CLAYTONÌý— An investigation is underway in 51ºÚÁÏ County to determine how a virus spread in the county animal shelter, leading to the euthanasia of 19 dogs, the head of the health department said Thursday.
Director Dr. Kanika Cunningham said protocols weren't followed ahead of the outbreak of parvovirus in mid-April. Soon after the outbreak began, Cunningham said she requested an investigation from the county human resources department to find out exactly what happened.
In a hearing before the County Council on Thursday, Cunningham said she didn't have details about the shelter's protocols, or how they failed. But the failures were related to who made the decision to euthanize the dogs and who "carried out" putting the dogs down.
She said the investigation will look at the actions of the shelter's medical director, Dr. Doug Pernikoff, who quit a few weeks after the outbreak started.
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"I believe at that time the vet made the decision he thought was best, but that is currently under investigation with HR," Cunningham said.
Pernikoff did not respond to a request for comment.
Council Chair Rita Heard Days, a Democrat from Bel-Nor, wanted to know more about protocols that could have prevented the parvovirus outbreak. She asked the shelter's remaining veterinarian to come forward to answer questions. Cunningham said the veterinarian wasn't there because she was doing surgeries.
Days was frustrated.
"We needed a veterinarian here," Days said.
Council members also questioned Cunningham about a lack of experience among shelter leaders.
The shelter's new division director, Malik Johnson, said he came from Edward Jones and previously worked for U.S. Bank. His experience is in "operations and strategic vision," but he has no shelter experience, Johnson said at the council hearing. His experience is useful because he can improve how the shelter operates, said Johnson, who started working for the county in early May.
Councilman Dennis Hancock, a Republican from Fenton, questioned the health director about why the department wouldn't hire someone with shelter experience.
"When you're in the middle of a crisis, if you're going to bring somebody in, bring somebody in who can handle that kind of a crisis," Hancock said.
Cunningham said the application pool was "minimal," and she chose Johnson because of his leadership experience.
On May 2, the county health department said in a news release that it had euthanized 19 dogs that had shown symptoms and tested positive for the virus. On May 9, Pernikoff quit.
In mid-May, the state of Missouri rejected the animal shelter'sÌýapplication for a license, required by law to operate, after the shelter failed three state inspections since February.ÌýThe state cited violations for holding dogs in cages too small for them, failing to clean up feces in play yards, and allowing bugs in food storage areas, among other problems.
The nonprofit Animal Protective Association, which also runs its own shelter in Brentwood, left the shelter in February after running it for two years. The county contracted with the APA following various problems under county management, including euthanasia scandals, overpopulation, poor conditions and other problems.
The APA was lauded for cleaning up the facility and boosting adoptions. In August, the nonprofit said it accomplished its mission and would withdraw from the county contract, three years before it was set to expire. Records later showed its departure also stemmed from the county rejecting APA invoices for items such as meals, team outings and dog training.
The APA handed shelter operations back to the county on Feb. 21.
When 51ºÚÁÏ County took over shelter operations from the APA, it had to obtain a new license from the agriculture department. To get a new license, the shelter needed to score perfectly on state inspections, with no violations.
But a state inspector found violations at visits in February, March and May: dogs kept in cages too small for them, standing water in places, roaches and gnats in the food storage area, and other problems. The state rejected the shelter's application for a license.
Some of the problems, including ill-fitting cages, stemmed from having too many animals in the shelter, said Doug Moore, a spokesman for the county. The health department, which oversees the shelter, was working to reduce the population.ÌýShelter leaders want to do that by waiving adoption fees, boosting its foster program and expanding efforts to reunite stray pets with their families.
Earlier this week, the health department reopened theÌý.
Editor's note:ÌýThis story was updated after print deadline as debate at the council continued.
51ºÚÁÏ County regained operation of the animal shelter and adoption center, and during an open house talked of plans to offer fostering and improve the volunteer experience on Feb. 24, 2025. Video by Allie Schallert, aschallert@post-dispatch.com
The state cited violations for holding dogs in cages too small for them, failing to clean up feces in play yards and other problems.
No new cases of parvovirus have been detected since May 1, the county Department of Public Health said.
51ºÚÁÏ County released the recording of a conversation between health Director Dr. Kanika Cunningham and an employee.
51ºÚÁÏ County stopped paying for costs such asÌýmeals, team outings and dog training. The Animal Protective Association quit soon after.
"Every question we have asked has been answered honestly," said Dale Shuter, a longtime shelter volunteer who has previously criticized county operations.
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A health department staffer did write such a transition plan, according to records obtained by the Post-Dispatch. The plan calls for "shelter wide" euthanasia.
APA chief Sarah Javier said in the note that she and the organization's staffers are "deeply dismayed that a plan, or even a suggestion of mass euthanasia ever existed."
County health Director Dr. Kanika Cunningham wanted to keep the plan "secret from the general public," the suit alleges.
"There's been some false narratives created based on past history," the county health director said. "That's not me. That's not my leadership. That's not the direction I'm telling my team."
