or that,” she said.

On Wednesday, William Herrington, adoption and media coordinator for the shelter, agreed to send photos from the National Clear the Shelter event. But he would not comment regarding allegations of inappropriate actions or treatment of animals.

In a follow-up phone call on Thursday, Herrington said he had heard fellow employees talking about the incident but had no first-hand knowledge. He said he was not at the shelter when the alleged incident was to have taken place.

In a phone interview on Wednesday, Barlow said the Humane Society does not tolerate “aggressive or inhumane treatment” of animals at the shelter.

Asked specifically if any employee had been instructed to use their hands to snap a neck in order to kill a cat, Barlow responded, “It is not our policy to snap the neck of a cat. We only euthanize an animal if it is too sick or very aggressive. The way this is done is very humane. A shot is used to gently put the animal to sleep. With this procedure, there is no pain to the animal at all.”

Although Barlow did not deny or confirm allegations that Sartiano had instructed employees to use their hands to end the life of any of the animals, she did say there were policies and procedures in place for terminating employees.

“We have to give three reprimands,” she said. “If an infraction is severe enough, we can terminate employment right away. It has to be a full board decision.”

A person close to the situation, who asked that his name not be used for fear of reprisal, said several Humane Society board members were in favor of terminating Sartiano in June when allegations of animal mistreatment first surfaced.

Barlow confirmed earlier this week that one or more employees at the shelter had been reprimanded, but she declined to discuss specifics of the reprimands.

“We can put an employee who has committed infractions on probation, and we can monitor them closely over the next 30 days to make sure they have done all of the things they have been instructed to do in order to keep their job,” Barlow said. “Believe me, we are monitoring this situation closely. We encourage employees to come forward and notify us if anything is out of order. If you (Albany Herald) hear of anything, please let us know right away.”

Shelter media specialist Herrington confirmed that there are cameras at strategic locations around the shelter facility, but he also said there are several places at the shelter that are not monitored by video. Herrington also said he was under the impression that the video monitoring system is cleared out every 24 hours, an indication that any video recordings of the alleged incident would be deleted.

Several attempts to reach Barlow by phone on Thursday and Friday were unsuccessful. She did not return phone messages. Efforts to speak with other board members also yielded no results.

Board member Carol Rathel initially said she had “no idea” that allegations against Sartiano had been made. Pressed further, Rathel said, “I am not able to discuss this with you. You will have to call our attorney.”

Board member Mae Gillespie also said she was not at liberty to speak with the press, and all questions should be directed to Barlow. Other board members could not be reached by phone or did not return messages.

On Thursday, Dent confirmed there was an issue at the animal shelter and agreed to respond to The Herald’s request for comment after he attended a 1:30 p.m. meeting with board members. His written statement was sent to The Albany Herald at 3:03 p.m. Thursday.

In addition to confirming that the executive director had been terminated due to the “inappropriate action regarding the treatment of an animal,” Dent’s statement to The Herald stated that the Sartiano had been reprimanded and given a written list of instructions to follow if she expected to retain her position.

Dent’s statement read: “Following the incident, the Executive Director, who was new to the job, was provided instructions and guidance on the proper protocol for the treatment of animals. Additionally, the Executive Director was provided a written list of expectations for the position, and the Board of Directors agreed to a probationary period to allow the Executive Director to demonstrate the ability to meet those expectations. After failing to meet expectations, the employment relationship was dissolved on August 24, 2017, with approval of the Board of Directors.”

Dent said that Sartiano had been employed as shelter director for about four months.

The Albany Herald went to the animal shelter Friday to try and speak with employees or volunteers who may have witnessed animal abuse or who could confirm allegations made against Sartiano. Upon arrival, several employees and/or volunteers were sitting at a picnic table adjacent to the building. Asked if they had first-hand knowledge of any such incidents, no one spoke. A couple of seconds later, one young man said, “We have been told not to speak to you.”

Reva’ Moreno Fischer, the shelter manager, along with a middle-aged woman who refused to give her name or her position, came out the side door next to the picnic table and ordered all workers back inside the building.

“You can’t be here. We are not allowed to talk to you. Call our board president,” Fischer said.

Informed that efforts to reach the president were unsuccessful and that a phone number for board Vice President Jon Sizemore was hard to locate, Fischer provided a number for Sizemore.

When called, Sizemore did not answer the phone. Fischer and the other woman went back inside the building.

