Chicago’s Animal Care and Control – the taxpayer-funded city agency that deals with lost and abandoned pets, as well as wildlife issues – is in the news again, this time because of allegations that it didn’t do enough to care for a dog with a massive tumor.

WBBM-AM just did a story about the situation, which can be accessed at this link:

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/10/03/animal-welfare-group-blasts-citys-treatment-of-stray-dog/

The story was noteworthy, in part, because it showed a local animal welfare group, Trio Animal Foundation, publicly rebuking ACC – an unusual move because animal advocacy groups often stay mum, they say, out of fear they no longer will get access to the ACC pound to rescue dogs and cats.

There’s been mounting pressure on ACC since earlier this year when WBBM, and the BGA, started reporting on vast problems at the agency, from accidental animal deaths to questionable management decisions.

The BGA has been focusing on the agency because taxpayers fund the operation, at more than $5 million a year, and deserve efficient, competent service.

And the animals in the agency’s domain deserve humane care.

Based on the WBBM story, there’s a difference of opinion about whether that was delivered in this instance with the dog.

This blog post was written by the Better Government Association’s Robert Herguth, who can be reached at rherguth@bettergov.org or (312) 821-9030.