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

Open Letter, Parvo Puppies Shelter, HSHC

 

                                                                                                            March 13, 2025

 

Open letter to the community, board members, staff and residents of the Harford County Humane Society,

            As a private veterinary practice owner, previous volunteer at the shelter and compassionate advocate for animal welfare I would like to open a productive discussion to assist in providing transparency and preventative/interventional care for the animals in your care. This letter is a direct result of the current parvovirus outbreak that occurred the week of March 9, 2025 and my previous experiences with the shelter.

I, and the staff at Jarrettsville Veterinary Center, want to offer our support and acknowledgment of understanding with the impossibility to remain free and impervious to infectious disease. No shelter, hospital, or organization can be vigilant enough to remain disease free. Infectious disease outbreaks, and the subsequent turmoil they bring, cannot be underestimated or overstated. It is a reality that every pet care professional lives with and fears regardless of our fastidious efforts to avoid it. The shelter has been, and will always be, the most vulnerable and fragile environment for our companion animals. What the shelter also needs to be is the most proactive, prepared and educated resource for this inevitable vulnerability. I have great doubt that the current executive personnel and board members provide adequate care for the pets inside the shelter. I also believe this example presents significant deficiencies in the current decision making for companion animal welfare and infectious disease outbreaks for the shelter residents. Further, these cases provide an example for how the current ethos affects the shelter staff.

It is unknown how many animals were at risk, (i.e. not current on vaccinations to protect against parvovirus), tested, tested positive, sick, or euthanized, (and in what condition as examined by a licensed veterinarian), upon euthanasia. It is also very difficult for me personally to know that there were any dogs euthanized without first being offered care at no cost. Did the Board, executives, (whomever made this decision to euthanize), even know that there is an FDA approved treatment option? Did you know it was being offered at no cost? If so, why was it not provided?

Trust and transparency are the foundation to compassionate care in the shelter system. It is with these in mind that I would like to highlight the following;

Transparency is closing the shelter when infectious disease becomes apparent. It is also notifying and assisting the recent adoptions who may have been impacted.

 

Trust is including all members of the team so that their input, emotional investment and exposure which might subject their own family pets to disease contracted in the workplace feel valued and protected.

To have the degree of trust the community deserves, and the degree of compassion the pet residents warrant can only be done with a licensed veterinary doctor at the forefront of all of the medical decisions these pets face.

The financial risk at the shelter has always felt like it was paramount to the pets, the staff and the community. I say this with the following examples as points of concern;

The last executive director was removed and placed out of view, without explanation. It appears this was done after an internal audit occurred. The shelter has a chronic epidemic of losing, firing, removing personnel at alarming rates. As a volunteer veterinarian, and knowing previous Executive Directors and veterinarians there are consistent concerns that pet care is never at the forefront of life and death decisions. Currently it is speculated that pets are being euthanized for behavioral concerns at an alarming rate. Are there any checks and balances to these pets being put to death? Is there more than one credentialed person who is not related to one another making these decisions?

The Board should never be making medical decisions without a veterinarian’s advice as the guiding influence from the onset. The Board has instead consistently chosen to protect liability above the resident pets lives. It has been my experience that the financial face is consistently placed above the faces of the pets that you care for. It is possible to be honest, vulnerable and maintain integrity that the pets are our purpose.

The timeline as distributed by representatives appears to insinuate that parvovirus was present before the March 10^th press release. Was there a veterinarian overseeing the residents, intake and public interactions at the first positive case? Has anyone taken responsibility for these decisions?

Timeline for assistance as provided by JVC is as follows;

Monday March 10, 2025 immediately after I was notified of an outbreak, I called and offered assistance of any kind needed. The veterinarian on staff given full access to veterinary representatives for parvovirus monoclonal antibody use at no cost.  

Tuesday, March 11, 3 pm called Executive Director, no call back as of Thursday afternoon when this was sent.