Soon after that incident, an animal control vehicle arrived and parked at the back of the building. Without entering the building, an Albany Herald reporter stepped to the back corner of the parking lot and asked the driver if he could discuss animal care at the shelter or if he would have his supervisor contact The Albany Herald. He agreed to pass the message on to his supervisor, Sherman Capers, and also provided Capers’ phone number.

At that time, The Albany Herald reporter stepped into the main lobby of the animal shelter and asked to speak with Fischer. The receptionist instructed the reporter to sign in. That was done at 10:30 a.m.

Fischer stepped into the lobby and told the reporter to leave the premises. The reporter said she was trying to reach board VP Sizemore or board President Barlow and requested additional contact information.

Fischer said Sizemore was on his way to the shelter but that the reporter could not wait inside the lobby. She also said that the reporter had trespassed on private property when she went to the side of the building at the picnic table and employee parking area.

Sizemore arrived at 10:38 a.m. and immediately told the reporter (who was now standing outside the building on the sidewalk) to leave the premises.

“I need you to leave. You cannot be here harassing our employees,” he said.

When the reporter requested an interview and stated that no employees had been harassed, he said “You already have our statement.”

He proceeded to enter the building and slam the door behind him.

As the reporter fumbled to call The Albany Herald and headed back to her vehicle, Sizemore stuck his head back out the door and yelled “If you don’t leave right now, I will call the police. You cannot be here harassing my employees.”

The reporter left the premises just as a police car was pulling into the parking lot.

Earlier in the week, a supervisor at the Sally Wetherbee Adoption Center, which opened last year on Dawson Road in Albany, said he had heard about the animal cruelty allegations at the shelter on Oakridge Drive.

“Our shelters have joint meetings on Wednesdays,” he said.

Sally Wetherbee is Albany’s “no-kill” shelter, which Humane Society Board President Barlow strongly advocated for.

City officials have also expressed their concern over the animal abuse allegations.

Albany City Commissioner Bob Langstaff said he is concerned that city and taxpayer funds are given to the shelter to ensure the animals are being treated in a humane and caring way and that animals needing to be euthanized are having the procedure done properly.

“The city of Albany has a contract for the shelter to euthanize and serve as a depository for animals that are picked up,” Langstaff said. “I want to know if they are in compliance with the contract. Our contract allows us to get information and gives us every right to know what is going on. We spend a lot of money for the people at the shelter to do what they do. If they were out of medicine or in a pickle to cut costs, they should hold a fundraiser.”

According to a document released by Finance Director Derrick Brown, the Oakridge Drive shelter entered an agreement with the city for $240,420 for the care and disposal of animals brought to the shelter. The contract is for FY 2018 and went into effect on July 1. Of that amount paid to the shelter, $218,945 is earmarked for care of the animals and operating expenses while $21,475 is allocated specifically for disposing of animals.

“This contract provides for the essential services as a safe haven for animals, to execute spay/neuter programs, conduct adoption programs as well as regulate the city of Albany’ s animal population,” the contract summary reads. It was written for a one-year term with three options to renew for one-year terms.

Police Chief Michael Persley and Sherman Capers, the director of animal control, were also listed as agents of the agreement.

According to the contract, which was signed by Sartiano: “The Society agrees to operate the facility and provide shelter for said animals in a manner in keeping with applicable local, state, or federal rules and regulations.”

The Albany Herald made several attempts to obtain a written policy regarding acceptable procedures for ending the life of animals at the shelter. So far, board members have not provided a written policy.

A published position statement from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is very clear on its position regarding euthanasia. It reads, in part:

“While it cannot be said that the ASPCA is ‘for’ euthanasia, it recognizes the inevitable necessity for euthanasia in certain circumstances. … The ASPCA believes that unwanted pets deserve a dignified, painless death rather than suffer from such cruelties as malnutrition, disease or trauma, outcomes commonly associated with an unwanted and/or uncared-for existence. Similarly, long-term housing of individual dogs and cats in cages without access to exercise or social activities is not an acceptable alternative. The ASPCA recommends the injection of sodium pentobarbital as the preferred agent for euthanasia of shelter animals. Euthanasia should be performed only by skilled professionals who have been trained and certified in administering injectable euthanasia solution. Euthanasia should not be performed in the presence of live animals, and it is essential that the proper steps are taken by the trained staff to verify that death has occurred. …”

“If there are rumors of animal cruelty, maybe the police should get involved,” Langstaff said. “If a crime has been committed, APD should investigate. I personally can’t talk about what goes on at the shelter because I don’t know, but I will say if a crime is taking place, we all have a duty to report it.”

Late Friday, Persley said he is aware of the allegations and is investigating the matter.

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