Merrillville Animal Control undergoes shakeup – Chicago Tribune - Chicago Tribune

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The Town of Merrillville’s Animal Control is undergoing a major retooling after an incident with a dog that resulted in its animal control lead getting transferred to code enforcement.

The incident came to light during Tuesday night’s Town Council meeting during public comment. Ana Smith, who works with local animal rescues, told the council that Animal Control officer Barbara Breger had contacted her at the end of January for help with an injured “German Shepherd” at the corner of 77th and Whitcomb.

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Smith said she met Breger at the scene with a trap, which Breger helped her set up but then left for a meeting. Because animal shelters across the county are packed with animals, Smith said she asked Breger where they would be taking the dog once she caught it; Breger told her Gary, with which the town has an agreement since Merrillville has no facility to house strays.

Smith was able to catch the dog — a pit bull mix, Smith discovered pretty quickly — but when she tried to call Breger back, Breger didn’t respond for two hours, Smith said. When Breger finally did call back, she said the town had no place for the dog, at which point Smith insisted Breger have a supervisor call her immediately.

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It was then, Smith said, that Breger offered a solution she said was sanctioned by the supervisor: As a former animal control darter, which is someone who shoots darts to tranquilize animals, she had drugs and would euthanize the dog the next day.

Smith was horrified.

“Who authorized this dog to be euthanized?” Smith said. “Thank God Lake County Animal Control stepped up and took her. Turns out, she didn’t have a broken leg — just a injured paw pad.”

Breger didn’t return a call for comment.

Smith was further incensed that instead of getting fired, Breger was transferred to the town’s Code Enforcement department.

“Why does this woman have these drugs in her possession? The (Drug Enforcement Agency) needs to be involved,” Smith said. “What kind of show are we running, here? Why aren’t we reaching out to rescues? Gary does better!

“We are Merrillville. We’re better than Gary, we’re better than East Chicago, we’re better than Hammond. How can Gary hold 45 dogs, but we can’t hold one?”

Merrillville resident Mary Ann Massa, who’s frequently taken the town to task over its lack of animal control, concurred.

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“I’m a tax-abiding citizen — why don’t we have a building for animal control, and why did we have a person who didn’t do a good job?” Massa said.

Merrillville Interim Police Chief Kosta Nuses earlier in the meeting said that the Police Department has assumed animal control duties and is looking for a new animal control officer. He denied how that Breger was ever given authority to put the dog down.

“There is no supervisor that would’ve told her to euthanize the dog,” he said.

Council President Rick Bella, D-5, said the town has been aware of the problems with animal control and gave Town Manager Pat Reardon the authority to transfer Breger. He asked residents to “trust us to get the problem fixed.”

Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.

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