Former part-time Fitchburg Animal Shelter manager Amy J. Egeland (aka Amy Leach), and Sean P. Stanton, a professional dog trainer and former part-time animal control officer for Holden, run Balance Your Bully K9 Training Rehabilitation services at 939 High Rock Road.
The 5-acre property is owned by Carol A. Stacy, former owner of the dog kennels and the city's animal control officer from 1976 to 1996. She retired from running the kennels in 2011, and the city leased the kennels at 939 High Rock Road and set up a revolving fund to run a shelter with help from volunteers.
However, the shelter was the subject of a scathing report dated April 29 through May 29 from the state Department of Agricultural Resources Division of Animal Health. It criticized the euthanizing in April of a dog named Capone.
The report found that Ms. Egeland and the former assistant animal control officer conspired to euthanize Capone in violation of state law requiring that strays be held for seven days and the owners be notified. The report alleged that the two city employees tried to involve other people and agencies as a means to "deflect responsibility."
The DAR called the incident “extremely disturbing.”
Additionally, the DAR said Ms. Egeland overstepped her role and usurped duties and responsibilities that belonged to the animal control officer.
Subsequently, the shelter closed, the dogs were transferred to other facilities and Ms. Egeland was let go. Wendy Kovach, owner of the Pink Poodle Kennel in Leominster, took over caring for Fitchburg strays.
More than a year before Capone was killed, the DAR cited poor conditions at the shelter, including leaky roofs, dysfunctional doors that allow cold air into the kennels, broken runs and an inefficient heating system. The report also alleged the shelter was actively soliciting pit bulls from other shelters.
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| The pit bull named Capone |
The report also questioned whether staff at the shelter were trained to handle the sometimes difficult and potentially dangerous dogs, and said the facility lacked written protocols and policies.
Additionally, it said, communication between Animal Control Officer Suzan “Suzie” L. Kowaleski and Ms. Egeland "is problematic and ranges from non-communication to hostility” and recommended the city explore regionalizing shelter and animal control services.
Now Ms. Egeland is running a business that trains dogs with undesirable behaviors, some that have been abused.
But according to the city clerk’s office, Balance Your Bully’s commercial kennel license expired June 3. A three-month license was provided to the business on a trial basis in March.
Police Chief Ernest F. Martineau said Ms. Kowaleski and police inspected the business in June, but were denied access to some of the kennels. Additionally, he said Ms. Egeland has not provided the Ms. Kowaleski with some requested health certificates. Balance Your Bully’s license was not renewed, he said.
Ms. Egeland alleges Ms. Kowaleski “bullied” her during the announced inspection and demanded to inspect a building that was not part of the business’ operations. Additionally, she said, Ms. Kowaleski never communicated with her or Mr. Stanton about whether their license was renewed.
Ms. Egeland is also facing an investigation into animal cruelty and neglect allegations. She says the allegations are being made by former disgruntled shelter volunteers whom she fired for alleged misconduct.
Complaints were made to police about Ms. Egeland, Chief Martineau said, but the investigation was turned over to the MSPCA, he said, because of allegations of bias by Ms. Egeland.
MSPCA spokesman Rob A. Halpin said the investigation is still open.
Some who worked with Ms. Egeland, volunteering at the shelter when she was manager through the Animal Care Education program, allege her philosophies and practices with at-risk animals posed a danger to the public.
Kellie L. Ward from Leominster, a former Animal Care Education volunteer who also worked as an animal care technician at the Worcester Animal Rescue League for two years and is trained through the state to evaluate dogs, said she is concerned about the public’s safety. As shelter manager, she said, Ms. Egeland would allegedly adopt out violent dogs who bit people and attacked other dogs without reporting it. One dog denied care died in its kennel overnight, she said. Ms. Egeland denies the allegations.
Additionally, Ms. Ward said, on numerous occasions dogfights broke out and injured dogs were denied veterinary care because Ms. Egeland did not want to file a report.
“I fear that she doesn’t have the expertise nor the desire to learn,” Ms. Ward said. “That is what scares me the most. She keeps making the same mistakes, and they’re costly and deadly mistakes.”
Sally Cragin, a former founder of ACE who left the organization after the DAR released its report on the shelter, said she complained to the parks department because Ms. Egeland and Mr. Stanton were allegedly training dogs in the city’s public parks.
On June 7, Monique Tagliavia of Fitchburg was bitten at the Whisker Walk at the Bolton fairgrounds by a dog Mr. Stanton was rehabilitating, according to a police report. Ms. Tagliavia’s upper and lower lips were lacerated, the report said, and she was taken to Clinton Hospital.
“I was not on site much in the year before (the shelter) closed,” Ms. Cragin said. “When I read the state report with numerous instances of cruelty and death of animals, I began speaking to people who have volunteered up there. I am dismayed at the lack of responsiveness of authorities because, so far, these individuals have gotten a free pass from paying for numerous and avoidable human injuries and animal deaths.”
(Telegram - Aug 14, 2015)
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