Response to Dallas Morning News Editorial

SPCA of Texas Response RE: Sharon Grigsby Editorial in the Dallas Morning News 1/27/2023 

Today, Friday, January 27, 2023, the Dallas Morning News published an editorial written by Sharon Grigsby regarding the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the SPCA of Texas and Dallas Police Department (DPD) that the SPCA of Texas ended in September of last year and officially ended in October. The article is unflattering, and some statements in the editorial are not accurate from our perspective.  

The SPCA of Texas has some clarifications to offer. Please also see our Q&A. 

• In 2022, prior to the MOU ending, our Board of Directors instructed the SPCA of Texas to seek to amend the MOU. Amendments included the organization receiving compensation for services provided including necropsies and forensic veterinary support and discontinuing housing animals from DPD cases. While there were multiple promising conversations with Assistant Chief Lonzo Anderson throughout the spring and summer, communication from DPD became infrequent despite multiple attempts on our part.
   
• In addition to the MOUs we have with Hunt and Van Zandt Counties, we perform necropsies and forensic work for other municipalities in Dallas County (Garland, Balch Springs, Irving, Farmers Branch, etc.) and for the whole state.

• Investigations for Hunt and Van Zandt counties are covered at no cost from start to finish by our Animal Cruelty Investigation Unit, while necropsies and forensic work for other entities are offered at a fee. DPD has not contacted us for forensic services since August of 2022, two months prior to the MOU conclusion date.
   
• The statement that “It’s all but impossible right now to get justice for abused dogs and cats in Dallas. Whether these pitiful creatures have been shot or stabbed, tortured or starved, their cruelty cases have hit a dead end” is not accurate. DPD is a law enforcement entity and can file any case where there is evidence of a crime being committed.
   
• The statement that, “With the SPCA forensic veterinarian no longer available, few — if any — cases can be filed” is incorrect. Dallas Police Department could have utilized these resources with the SPCA of Texas, as do several other law enforcement agencies within Dallas County, and DPD chose not to engage us.
   
• No formal offer from DPD was made to the SPCA of Texas for continuation of services. We reached out to Assistant Chief Lonzo Anderson multiple times to inquire about next steps, including an offer for assistance with hooved animals. Our outreach was not met with a reply.
   
• The abuse reported this week of the dog on a balcony of a southeast Dallas apartment is horrific. Regardless of any MOU with DPD, the responsibility of seizing the dog at the time of the crime lies with DPD. The SPCA of Texas continues to offer forensic services for a fee, and we would have gladly assisted. And, as the article states, Dallas Animal Services has been utilizing services from the ASPCA for forensics for the past few months. DPD had the legal authority to act in defense of the dog at the time the officers arrived at the scene.

• The SPCA of Texas does not have legal authority to conduct animal cruelty investigations on its own in the City of Dallas.
   
• Earlier this week, Karen Froehlich, President & CEO, reached out to Assistant Chief Lonzo Anderson, once before this incident and once after, specifically offering to assist DPD animal cruelty efforts. Outside of acknowledging the receipt of the offer, she has not received a reply.

While the SPCA of Texas certainly cannot control the content or tone of an editorial article, the organization is disappointed with how the facts were presented. The SPCA of Texas remains committed to helping our community’s most vulnerable pets, and Karen Froehlich has again reached out to Assistant Chief Anderson today, Friday, January 27 to reopen dialogue on reestablishing our partnership for forensic services with the City of Dallas.