City investigates animal officer

The city of Delray Beach is looking into an incident involving one of its animal officers, whose care of her own animals is being questioned.

Animal officer Virginia Feldman is being investigated, according to her supervisor Al Berg. This comes after Feldman and her husband, Todd Archer, were issued a citation from animal officers in Boynton Beach, where they live.

Boynton's Animal Control Supervisor Liz Roehrich says Feldman and Archer were keeping a 16-year old pit bull inside a cage. The dog had large tumors and open sores on its back, and needed to be euthanized, says Roehrich.

Feldman and Archer were cited for animal neglect. It is not a criminal charge. The couple will only pay a fine.

"It's not that she didn't care for the animal throughout its lifetime," said Roehrich. "As an animal ages, the animal is going to have some medical issues that need to be addressed. And in this case those issues were not addressed."

Roehrich says the 16-year old dog was euthanized. And although Roehrich says Feldman's home is unsanitary, the other three dogs and three cats in the town house, were in good condition and are still in the residence. Roehrich says Feldman is making appointments to have the other animals sterilized.

"It's shocking to see this behavior out of an animal control officer," said Roehrich. "I don't think that's normal out of any animal control officer. We have to learn to limit. We have to learn to accept the reality of euthanasia. I really think the biggest shocker is none of these animals was sterilized."

Feldman told the Palm Beach Post, she took the dog to be euthanized three different times, but each time, the procedure was not able to be performed. She also said she does not neglect her dogs.

Feldman's work supervisor Berg said she worked part of the day Thursday, but was not feeling well and left. At this point, no action has been taken regarding Feldman's employment with the city, Berg said.