Animal Welfare Professionals

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

There's a dog that the shelter claims was pulled by a rescue, however they refuse to give the name of the rescue (even though this dog had a lot of pledges made for his care).  The whole thing seems suspicious that the shelter won't release the name of the rescue.  Can they legally withhold that information?  I did make a public records request but they're taking quite a while to provide the records. Thank you!

#LawsandPublicPolicy

Since you mentioned that you were using a public records request, I assume this shelter is a municipal shelter? This might depend on state and local laws too, so would you be willing to share the state that the shelter is located in?

I'm not personally familiar with using records requests in this manner, but I imagine there are probably limits to personal info that they can give out. For example, they may not want to give out the name and contact info for adopters to anyone who asks, and this could fall into that kind of privacy concern. 

Is your local rescue community fairly close-knit, with folks who are working with multiple groups? If so, it might be worth to do a friendly, upbeat post on your group's social media explaining that this dog has outstanding pledges to their care, and you would like to help get them fulfilled. Hopefully enough folks will share it to get it to the attention of the group who pulled the dog.

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Emme Hones
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-19-2024 11:47 AM
From: Anonymous Member
Subject: Can a shelter legally withhold the name of a rescue that pulled a dog, if a request is made through a public records request?

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

There's a dog that the shelter claims was pulled by a rescue, however they refuse to give the name of the rescue (even though this dog had a lot of pledges made for his care).  The whole thing seems suspicious that the shelter won't release the name of the rescue.  Can they legally withhold that information?  I did make a public records request but they're taking quite a while to provide the records. Thank you!

#LawsandPublicPolicy

I'm not sure about the legality, but I am sure this was done intentionally to help the pet. Many of our judicial cases are sent out of town or out of state to protect them after the court cases are over. We also try to find rescues for specific cases such as German shepherds or other breeds that need more knowledgeable people or medical issues that bigger rescues can help with better than us. Its not a personal slight against someone. 

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Amber Black
Veterinary Technician
Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare
FL
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-19-2024 11:47 AM
From: Anonymous Member
Subject: Can a shelter legally withhold the name of a rescue that pulled a dog, if a request is made through a public records request?

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

There's a dog that the shelter claims was pulled by a rescue, however they refuse to give the name of the rescue (even though this dog had a lot of pledges made for his care).  The whole thing seems suspicious that the shelter won't release the name of the rescue.  Can they legally withhold that information?  I did make a public records request but they're taking quite a while to provide the records. Thank you!

#LawsandPublicPolicy

We do not give out that information and I have been told by my P.A. that it isn't part of the public records. The fact that it left to rescues would be the only requirement for us to answer. 

There can be very legitimate reasons as to why it has gone on to rescue. Court cases for us always go out of our town to other rescues.  Medical and behavior would be another reason.  The fact that their, second cousin best friend would come in and adopt the dog that they were convicted of abusing and give it right back to them is the main reason we choose to transport to another rescue.  We are a very rural area and have had this happen. 

You would be surprised how many people in a court case would track the dog down and try to adopt it out of that rescue. Or give that rescue a hard time, calling 100 times a day, etc. Even after they have been convicted of abuse and lost custody of the canine. Not everyone has the best of intentions and needs that information. 

I find the fact that you chose to remain anonymous and the way you formed the question, very interesting. I know not all shelters are willing to work with people, but in my cases, I have been and have found myself in a situation of doing what was legal and best for the canine, to be taken as "suspicious" to those that were out to try and return the dog to the abuser. I'm not sure what "pledges for his care" consist of? Does that mean medical bills? Or adoptions? Why are you so concerned? 

If I'm way off base here, my apologies. I realize there are bad apples in every aspect of life, and you might be dealing with a situation that does raise eyebrows of concerns. I just hope they are of the correct reason and it's for what is best for the canine and not human emotional ones. 

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Dee Cummins
Dog Warden/Operations Manager
Meigs County Rescue & Adoption Center
OH
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-19-2024 11:47 AM
From: Anonymous Member
Subject: Can a shelter legally withhold the name of a rescue that pulled a dog, if a request is made through a public records request?

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

There's a dog that the shelter claims was pulled by a rescue, however they refuse to give the name of the rescue (even though this dog had a lot of pledges made for his care).  The whole thing seems suspicious that the shelter won't release the name of the rescue.  Can they legally withhold that information?  I did make a public records request but they're taking quite a while to provide the records. Thank you!

#LawsandPublicPolicy

I ,like the other response don't think its so much not legal withholding,  at our shelter we won't announce any transfers or pulls unless the other party wishes for it to be so. This could be a similar situation. Is there a particular reason you're asking for the information?  The reason behind wanting to know may be something you want to clarify via a lawyer for your state. 

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Kristie Loonam
Social Media Manager -Volunteer
Tri-County Animal Shelter
NC
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-19-2024 11:47 AM
From: Anonymous Member
Subject: Can a shelter legally withhold the name of a rescue that pulled a dog, if a request is made through a public records request?

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

There's a dog that the shelter claims was pulled by a rescue, however they refuse to give the name of the rescue (even though this dog had a lot of pledges made for his care).  The whole thing seems suspicious that the shelter won't release the name of the rescue.  Can they legally withhold that information?  I did make a public records request but they're taking quite a while to provide the records. Thank you!

#LawsandPublicPolicy