Wednesday, March 12, 1047 am, XXX, shelter vet care assistant, called to notify that 4 positive dogs had been euthanized. She stated that their condition “deteriorated rapidly.” I would like to know who made this decision, what their veterinary credentials are, and if any of these pets were considered for free care with the monoclonal antibody offered.

It is my understanding that a dog was adopted out and then tested parvovirus positive due to exposure at the HCHS. Were these adopters notified before their dog became sick? It was also relayed to me that the newly adoptive pet parents were given two options from the HCHS; return to be euthanized, or, seek care at their own cost. If this is true I find the response unacceptable. It is so upsetting that I took it upon myself to reach out to the ER they were at to offer treatment at no cost to them in your absent responsibility to do the right thing to a family who deserves support and compassion at this time.

To summarize I am asking for full disclosure on the current ethos that guides this shelter. I am seeking accountability, responsibility and appropriate credentialed experts to be guiding these pets lives. For all of the donations, dollars, fund drives, and face put forth there is not a degree of trust that personnel dismissed for (alleged) embezzlement, neglect and political reputation preservation are made public. Why have the past directors been dismissed/fired/let go? Where are the dollars the community has worked so hard for gone? When will your staff be given the reigns to care for the pets in your care without liability and cost used as the reasons to sacrifice their emotional well-being? When are you going to be honest about why the budget is so tight that it does not allow the pets in your care the treatment they deserve. It appears to me that you are more interested in covering up than caring for.

While I recognize the degree of difficulty inherent in a public county shelter, I also recognize integrity and responsibility to all that the shelter employs and houses.

It is time for hard self-reflection, honesty and putting the pets back where the public expects them to be; first.

It is time to protect the pets of our community better.

As always, we are here in any capacity that we can assist in the health and well-being of the pets of our community. All you have to do is ask and we will help.

Sincerely,

Dr Magnifico

Jarrettsville Veterinary Center

P.S.

I was asked to not publish this while we, (I will just say I, because at this point it appears as if this is a singular effort in namesake), sought the appropriate chain of command channels. This resulted in the others (credentialled, established, embedded members of the HCHS) tried to decide what their responsibilities and personal preferences were. This should have been sent weeks ago.

The Year Of Year Around Care, Transparency, and Accessibility. How Jarrettsville Vet Will Redefine Exceptional Patient Care.

2016 was a banner year for us at Jarrettsville Vet. It was really the first year we started to both think and act way outside of the traditional veterinary clinic box.

We were always a little different. Something I embraced a long time ago. I wasn't cut from the cloth of everyone else and I have learned the very hard and painful way that I could be exactly who I felt compelled to be without fear of castigation and shame as long as I stayed true to who I had always dreamt I wanted to be. At some point you grow out of the ability to force yourself into a mold you foolishly think others believe you should fit into. It is a combination of maturity meets exhaustion when you just cannot be at peace with yourself any longer. Last year was the year I really gave up trying to do anything else except help animals. Last year was a banner year because of this. All of that sweating the small stuff of being responsible for payroll, bills, and overhead gets, well,,, old. It inhibits your freedom to be creative, to live beyond possessions and when you are a dreamer at heart it is a parasite on your vision.

In 2016 we helped rescue, tame, care for, vaccinate, spay/neuter and find amazing homes for over 60 cats. We also helped about a dozen dogs. It was a sincere pleasure and delight to see emaciated, frightened parasite and disease ridden skeletons blossom into jubilant healthy joyful love bugs, and then head off into a life of their own. It happened over, and over, and over. So much so that many of us actually didn't recognize them when they returned to be spayed and neutered. 

We also opened the kennel up to any pet who needed shelter on the hottest, or, coldest days of the year. We helped feral cats in snow storms, homeless pets from freezing in cars, and even a chicken who forgot to shed feathers in the Spring versus the Fall. Did the pragmatic vet in me whisper about fear of staff being bitten by unknown pets? Yes. Did I worry about giving up paid tenant space to a poor homeless kid? Yes. Did I secretly fear that some random uncared for pet might cause a disease outbreak? Sure I did. But at the end of the day, and at the closure of 2016, I know that my heart, and the hearts of the staff who work so hard to help every pet we take care of, believe the purpose of JVC is to "always be kind." We live it.

