In a series of exclusive stories, 23News Reporter Emily Valdez revealed Kern County Animal control euthanized as many as 2,000 animals in a way condemned by the American Veterinary Medical Association. That's because it causes a slow, painful, agonizing death. A death so violent that one former animal control worker told us she shot a dog, rather than let it suffer after giving it this chemical.

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Former workers told KERO the culture at Animal Control makes it almost impossible for them pursue animal cruelty charges against abusive owners.

Look, we realize these are only animals. But there's something seriously wrong if we allow animal control to inflict needless suffering on dogs and cats, and refuse to go after owners who do the same.

Kern County Animal Control is out of control.

Channel 23 calls on Kern County's Supervisors to make sweeping changes here.

They can start by putting animal control under the jurisdiction of the sheriff.