Following allegations raised by Advanced Animal Health Center in Rock Falls, IL, the Illinois Department of Agriculture inspected Happy Tails Humane Society in late October 2015 and found no violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Department of Agriculture inspector Ron Settles found all animals to be “healthy and happy” and the facility to be in good sanitary condition.
Advanced raised four areas of concern in its complaint that: (1) dogs were entering Happy Tails from out of State without required health certificates; (2) a dog named Mona may have gone longer without veterinary care than was appropriate; (3) sanitation in the facility was below standard; (4) animals were being adopted out of the shelter without being “screened for possible bad habits.”
The inspection showed that animals coming from out of State do have health certificates. As for the dog Mona, she came to Happy Tails from out of State in July 2015 and seemed to have little appetite. When she did not improve, she was taken to Advanced Animal Health Center. Mona was there for over a week. Happy Tails sought information on Mona’s condition, but none was provided. Happy Tails staff removed Mona from Advanced and took her to another veterinary facility, where she was diagnosed with a collapsed lung. Mona recovered and has since been adopted.
Regarding sanitation, the inspection revealed the shelter to be in good sanitary condition. As for the fourth allegation, Inspector Settles noted that while screening and testing “might be good practices,” such practices are not required by the State.
Read Happy Tails’ complete statement regarding the inspection.
Happy Tails Humane Society follows Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters from The Association of Shelter Veterinarians. This group’s standards are among the highest in shelter care. The shelter also follows guidelines from The Humane Society of the United States and the ASPCA. Happy Tails’ business standards have been developed in part from its membership with The Society of Animal Welfare Administrators (SAWA). The Humane Society of the United States has visited Happy Tails Humane Society and remarked that it is a model shelter.
Happy Tails Humane Society welcomes the public to visit the shelter. Any of the shelter’s 70 volunteers would be excited to share their amazing work with the animals with any interested visitor.
Happy Tails is a limited-intake, no-kill facility that shelters and cares for stray and abandoned dogs and cats until they are adopted into loving, permanent homes. We promote pet adoption and humane education. Happy Tails is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
Happy Tails is located at 1408 McNeil Road in Rock Falls, between Dixon Avenue and Route 30. The shelter is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to noon, and Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.