A Peninsula animal shelter accused of mistreating animals under the microscope once again.
More people have come forward to speak out against the Peninsula Humane Society. A handful of former employees and volunteers say they finally felt comfortable telling their stories.
A month ago, animal control officers released a video of a pit bull bloodied and trapped, trying to escape his kennel. That sparked an outcry from a small group of workers.
On Thursday, in Burlingame, more allegations of abuse came to light, including one involving a bird.
"Out of anger, the vet grabbed the quickest tool she could find, which was a pair of dog nail clippers, handed me the bird and just snipped off the entire leg," former Humane Society worker Jessica Reynolds said.
Ken White, Peninsula Humane Society president, says the allegations are a strategy on the part of union members, as contract negotiations are currently ongoing.
"I 100 percent deny anything smacking of abuse or neglect of any animal by the Peninsula SPCA," he said. "It is 100 percent untrue."
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White says the nonprofit has a $13 million operating budget, and his base salary is $340,000.
"We have enough money to pay for supplies. We have enough money to pay for food. We have enough money to staff the organization," he said.
That has the former employees and volunteers wondering why they're asked to bring in food for the animals or go dumpster diving so the animals have enough to eat.
The former employees and volunteers say they don’t have anything to gain by speaking out. They just want to help the animals.
"The ugly truth is that many animals suffer injury and death because there’s not enough staff to feed and take care of them," former volunteer Lori Skender said.
