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Animal Services reviews records

By Bennett Haeberle WDRB-TV Fox 41 News

Metro Animals Services is conducting an internal review based on the belief that public records within the department might have been intentionally lost, destroyed or concealed.

That revelation surfaced as members of the Metro Council government oversight committee had convened to ask questions about a recent auditor's report. That report found Metro Animal Services had "inadequate internal controls."

The department's director, Dr. Gilles Meloche, offered little detail and refused to answer a reporter's questions.

BH: "You can't answer any questions. Why is that?"
Meloche: "No."

BH: "I'm not done. I've a got a couple of more questions. You're going to continue to dodge questions?"

Meloche walked away and refused to answer after it was revealed his department was conducting a review is based on the "apparent intentional misplacement, concealment or destruction of public records" related to its partnership with the Animal Adoption Agency in Middletown.

"Wow, that's really strong and that didn't have anything to do" with what was being discussed, said Metro Council member Kelly Downard, R - District 16.

A review this summer by city auditor Mike Norman found Metro Animal Services had "inadequate controls" in tracking revenue and animal adoption records with AAA.

"No money was lost by the government because everything has been checked," said Dr. Gilles Meloche, Metro Animal Services

Meloche said the trial partnership cut down on euthanasia and helped the city.

Norman said his department "really did not how much revenue we should have gotten, however the records they provided we were able to look at the accuracy of the documentation. We're they complete? We couldn't determine that."

The partnership has since ended. Norman said both agencies cooperated and that a better computer system would have helped with tracking revenue and inventory.

When asked what corrective steps his department has made since the auditor's report was published in September, Meloche refused to answer citing the current internal review.

Neither county attorney Matt Lemme or Meloche would talk about what spurred the internal review.

Councilwoman Tina-Ward Pugh asked why this was even mentioned if the assertions might not be true. 

Chad Carlton, a spokesman for Mayor Jerry Abramson, said the office was aware of the matter but could offer no other details.

Michelle Hensel, the head of AAA, told Fox 41 News she didn't realize her organization was a "test-trial." Hensel says she's spent more than $40,000 trying to save animals.

Hensel added that she's "done nothing wrong" and still supports Meloche.