Animal control official suspended over conduct

INDIANA -- The head of Indianapolis Animal Care and Control will serve a two day, unpaid suspension for his actions during a sweep of animal shelters and businesses on January 15, Call 6 Investigator Kara Kenney reported.

Dan Shackle, administrator for Indianapolis Animal Care and Control, will be on suspension on Monday and Tuesday.

Al Larsen, spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety, said Shackle notified two of the 23 locations in advance of the sweep.

Dan Shackle

The Department of Public Safety conducted a review after they learned that some organizations may have received a “heads up” on the multi-agency sweep, which included the Department of Code Enforcement.

“It was a mistake we were very disappointed in and don’t want to see repeated,” Larsen said. “We gathered the facts. We don’t’ believe it was malicious intent.”

Shackle told Kenney he gave the Humane Society of Indianapolis and the Southside Animal Shelter a heads up the sweep was coming.

“In retrospect, it was not the right thing to do,” said Shackle. “There was no ill intent involved.”
Shackle said the organizations are working together to make sure animals get out alive.

“We’ve done inspections for a number of years and will continue to do them,” said Shackle.

(WRTV Indianapolis-Jan 31, 2014)