Animal groups lock horns

SPANISH FORK — The director of the South Utah Valley Animal Shelter says accusations that she euthanized dogs because she was mad at an animal rescue group and didn't want it to have them are "completely untrue."

"I don't like to euthanize animals," said Shirley Bybee, director of the animal shelter at 582 W. 3000 North, Spanish Fork.

And to do so out of spite, she said, is unthinkable.

Bybee is accused of euthanizing dogs on Saturday as a way to get even with Melissa Zobell, who operates the Orem-based Australian Shepherd Rescue of Utah.

"That's what she's saying," Bybee said, "and it's false."

Zobell's complaints were reported Sunday by a local television news station. Zobell declined to comment Monday when contacted by the Deseret Morning News.

Rescue-group volunteers said Bybee and Zobell argued Friday about who was responsible for the treatment of four puppies picked up from the shelter for Zobell a day earlier.

On Saturday, 10 dogs were euthanized at the shelter, including animals that volunteers say Zobell had notified the shelter she wanted to take to save from that fate and attempt to find them a home.

Bybee said the dogs had been scheduled to be euthanized — including one that had been in the shelter since Jan. 6 — and that if any of the dogs had been requested by rescue groups, it was not documented.

"There was no notation on (the dogs') paperwork, and there was no communication to me about it," she said.

John Borget, a member of the South Utah Valley Animal Special Service District's board of directors, said the paperwork supports Bybee's actions.

"There's a ticket for each animal," Borget said. "When animals are being held for rescue groups, that's marked on the ticket. It was not marked on any of the tickets."

Borget said he does not believe that Bybee would euthanize any animal unnecessarily.

"When we hired her, one of my concerns was whether or not she would be able make those difficult decisions because she loves animals so much," he said. "I don't question her. I think she was just making some difficult decisions. She made them, and now people are questioning those decisions."

Bybee said there may have been a miscommunication about the dogs because the shelter is under new management and some policies and procedures are still being worked out.