LONGVIEW/GREGG COUNTY (KYTX) - Two people have been banned from an animal shelter and vet clinic in Longview.
Last Wednesday, Robin Jackson and Steve Webb spoke at the city's Animal Shelter Task Force meeting.
Jackson accused the Humane Society of Northeast Texas of hiding who is the consulting vet for its animal shelter on Enterprise Street. She said federal law requires that a vet or medical director sign for and physically accept all Class II narcotics, such as FatalPlus, which is used to euthanize animals.
Dr. Barton Owens, who sits on the task force, denied serving as the consulting vet, telling the Longview News-Journal that he does not sit on the Humane Society board of directors, is not an employee or paid consultant for the agency and does not write prescriptions for the shelter.
However, a Massachusetts drug vendor told CBS 19 today that Owens is the vet who signs for the shelter's narcotics.
"I verified that. It's not conjecture. It's not anything but facts," Jackson told CBS 19. "I verified that before I went to the task force. I felt that he had a direct link with the Humane Society of Northeast Texas. My major concern is, if the vet is going to order the death drug, then he should go down there and take care of the animals that are sick or injured."
Now, Jackson and Webb are barred from setting foot at the shelter or at Owens' animal clinic in Longview.
"The vet, who is the consulting vet, needs to oversee the euthanasia log, which is required under the state of Texas," Jackson said Monday morning. "If he's not physically on location, they can not send. It's mailed to him. The shipping labels will prove this. So if he is the vet, just speak up and say he is the vet."
Jackson said she has contacted Texas Health and Human Services and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration over the matter. A representative with Texas Health and Human Services said it has received a recent complaint involving the Humane Society of Northeast Texas, but the agency released no further information other than stating the complaint might be forwarded to another state agency.
The Animal Shelter Task Force is tasked with finding a solution for the city to deal with its animal overpopulation problems. After several decades, the Humane Society of Northeast Texas has said it will no longer openly accept lost or unwanted animals from the City of Longview and other local governments beginning in September 2014. So, the task force has until December to suggest to the Longview City Council a way to build, pay for and operate a new shelter.
The Humane Society of Northeast Texas plays a role in at least one of the options before the task force. The city could purchase the agency's land on H.G. Mosley Parkway to build a new shelter. It could also work out an agreement in which the Humane Society of Northeast Texas would operate the shelter.
