FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, February 1, 2016
Contact: Civil Liberties Defense Center, 541-687-9180
Civil Liberties Defense Center fights to reveal what happens to dogs at kill shelter
In a public records lawsuit, CLDC defends No Kill Lane County representative to argue for an open government ruling to help the watchdog group keep the 1st Avenue Shelter accountable to the public for dog deaths.
Lane County, OR – On Monday morning, the Civil Liberties Defense Center goes to court for a summary judgment hearing on behalf of Debi McNamara, a volunteer with the group No Kill Lane County, to argue that the 1st Avenue Animal Shelter should be subject to Oregon’s public records laws.
No Kill Lane County acts as a watchdog group to monitor the killing of dogs and cats at the 1st Avenue Shelter, which functions as the public animal shelter for Lane County—serving Lane County, Eugene, and Springfield. When Ms. McNamara requested records from those jurisdictions, she was directed to the Greenhill Humane Society, which currently runs the 1st Avenue Shelter, but Greenhill asserted that it does not have to turn over the records because it is a nonprofit organization rather than a government entity.
At the summary judgment hearing, the Civil Liberties Defense Center will argue that the 1st Avenue Shelter is the functional equivalent of a government entity, and so should be subject to public records laws that require a procedure for turning over requested information to members of the public. Greenhill is expected to maintain its position that the 1st Avenue Shelter is not the functional equivalent of a government entity, and so not required to turn over information.
The 1st Avenue Shelter was previously operated by Lane County Animal Services, but due to a budget shortfall, Lane County, Eugene, and Springfield contracted with Greenhill Humane Society to run the shelter. The shelter still acts as the public animal shelter—making decisions about which animals brought into it live and die in Lane County—but Greenhill’s refusal to turn over records keeps that process a secret. Government services have been increasingly privatized in recent years, but if public tax dollars are paying for those traditional public services, the public has the right to transparency and accountability. “If you take over a public contract to run a public animal shelter, you should be willing to provide records to the public,” said Lauren Regan, Director and Staff Attorney for the Civil Liberties Defense Center.
“Open government laws provide for important checks on government operations, especially those occurring behind closed doors, and this should apply to both actual government entities, as well as entities that are the functional equivalent,” says CLDC Staff Attorney Amanda Schemkes. “In this case, we are talking about the fate of dogs and cats, and the public is placing its trust in the 1st Avenue Shelter to provide care for them, and the records documenting the circumstances under which animals are killed should not be kept a secret.”
WHAT: Summary Judgment Hearing
WHO: Greenhill Humane Society vs. Debi McNamara
WHEN: Monday, February 1 at 9:00am
WHERE: Lane County Circuit Court, Courtroom 303
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