Problems found at Elgin Animal Shelter, not criminal

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ELGIN, Okla._An investigation by the Comanche County Sheriff's Department has found no evidence of criminal wrong-doing at the Elgin Animal Shelter. However, problems were found with how the shelter is being run.

The problems were uncovered after a family found their missing dog, Major, dead in a pit at the shelter. Animal Control Officer Daniel Linthicum admitted that he initially lied to them about Major's death, which he says happened when a pit bull got into Major's kennel through a hole in the fence. Linthicum said Major's ears were severed in the attack.

The family took both dogs to the OSU diagnostic lab where doctors could neither confirm nor deny the actual cause of Major's death. But, they did determine Major had cancer in both lungs and was in bad health. They also determined the other dog had a whole ear and a piece of an ear in his stomach.

Linthicum explained to investigators that Major was delivered to him on December 18 and was in poor shape. He stated that the dog had a hard time standing and its stomach was sunken in. Major went missing from his home on December 10.

Linthicum told investigators that after the attack at the shelter, he put euthanized the dog that killed Major by using the "chamber method." He explained to the detective that the chamber method uses carbon dioxide, in this case the exhaust from his truck.

In a written statement five days later, Linthicum said that Major was clinging to life when he found him after the attack and he gassed him as well.

The findings of the investigation were presented to an assistant district attorney twice, who declined to file charges. At this time, Linthicum is only allowed to pick up non-domesticated animals, like raccoons or skunks, until the city gets a recommendation from Oklahoma's Department of Agriculture.

Ag officials will be in town next Wednesday to inspect the shelter. A committee of residents is also being formed to look at shelter procedures. Any decisions on the shelter are expected to be discussed at the next council meeting, February 10.

During the investigation, it was discovered that neither the City of Elgin nor David Linthicum had a shelter license through the state. A shelter license is required for any place housing 10 or more animals. A member of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture has said they will help Elgin correct the problems at their shelter.