The Metro Animal Services story about Dr. Gilles Meloche -- the sexual harassment charges, the mismanagement of funds, the botched relationship with an adoption agency, the screwed-up actions following the August floods -- is not over just because he resigned.
And Jerry Abramson's continued defense of Meloche as a change agent is mind-boggling. He just can't seem to admit he made a mistake in making the hire -- a malady many politicians suffer. But the story won't be going away just because Meloche is resigning, and it could cost the city thousands of dollars when lawsuits start being filed.
Here's a document Mojo received from Barbara Haines, a member of the Louisville Kennel Club's Legislative Committee. It brings out some aspects of the story not yet covered in the media.
While many have celebrated the announced resignation of Louisville's disgraced shelter director, Dr. Gilles Meloche, others are worried that this will bring a stop to the news cycle regarding him and the failed animal ordinance he vehemently supported.
Not to worry!
To begin with, Meloche is not gone yet. Seems he's waiting for a new epoch to dawn on the Mayan Calendar or some other heavenly signal before he takes his leave at the end of this year. As we in Louisville know all too well, two months is more than sufficient time to wreak havoc on our community and our critters.
Besides, the present plan will hand authority over to current supervisor: Wayne Zelinski. This is far from an improvement as Mr. Zelinski has been a disciple of Dr. Meloche for several years and is well-schooled in his policies and procedures. This, despite having a Masters of Public Administration degree and having been a former canine officer in Florida.
There also remain some issues that have been allowed to fester to the point where the entire community is demanding someone be held accountable for how a man with no experience, a failed job history and guilty plea to 27 counts of dispensing anabolic steroids without proper recordkeeping made it into the pool of candidates to be considered for the job to begin with.
Then, of course, there are other niggling problems: as being a US citizen was a requirement for the job (Meloche is Canadian) and also a requirement under Kentucky state law, how did that get overlooked? And, when it was repeatedly brought to the attention of Mayor Abramson over the past four years, why was it ignored? And, after Meloche went before a judge and falsely swore under oath he was eligible to be a peace officer, why was he not charged with perjury when he later "unswore" himself?
Then, of course, there's Meloche not telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth in explaining his Canadian malpractice and steroid cases when he applied for his veterinary license in Kentucky. That's going to become an issue now that one of his announced possible new careers might be....wait for it!....private practice veterinarian. This is the man who did heart-sticks on kittens with no anaesthetic, sold FIP-infected cats and parvo-infected dogs to an unsuspecting public and now wants to care for your pet?
Following on the heels of that will be the civil suits being filed against him by former contract veterinarian Dr. Kendall Clay and kennel manager Dawn Simpson, both of whom he sexually harassed while under his employ.
And last (but certainly not least) this Friday there will be an announcement of yet another Federal lawsuit being filed against Metro Louisville over the Meloche-inspired failed animal ordinance. It promises to put this whole issue right back where it belongs: center stage!
There's a lot of road left yet before we can all sing the words of that great country song, "Thank God and Greyhound you're gone!"
For Abramson to let Meloche fly under the radar for as long as he did, and to get away with as much as he did, I would want to check out what the history is between the two of them.
More typical Jerry just doing what he wants because he can!....you know that strong Mayoral form of goverment. There is No ONE to lay this on but THE MAYOR.However he was never worried cause he Controls everything right? He can never be pinned down to scrunity, who has the right to do that?....Disagree & not support him?...even if he's wrong & out of line?....Not any of his Democratic Bitches on the Metro Council. No Way!...lets have a big round of applause for Kelly Downard, he's the only one who had the nuts to call a turd a "turd".....Jerry should be made to answer to a board of inquiry,(Federal Grand Jury) hooked up to a lie detector machine that zaps him with 10,000volts everytime he lies.... The over /under would be one question!
Jesus Christ... this story is like a zombie, it just keeps coming back to eat more of our brains.
You know, I'm sad that I now gave $$ to the city shelter after the floods. It sounds like the problem has been mismanagement, and not a lack of funds, from the very beginning.
Finally... many of us have known of the problems with this man and his animal ordinance from the get go. Mayor Abramson, and many others, turned a blind eye to the trouble this man was... he didn't even bother to read the crazy animal ordinance that Meloche pushed through. He got it, and signed it straight away. It's about time Meloche pays for all the wrong he's done. His animal ordinance is having to be reworked as well. Louisville Kennel Club fought it, and the judge found problems with several parts of it.
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Rick Redding