This year also marked the beginning of our JVC Food Pantry. The simple extension of providing vet care and shelter without cost to those who need it, also now extends to feeding those who do not have the means to buy food. 

We also had a work shop day to make outdoor cat shelters. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our friends at Gemmill Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning we made a dozen  cat houses (that got snatched up in less than 24 hours) for the cats who do not have a warm inside bed to share with their humans. The shelters were offered to anyone who needed them for the suggested donation cost of $7.00. We provided them for free if this was not affordable. (PS please visit the Gemmill's and send a big Thank You!). It was such a resounding success that we are doing it again this Thursday.

This year our Spring Yard Sale was a huge success too! We raised about $2,000 from vendor donations and friends who donated every thing imaginable. Our Pets With Santa also raised about $2500 for the Good Sam Fund. Two fundraisers provided food, lodging, feral cat care, homeless pet assistance, and a litany of good deeds.

Did I ever imagine that every single pet need would be covered by our community pitching in to help? Well, it far surpassed my wildest dreams! I thought I would just end up doing a whole lot of pro bono work to fulfill the presumed endless need, but, it turned out the outpouring of support far outnumbered the need.

Simple things like posting our Price Guide. Putting our transparency where our mouth is provided proof that we have no hidden agenda other than to be the place that your pet is provided the best care at the most affordable prices. It is what I would want if I was the person sitting and waiting in the exam room. I would want to know that my worries would be treated with respect, fairness and dignity. There are endless options as long as the team approach remains focused on helping your pet. Where there is love there are options to help preserve and protect this bond.

So what is new for us in 2017? Well there is a lot!

We are going to be offering Pet Savings Plans to help spread out the yearly costs of pet care. We are going to provide options to preventatives. You can choose the "Easy Preventative Plan" the "Most Affordable Preventative Plan" or, the "Preferred Preventative Plan". We will even send you reminders for them, AND, we will show you what the online pharmacy charge for the same preventative is. (Look out Progressive Insurance,, Move over Flo!)

We are offering new services, new client options for goods and services and we are going to do it with credibility and integrity. The heart and soul are complimentary and always included.

Accessibility has been a key factor in our ability to help our clients. If you need us you can find us anytime via a Facebook message, a question on Pawbly.com (free!), or, coming in late Spring via our app. I also widely publish my email address for all clients. If you don't have it call me and ask for it. It is on every receipt and end of examination Pet Report Card.

What else is there to do? Well, I am going to move mountains, break ceilings, and shatter myths about veterinary medicine. If there is one veterinary demon left to slay it is that I am not going to stop until every pet has a home, every creature has a warm bed, a full belly and a loving hand to share their life with. How can I do this? I am going to keep finding ways to end the ridiculous practice of economic euthanasia. What is economic euthanasia? It is the veterinary profession's way of saying "the only option for you is to euthanize your pet because we can't offer you more affordable options." It is the sequela of abandonment of where this profession came from and legal sheltering of pets still only being considered as "property". We can do better. I am going to challenge the profession to see the shame and the betrayal in this term.

For anyone who might not be confident in the ability to have faith that the new year won't bring positive changes I invite you to stick close, find us, and watch what can happen when you don't care about anything else except building positive change. Is it possible? Yes, if you believe and you dare to be different. Here's to 2017!

Related blogs;

Price Guide 2016

Economic Euthanasia

What is Pawbly?

Pet Savings Plan, JVC Plan For Clients with Financial Constraints

Jarrettsville Vet Pet Food Pantry

Borrowing Battery Juice

Wellness Plans and Savings Plans, and Surprises

What do you think? Is change in veterinary care possible? Is it something you think needs to happen? If you have a voice for better pet care please share it.

If you can help a pet in need please find us at Pawbly.com. It is a free open online community dedicated to helping pets and their people.

I am also on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and at the clinic helping every wet nose and furry friend.