WILLIAMSTOWN, Vt. (WCAX) – Despite long-running allegations of animal cruelty at an Orange County animal rescue, Vermont wildlife officers say the Williamstown shelter is at present in compliance with state legal guidelines.
Animal advocate and canine habits guide Laurie Lawless says she has issues in regards to the animals at Hedi’s Haven rescue in Williamstown. “Desperate need of medical care for the animals there,” she stated.
Photos despatched to WCAX from contained in the rescue shine a lightweight on issues that Lawless and others have been elevating in regards to the situation of the animals and the standard of life inside the power. “The grime, the dirt, the cobwebs — all those things I saw in those pictures got my attention,” Lawless stated.
The shelter run by Sheila McGregor has been within the information regularly over the years, from when it was shut down in Ferrisburgh in 2018, to as just lately as this summer time at its present location. In September, McGregor rejected allegations of poor care and informed us she takes care of the animals. “It’s just gossip. I mean, you are in the media, you seriously don’t know people just lie, I mean they just lie,” she stated, whereas rejecting a reporter’s request to go to.
Complaints have been lodged with the city and state authorities in regards to the circumstances and remedy of the animals and now Lawless is organizing a protest as a result of what she calls an absence of response from authorities. “We want the officials who are supposed to be stepping in to help these animals, to help these animals. There are animals that are suffering on that property,” she stated.
But we realized that state authorities did examine the complaints towards Heidi’s Haven. A Fish and Wildlife recreation warden stopped by in October for a compliance test together with a veterinarian and two vet techs.
“With consent of the owner, they did a visual inspection of all the animals that were on the site. And the vet determined there was no reason or exigency to seize or remove any of the animals,” stated Vermont Game Warden Lt. Robert Currier. He says 72 animals have been inspected. The vet went into one of many enclosures and so they inspected one other enclosure in September. It’s unclear if McGregor was notified forward of time. “Right now, the veterinarian, the game wardens, the state’s attorney, and Ms. McGregor are working on a compliance plan moving forward which will allow the vet to do site visits and also suggest any changes that need to occur on the property.”
Lawless says she doubts the state’s findings within the Heidi’s Haven case however will now flip her focus to pushing for a brand new state legislation to control animal shelters. “It’s definitely a Montpelier issue 100%,” she stated. “There is no centralized oversight, that is the problem.”
Legislation is within the works that addresses animal cruelty investigations, rules and licensing for rescues and shelters, and rules for transporting animals into the state.
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