Dear HSSC Supporter: You may have heard about a concerning situation involving two dogs that is getting attention on social media and in our community.

The story circulating makes it sound like we heartlessly turned away two dogs desperately in need of care. To be sure, there was miscommunication, and a confusing situation could have been handled differently. We followed our legal procedures based on the information we had at that time, and I want you to hear the facts and the context around this directly from me.

First and foremost, our Humane Investigations team continues to review the circumstances surrounding the condition of the dogs and will pursue criminal charges if cause is found.

Why are the dogs not in our possession? Our Humane Agents were faced with one of our most difficult situations. The dogs were brought to us by, we’re sure, a well-meaning individual who removed them from an abandoned trailer and decided the dogs needed more extensive care than she could provide. The person, however, did not make clear that she had permission from the trailer’s landlord, who’d evicted the tenants, to remove the dogs. Further adding to the confusion, the landlord had reached out to us and left a message earlier about the dogs, but we had been unable to connect after multiple attempts.

Given our agents’ inability to establish whether the dogs were legally seized, we could not take them in. We must follow strict legal protocols for the removal of animals.

I completely understand and share in the instinct to help animals in need. That instinct comes from a place of compassion, but intervening incorrectly can compromise an active investigation and may impede our ability to hold an animal owner legally accountable for cruelty, neglect or abandonment. This is not bureaucracy. It’s following the law.

As always, I welcome any questions or concerns you have about this or any matter involving HSSC. Your support is critical in fulfilling our mission of caring and advocating for vulnerable animals.

Sincerely,

Joleen Cicchinelli
Board Chair,
Humane Society of Summit County