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SALT LAKE CITY -- The South Utah Valley Animal Shelter that mistakenly euthanized six dogs last spring has hired a new director.
Mike Morgan will take over shelter operations full time after serving as interim director for two months. Morgan replaced fired shelter director Shirley Bybee on whose watch three separate incidents of accidental euthanasia occurred. Bybee was fired June 26.
Morgan was appointed Friday by the South Utah Valley Animal Services Special District Board, the governing body for the shelter with representatives from nine south Utah Valley cities and Utah County. The board began oversight of shelter operations at the beginning of this year.
"Morgan has extensive experience in managing an animal shelter and is well-respected by others in the community," board members said in a news release. "He has a love for animals and is committed to working with the public and rescue groups to place animals in good homes and reduce euthanasia as much a possible."
A police officer with Utah County from 1985 to 2005, Morgan has worked for the shelter before. He previously managed it between 1997 and 1998 and again between 2000 and 2003.
The first case of mistaken euthanasia at the Spanish Fork, Utah shelter occurred in February, when four dogs awaiting pickup by a rescue group were put down.
The second incident came in April, when a Labrador was euthanized before the legal five-day waiting period expired. In June another dog, which was being held for its vacationing owners, was also euthanized when workers failed to move it within the shelter.
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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune, http://www.sltrib.com
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV-08-19-06 0946MDT
