Dogs being mistreated, Oyster Bay group says

Months after the Town of Oyster Bay cut ties with its animal shelter volunteers, they remain at odds over the treatment of three work dogs permanently living at the facility.

Mixed Breeds In Need claims the town relegates the border collies used for geese abatement to "concrete cells" when not being used. The organization asked Oyster Bay to let the dogs live with handlers outside the shelter, a request the town has rejected.

"The dogs should not be treated as a piece of equipment - started up in the morning, used as needed and put away in the garage at night," Kathy Dattoma, a trainer with Mixed Breeds, wrote to the shelter.

Town leaders deny neglecting the "GeesePeace" dogs, which work six days a week and up to eight hours a day scattering birds from parks, schools and golf courses. They say Mixed Breeds of Oyster Bay remains displeased the Syosset shelter severed its relationship with the group.

In May, Oyster Bay disbanded the volunteer program and hired a certified behaviorist.

The town plans to renew the six-month contract paying Canine Commander $405 for nine hours of weekly animal training, saying the Bethpage-based behaviorist has reformed dogs previously deemed unadoptable.

Town Supervisor John Venditto compared the volunteers to invited houseguests who "wanted to start living in our house and govern the household."

The shelter has nine paid employees and a 2011 budget of $750,217. Thus far this year it has taken in 700 animals, roughly 90 percent of which were adopted.

Officials said the facility provides quality food, medical care and exercise for the collies and the other animals at the shelter. Partitions were removed from the collies' cages to double the size to about 12 feet by 8 feet.

"Every animal here gets treated very well," said Danny Pearl, deputy commissioner of the town's Department of Environmental Resources, which oversees the shelter.

Mixed Breed president Marsha Greenman said she's satisfied the shelter has made improvements in recent months, such as installing epoxy floors to replace cement. But she doesn't understand why concerns about the collies ended a nearly 18-month partnership.