KANSAS CITY - The St. Louis County Public Health Department that has control of Animal Care and Control is again accepting applications for volunteers at the shelter.
Prior to St. Louis County taking back control of the shelter from the APA, there were hundreds of volunteers. But Public Health Director Doctor Kanika Cunningham had volunteers re-apply for their positions and stated she was starting a pilot volunteer program. According to Cunningham they ended up with about 80 volunteers. She now says in a release the feedback from the "pilot" program was well received.
Animal Care and Control is operating without a license. Missouri's Agriculture Department will not issue a license because the facility has failed three inspections. KMOX has reached out to the AG department asking why ACC is being allowed to remain open. The person we need to speak with, Christi Miller, says she is out of the office this week. When asked if available for an interview next week, we have not received a response yet.
Tomorrow, Thursday at 3:30, the St. Louis County Council will have a committee of the whole meeting, probing the parvovirus outbreak at Animal Care and Control and the shelter's response. This meeting is open to the public.
Chairwoman Rita Heard Days tells KMOX, they are trying to get to the bottom of several issues, including why Doctor Doug Pernikoff, who was the veterinary medical director abruptly resigned amid the parvo outbreak. Says also said she had no idea the shelter was denied licensure until it became public.
St. Louis County public health officials have never explained why Pernikoff left so suddenly. Late last week, public health announced they have a new director for Animal Care and Control, Malik Johnson. He is a public health administrator, not a veterinarian, nor does his Linkedin account show he has any animal shelter experience.
KMOX sunshine requested this document Pernikoff sent to the Agriculture Department during the outbreak.
Letter to MO Ag DepartmentSt. Louis County
St. Louis County
St. Louis County
St. Louis County
