Crews spent the past two weeks, cleaning, sanitizing and, in some cases, upgrading the Tangipahoa Parish Animal Control Shelter. The facility closed August 4 -- after an illness spread -- leading to the mass euthanasia of 172 dogs and cats.

“The parish got expert advice and even got a second opinion and acted appropriately on that advice,” said Glen Galbraith, Tangipahoa Parish attorney.

The parish hired Hammond attorney Glen Galbraith to investigate the circumstances that led to so many animals being put to sleep.  He interviewed more than a dozen people from the parish president -- to current and former shelter employees -- and the two veterinarians that recommended the course of action.

“Nothing the parish did was illegal or against policy,” said Galbraith. “Everything was done in a very reasonable manner.”

Jeff Dorson from the Louisiana Humane Society reviewed Galbraith's findings.  He says it answers some questions, but points out some deficiencies such as a lack of testing to determine exactly what made the animals so sick.

“They acted on a speculation and the public wants better than that,” Dorson said.

“Early on, one possibility mentioned by one of the veterinarians was canine corona virus. It was only one possibility among many thought. It was never diagnosed to be the illness,” Galbraith said.

According to the report, the Tangipahoa Animal Shelter was severely overcrowded on August 4, considerably over the design size for the facility. Glen Galbraith says as a result a large number of animals would have been put down that day, whether they were sick or not, as part of the normal operation of the facility.

“This shelter euthanizes approximately 115 animals per week on an average basis,” Galbraith said. “While 172 was above average for the week, it wasn't a shockingly high number.”

“There's not a shelter big enough. There's not enough homes. There's not enough resources to take care of all of the homeless and unwanted animals,” Dorson said. “It starts with all of us spaying a neutering our pets, as simple as it sounds, that will reduce a lot of these problems in the future.”