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More allegations against Animal Services director

By Bennett Haeberle WDRB-TV Fox 41 News

Internal e-mails, memos and documents surfaced Thursday accusing Dr. Gilles Meloche of stabbing kittens in the heart with a lethal dose of drugs and handing out medication improperly.

The documents were released by Councilman Kelly Downard in response to an open records request from Meloche's former business partner, Michelle Hensel.

Downard chairs the Metro Council's government accountability and oversight committee,  which has been looking into Metro Animal Services for months.

"I think a clean sweep would have been a better idea," said Kelly Downard, 16th District councilman, referring to the current state of the city's animal services deparment.

Meloche, who has led the department since 2005, resigned last week amid scrutiny. He has been accused of mismanagement, sexual harassment and mistreating animals.

One memo inside the 100-plus-paged packet accuses Dr. Gilles Meloche of improperly euthanizing three kittens by injecting them with a lethal dose of drugs.

The complaint filed in May by another Metro Animal Services employee says Dr. Meloche "injected Sodium Pentobarbital directly into the heart of three kittens that were still conscious."

One employee said she "was shocked" the issue had not been addressed.

That employee, Dawn Simpson, is now suing the city and Meloche for sexual harassment.

A separate internal memo accuses Meloche of improperly distributing medicine to the Animal Adoption Agency in Middletown. The memo says a female employee warned Meloche he could be breaking the law.

"I told Dr. Meloche that prescribing medications without documentation was a violation of the Kentucky Veterinary Practice Act."

Michelle Hensel says she never received any medication from Meloche or MAS.

"I never received anything. There is no documentation for that. Dr. Meloche has never delivered me any medication," said Hensel.

Michelle Hensel, the owner of the Animal Adoption Agency, says she never received any medications even though her agency's agreement with Metro Animal Services included providing medicine and supplies.

Metro Animal Services and Hensel forged a partnership in Nov. 2008 and agreed to share animals and split the profits. That partnership ended after a recent city auditor's report found the agencies had "inadequate controls" when it came to tracking revenue and monitoring how many animals were adopted.

Last month, Mike Norman told a Metro Council committee there was no way to tell how much money the city lost or gained because of the partnership.

Hensel claims she has invested more than $300,000 to start up the now-defunct Animal Adoption Agency. Her open records request is part of her own investigation. She is considering suing the city for money she claims she is owed.

On Thursday, Hensel faxed Fox 41 News several receipts she claims indicate she received medicine properly from other veterinarians.

"I think the atmosphere at MAS needs a big change," said Downard.

Councilman Kelly Downard released the records after Hensel had submitted numerous open records requests.

"I'm happy to let her have it. My concern was for the employees all along and the retribution," said Downard.

Downard said he withheld the documents until learning of Meloche's resignation last week. Hensel agreed that Meloche should resign, but still defends him.

"I never saw behavior like that from Dr. Meloche. I saw neglect from other veterinarians there," said Hensel.

Neither Meloche nor a spokeswoman for the department would agree to be interviewed for this report.

Meloche's resignation will take effect Dec. 31st.