Vet: Animals getting care at DuPage shelter after leader's departure
With several residents calling for the reinstatement of DuPage County Animal Care and Control's former veterinary administrator, the veterinarian brought in to help the Wheaton shelter is making assurances that animals are being properly cared for at the facility.
"There's been no disruptions to care," said Dr. Georgianne Ludwig of Lombard Veterinary Hospital. "Obviously, there's been a lot of bad feelings. But as far as the care for the animals, all is well."
Ludwig was retained by the county on a temporary basis after the departure late last month of the shelter's former administrator, Dr. Todd Faraone.
Current and former staff members and volunteers for the shelter say Faraone was terminated. On Tuesday, some of them attended the DuPage County Board meeting to publicly ask board members to reinstate Faraone.
Barbara Zeiler, a longtime volunteer at the shelter, told board members Faraone is a skilled veterinarian who is "very well respected" by the shelter staff, the volunteers and rescue groups.
"Please help us to have him reinstated," said Zeiler, a Warrenville resident. "Our animals and community need him."
Medinah resident Dina Sbertoli agreed.
"The termination of Dr. Faraone is a huge loss - not only to DuPage County but the entire rescue community," Sbertoli said. "He is a huge supporter of rescues and worked tirelessly to develop and maintain positive working relationships with all rescue groups."
Ludwig said she understands why there are people who miss Faraone. But she says her focus has been on caring for the animals at the shelter, which is a self-supported facility that's not funded with taxpayer money.
"I am there two to three hours a day," said Ludwig, adding she's "a phone call away" when she's not there.
A concern that some raised after Faraone's departure is that no one at the shelter was authorized to prescribe or administer medication.
But Ludwig said she was administering medication that she brought with her from the animal hospital.
"So the continuity of care was covered from day one," Ludwig said. "At no time were any animals suffering because of this situation."
Still, controlled substances can't be administered at the facility, which prevents surgeries from happening there.
"But this is a short-term problem," said Ludwig, adding the situation is in the process of being resolved. In the meantime, animals needing surgery are being taken to Lombard Veterinary Hospital.
Ludwig said she plans to continue helping the shelter until DuPage finds a qualified veterinarian administrator.
"We're looking to find a veterinarian that, hopefully, will stay for his or her career," she said.
After Sbertoli and Zeiler spoke to the county board, Ludwig met with them and two other residents in the hallway.
Zeiler said after the impromptu meeting that she felt "very reassured."
"The important thing is that the animals are getting very good care," she said.