...and in today's news, as we strive for transparency..

The parvovirus post from the Humane Society of Harford County disappeared from their website today (6/1/25), or very recently.

Here is the blog with the post they made; 

The HSHC response to the parvovirus outbreak, March 2025

Here it is,, and the prologue holds true.

I won't be posting any videos on this subject for a while.. or, at least until the next piece of news breaks. There is more to come.

If anyone with first hand knowledge of the care, activities, and treatment of the people or animals of the shelter and wants to share it I recommend that you seek legal council first. I have collected too much sensitive information, attempted unsuccessfully too many times to send it to the appropriate overseeing authorities and been left feeling, as those before me have, like it is futile to stay within this organization or the county, for any meaningful scrutiny, change, or sense of ethical responsible oversight. I will be here to help in anyway I can. If the shelter, or anyone for that matter, called me and asked for help we will provide it in anyway we can.

Late edit; 6/2/25, the Parvo News post is back up;

My guess, well, it was out there already. Can't undue that. Makes you look sort of like you are hiding something.

Letter to the County Council

It was told to me this week that the current President of the County Council is seeking to run for the County Executive seat, and that for matters that relate simmply to do with "electability" neither is going to step up and take this matter seriously.

..and why should they? What's more electable than a dog, or, a cat? Perhaps they are just too reluctant to be kind? Show compassion as a way of building a base? Or, maybe they won't pick a hot topic for fear of being burned. Either way, I have personally sent out an olive branch, and a plea for help, all for the sake of the animals of our community.

To date I have gotten 1 phone call from the County Council President, who did say his door was always open, and that he would give the same opportunity that he gave the HSHC for their Q&A (as one sided as it was), to provide an open public forum for the public to speak. But since that first meeting I have yet to receive any other replies, or feedback. Not super constructive if the door closes when the heat gets turned on. I think that he would reiterate that the council wants these exchanges to be civil and respectful, I wouldn't argue that, but, the field has to be level before the rules are set. 

 Hello,

I appreciate the time you took to speak to my husband and I on a weekend. I also appreciated the attempt to provide a forum for the people to express their thoughts about the HSHC.

I am not sure if all of this is completely in vain, or if I will ever get a genuine response back from anyone, but I am going to keep trying and not become like everyone else, accepting the same fate as everyone else, who is so passionate about this situation. People have given up hope. What are we without this?

Maybe it isn’t relatable to some, but for us our pets are our life. I keep trying to put into words how impactful pets are to our lives. The lives of people who invest everything they are into them. The people who need service dogs to get through the day medically, and/or emotionally. The people who cannot sleep at night without the gentle heartbeat of their companions beside them. The people who won’t leave abusive homes for fear of the pets being hurt. The people who go to war zones to try to help the animals there. The list goes on and on. I am one of all of these people. I am not alone. I am, however, one of the very few who will keep standing up for those who cannot.

I cannot underscore how many people are upset about the current state of affairs at the shelter. I also cannot underscore how many people are afraid to speak up. This is because people are being treated like I am. We are given half truths, ignored, or reminded that we are not a part of an inner circle of decision making and power. Perhaps you don’t see it because you do not have the perspective to do so, but, every council meeting I have heard, seen, or witnessed in person has an air of insider bias that makes the whole experience even more discouraging for the outsider. Please remember this as you all look down upon the crowd gathered and preen each others feathers publicly. I would hope none of us would ever walk into a court room feeling like the judge, jury and opposing side all socialize together and make this obvious from the onset. It really feels like the good ole boys club. I appreciate living and working in a small town, but, this is a serious issue with serious consequences and an appearance of everyone trying to catch the water in the boiling pot (my favorite analogy of the last meeting) simply so they can go back to their regular routine. Back to the Italian club and the rotary.  While the council and Board wait for the mob to calm down, and go away.  There are no hard questions being asked and no answers being provided that indicates anything will change. No one is trying to take the kettle off the stove. Just catch water and hope the pot runs dry. Perhaps, as you say the wheels of government run slow, but the last meeting was not a fair and level playing field. It was, under your direction, an attempt that continued to display a bias. I hope that you recognize its intent was flawed by its design.

