WEBSTER, Mass. - Some Webster residents are pushing for more details in the town’s response to concerns about unsanitary conditions at the Webster Animal Control Shelter. 

A report from the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Health dated March 15 detailed hazardous conditions for animals that had been living there during the inspection, including a strong odor of ammonia, excessive amounts of rodent fecal matter and no documentation to give state inspectors any information on the animals living there. 

“We need to talk about this, because this can never happen,” said Kristine Fox, a concerned citizen. “Not only Webster. Across the country, we can’t turn a blind eye to neglect.”

Fox, a Webster resident, helps animal welfare organizations rescue neglected animals, and learned of the shelter’s condition days after the report was complied. She said concerns date back at least ten years among those aware of the deteriorating shelter.

She learned the city’s animal control officer had recently retired, and animals who had been staying there were moved to a safer location. 

“Unfortunately, I did not know about this situation until I met one of the previous dogs of this neglect situation,” Fox said. “The smell of that dog, I will never get out of my nose. And for officials to allow this?”

Town Administrator Richard LaFond said the Division of Animal Health’s inspection was arranged by the town after people continued to voice concerns, adding that the now-retired animal control officer had been in her position for more than two decades working on a part-time basis with "few resources."

They’ve since hired a new full-time animal control officer. 

“It was clear to us that a part-time control officer was certainly not even close to the resources we needed to put towards this function,” LaFond said. “So I hired a full time officer. The police department has assigned a lieutenant to oversee the function and total training is in place for both the animal control officer and lieutenant.”

Those who had been asking for the town to take action are still wondering why more light wasn’t shed on the state of the shelter sooner, and have additional questions left unanswered during a public forum Monday night at the police station. 

As Fox and other concerned residents continue digging into the situation, she looks forward to better days ahead for the shelter. 

“Bottom line, all the animals got adopted, they're all living the good life, as I know of,” Fox said. “So that's just the end of this. But we're hoping for the future with the new animal control officer, none of this happens to any of them.”

LaFond said he understands people’s concerns and their passion for protecting animal rights.

“We certainly owe some of these advocates some gratitude for their advocacy, which I certainly appreciate where they're coming from,” LaFond said. “And I think that level of advocacy certainly helps motivate the town.”