Cheyenne City Councilman To Introduce Animal Shelter Resolution
Cheyenne City Councilman Rocky Case plans to introduce a resolution in the Cheyenne City Council Monday designed to force changes at the Cheyenne Animal Shelter (CAS).
The resolution would cancel the city's $505,000 current agreement for animal control and care services but in an interview with KGAB radio on Friday, Case said the real purpose is not to cut off city funding, but rather to force some changes in light of recent allegations of animal abuse at the shelter.
Shelter CEO Bob Fecht was suspended for 60 days without pay this week for ordering the pepper spraying of an 8-month old pit bull mix named Tanner the day after the dog bit a shelter employee.
Fecht called the spraying a "training exercise." The dog was later euthanized.
Case said Friday he wants the shelter to among other things, grant the city council liaison board vote. Case is currently the city council liaison but is not allowed a vote on the board. He was forced to leave the closed-session board meeting on Monday at which Fecht's actions were discussed.
Case also wants a third-party review of shelter policies and wants the CAS board to have to undergo training on the proper way to govern a non-profit organization.
Many people in the community, including Cheyenne Mayor Marian Orr, called for Fecht's removal as CAS CEO at a rally at the shelter last weekend. While the shelter does receive city funding, it is an independent organization and is not a city agency.
A Cheyenne Police Department investigation into possible animal cruelty charges against Fecht is ongoing. A post on the CPD Facebook page this week said a preliminary report on the incident had been forwarded to detectives.
Fecht is a former Cheyenne Police Chief and also served in the Wyoming Legislature.