Officials: Lancaster Co. animal control employee on leave, investigation underway

A Lancaster County Animal Control employee is on administrative leave while the sheriff’s office conducts an investigation, officials said Wednesday.

The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office opened an investigation Wednesday morning.

“We had some allegations made against an employee,” County Administrator Steve Willis said. He declined to name the employee or to elaborate on the allegations, but said because of the allegations, they placed the employee on paid administrative leave and contacted law enforcement.

“We did get a call this morning and did begin an investigation, the nature of which I can’t disclose at this point,” sheriff’s spokesman Doug Barfield said.

No charges have been filed, and Barfield said the investigation does not pertain to the health or welfare of any animals.

There are rumors circulating about possible euthanizations at the shelter, which Barfield and Willis said are false.

Willis said he wasn’t sure where the rumors of euthanization came from, but reiterated Barfield’s statement that no animals are being euthanized.

The county is receiving help from the sheriff’s office in caring for the animals, Willis said, and said that for the rest of the week the shelter is waiving fees for rescue groups or people who need to re-claim their animals.

This story was originally published May 11, 2016 at 5:33 PM with the headline "Officials: Lancaster Co. animal control employee on leave, investigation underway."