EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso Animal Services is facing allegations after “Paws for Promise” came forward on social media, stating that animals have come back with issues from Animal Services’ procedures.
A representative from the local, non-profit dog rescue “Paws of Promise” took her concerns to social media with a Facebook video.
The representative explained that multiple “Paws of Promise” dogs that were sent to Animal Services have come back with wounds and issues they did not have before being dropped off.
“These dogs have already been abandoned, neglected, and abused,” she said. “Animal Services is supposed to be their safe haven.”
She reportedly met with Michael Wachsmann, interim director of El Paso Animal Services, regarding three dogs that came back to her with injuries and infections.
That same morning, she was told that one of the five puppies she took to animal services was found in a puddle after someone had left the cage open.
However, she later learned that the puppy was not in a puddle but had ended up in a sewer drain immediately following the puppy’s surgery.
She stated that if she had known what truly happened, she could have taken action.
“I had been told before that because “Paws of Promise” has a partnership with the city, I shouldn’t bad-mouth Animal Services, but a partnership will never buy my silence, she said.
Wachsmann said as of Tuesday, September 15, “Paws of Promise” is still an active partner with El Paso Animal Services; however, there is a temporary pause due to the allegations brought up against the chief veterinarian.
“Paws of Promise is an active partner; the relationship goes back years,” Wachsmann said. “In order to investigate concerns, we put a temporary pause on that partnership until they can be ironed out.”
Wachsmann stated they plan to announce to the council once the investigation is complete.
“We don’t want to rush to judgment on the allegations, do find them to be serious, and so we do in turn want to have a serious investigation into those allegations.”
Wachsmann told KTSM 9 News that they have had active email conversations and ab in-person meeting with Paws of Promise two days before the petition was started.
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