There is a lie, postured and alluded to as a half truth within the county. It is, for reasons I hope I never understand, allowed to persist. The HSHC has funds missing, they do not want to admit it, they want to keep it quiet until they get their taxpayer funding, and no one feels compelled by common ethical decency to admit it? To say that it cannot be discussed because it is under investigation after admitting it hasn’t been reported is also a half truth I see as a misleading statement. Further this was provided after a 10 minute long (one sided conversation that had no time limits on it, why 3 minutes for the rest of us?) opening introduction with excessive preening of all of the HSHC board members as outstanding members of the county. Further compounded as a club by the explanation as to how the members are chosen. The taxpayers should absolutely be informed that they fund 60% of an exclusive private club who will do what they want however they choose to and then pardon mistakes by way of plausible deniability and lack of accountability.

The public and the animals deserve better.

As a person who has taken an oath to the constitution and the state I ask you to do better.  I am also asking all of the deciding members of the board, county government, and shelter to do better.
Transparency was a tag line with no evidence to support it and trust was not the sequela to that attempt.

My family and the family of my fellow clients, community, deserves better.

Sincerely,
Krista Magnifico
USCG licensed master
USN LT CDR reserve retired
Wife USG Cdr 30 years of service, retired
DVM
Former Volunteer HCHS Veterinarian
Volunteer animal rescue veterinarian in  Ukraine wartime 2022


Thank you for your service

photo credit belongs to a friend

The video of the meeting referred to above can be found here

Shelter Feeding Guidelines. No, Once A Day IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH

One of the most furiating cost saving measures I heard about at the Humane Society of Harford County, is that they reduced the feeding schedule to once a day as a cost saving measure.

Here are the recommendations from the experts; What we call "best practice" standards.

Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters- 2x daily

https://jsmcah.org/index.php/jasv/article/view/42/20

The amount and frequency of feeding vary depending on life stage, species, size, activity level, health status of the animal, and the particular diet chosen. Ideally, healthy adult dogs are fed twice daily, and cats are fed multiple small meals or allowed to forage throughout the day. When managing starved animals or those with unique nutritional needs, veterinary input must be sought. Healthy puppies and kittens as well as lactating and pregnant animals must be fed small amounts frequently or have food available through the day (i.e. free-choice).

ASPCA PRO for Shelters- 2x

Feeding Frequency 

All animals should be fed on a predictable schedule to provide enrichment, reward, and to reduce stress. Ideally, all animals are offered food at minimum twice daily with food intake monitored throughout the day. Uneaten food should be discarded and replaced at least every 24 hours.  

• In breeds like deep-chested or large breed dogs, feeding two smaller meals may reduce risk of life-threatening bloat and gastric torsion which occurs when an animal eats quickly and takes in excessive air.  

Best friends- 2x daily

Should you change your dog’s diet over the course of his or her life?

You should change your dog’s diet according to age and special needs requirements. Most puppies are eating dry puppy food by six weeks of age; they need three or four small fresh meals offered throughout the day. At six months, puppies can go down to two meals per day.

https://bestfriends.org/pet-care-resources/feeding-your-dog#:~:text=Most%20puppies%20are%20eating%20dry,his%20growth%20through%20diet%20change.

Why is feeding twice a day so important?

These animals are under a high degree of stress, much higher than a normal at-home-couch-potato dog. They need extra calories. Even if they don't "look" stressed, they are. It is a noisy, bustling place. Lots of people, animals, noise. Think of being in a county holding facility, I guarantee your gi tract is going to tell you that your body is stressed. 

These dogs look forward to food. Because, they are hungry, if they aren't so stressed out that they are nauseous. Then the whole catabolic body system forces the immune system into overdrive. Ever wonder why disease runs a much higher risk to shelter animals? This is part of the equation.

Some dogs are so hungry that they resource guard. They are under great scrutiny at the shelter to be deemed "safe for adoption." Some of these dogs are just afraid of losing their food so they guard it. Want to know how many animals are euthanized at the shelter due to behavioral issues? I don't because I am worried this current feeding schedule will exacerbate the aggression/fear/anxiety.