The eyes peer out between the bars of one of the Orangeburg County Animal Control Program's dog runs. A wagging tail gently swooshes back and forth.

The Maude Schiffley Chapter of the Orangeburg Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals President Dr. Ann Hurst strolls slowly outside, greeting each dog as she passes, while SPCA adoption counselor Vickie Smoak playfully conducts the doggy voice-over.

"There are three of ya!" Hurst says as she passes by the first dog run. "I thought there were two of ya! You have multiplied! Do they look like they could be the hounds of Baskervilles?"

"You are not bad, are you?" Hurst asks the three dogs, now perched with noses reaching out to sniff the visitor.

"Yes, I am," Smoak answers on their behalf.

Further on, Hurst inquires of man's best friend, "How did you get thrown in jail?"

"I have been here two weeks," Smoak said, informing the Hurst that a hair cut is planned.

For Hurst and Smoak, the joy of their jobs and love for animals are evident. So when news broke in The Times and Democrat a week and half ago about an investigation into the Orangeburg County Animal Control euthanasia procedures, the two were heartbroken.

"I am heartbroken about it every day," Smoak says. "It is very difficult when you have an animal that is sick that cannot be cured. They have different things."

The SPCA, a separate non-governmental entity that looks to find abandoned dogs and cats a home, currently shares a building with Orangeburg County. The relationship is mostly for convenience sake since the SPCA gets its animals from the county.

But the building is often maximized with animals that have not been adopted or given a home. A large majority -- about 90 percent -- of animals picked up by the county euthanized.

"We have 27 runs in here. That is it," Smoak said. "At this point we are doubling up on animals."

Distressed over the ongoing investigation into animal-control practices, the SPCA has submitted a written proposal to the county to assume supervision over the animal shelter.

And, on Wednesday, the organization promised a new openness with regard to animal-control activities by tearing down a tarp on the fence allegedly put up to hide euthanasia procedures.

"I want anybody who comes by here to be able to look through the fence and see what is going on," Hurst said. "I want them to know that animal control has absolutely nothing to hide. We are creating what we hope is transparency to this operation. I feel like it is their county service and that they have access to this county service."

The SPCA's promise of new operational openness at the Ruf Road shelter amid a state investigation related to euthanasia procedures at the shelter.

The county fired the animal control program manager and four officers June 1 amid the probe of how the employees did their jobs. They were cited for failure to properly administer euthanasia protocols in the manner prescribed under the laws of the state of South Carolina.

None of the employees has been charged.

The firings left the program with just two employees still on the job: Officer Anthony Simmons and clerical assistant B.J. Griffith.

S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control spokesman Adam Myrick said Thursday the investigation is still ongoing into the shelter operations related to euthanasia practices.

"It is the status quo from last week," Myrick said, declining to provide further details on the investigation.

In the interim, Hurst says the SPCA will aim to provide a ''humane'' environment for the animals in their care, something she says was not always evident with animal control. She said the dogs were fairly restricted to their indoor runs on concrete and a small grassy area.

"We basically had been restricted from using any outdoor space within these fences," Hurst said, pointing to a fairly large grassy fenced area on the property. "We are now able to walk the dogs and play with the dogs. We are having these dogs enjoy getting their feet on the ground. One of our goals is to adopt an animal out that knows how to go outside and go to the bathroom."

SPCA seeking

oversight

Hurst said the cruel situation of little space and many animals means a lot are not adopted.

"You take this little fellow; let's call him Joe Schmo," Hurst said, pointing to a brown dog eagerly wagging its tail and poking his nose through the bars. "He is the most common ordinary creature. His chances of someone coming in and saying, 'I was just looking for that mutt right there.' His chances are not good."

"But you go just next door and you have Mr. Number 3 dog in the county," Hurst said, pointing to a black and white English springer spaniel. "Who does not want him? He is a pure-bred dog. His chances of getting out of here are pretty darn good."

Hurst acknowledged that doing the animal-control job is ''tough duty'' she does not wish on anybody.

"Nobody should have to do this in the very best of circumstances," Hurst said. "This should not be their life's work. You can't work this day in and day out and not come out of here harmed."

Hurst says the SPCA proposal has suggested a desire to enter into a contract with the county to provide sheltering services, administration and day-to-day activities.

Hurst said SPCA jurisdiction would begin when the animals arrive at the shelter and the organization would oversee euthanasia procedures, which would remain under the jurisdiction of animal control.

"One of our ideas is to define animal control well enough so officers are not subjected to having to do euthanasia all the time and having to be the bad guy all the time," Hurst said. "There are good things about animal control -- that you are able to go in the court system to prosecute somebody successfully for cruelty."

Currently, the SPCA budget is about $54,000 annually, which pays for the adoption program and the materials and services provided by the organization.

To assume administration of the shelter as desired would mean the need for an additional $55,000.

"This is close to what the county is now using to run the shelter," Hurst said. "We are not looking to expand the sheltering program beyond what they are handling now because we are at full capacity."

Orangeburg County Administrator Bill Clark said any decisions on operations or staffing at animal control will be made ''a step at a time'' to ensure all is done correctly.

Clark said he and Orangeburg County Deputy Administrator and Public Works Director Earl Whalen will be conducting meetings with SPCA representatives throughout the next couple of weeks to discuss the organization's contractual proposal.

"As soon as we reach some conclusions on that document, we will work to move forward as quickly as we can to restore the full staffing and functionality of the office," Clark said. "We don't feel the need to rush into doing that. Why rush into something that you might have to undo down the road?"

Clark said there is ''a real interest on both parties to reach an agreement.''

"The SPCA and the county have worked collaboratively under one roof for a number of years," Clark said. "We are looking to formalize and enhance that relationship in the future."

With County Council currently in budget deliberations, Clark said the issue could be resolved by July 1, when the new budget year begins.

"I would expect over the next couple of weeks we will get all that resolved," he said.

Clark said in the interim the office will operate on a limited scale -- accepting walk-ins and responding to emergency calls, but not doing routine patrols -- until it returns to full staffing.

Backup sources are available through the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office as well in the event of an emergency, Clark said.

Space needed

In order to better provide for animal needs into the future, Hurst says it is crucial animal control receive a larger, updated facility.

"It is very much in the planning stages," Hurst said. "There is a fierce amount of money that is needed to put in a really adequate new facility."

Currently, Hurst said a little more than $100,000 in both public and private donations has already been committed toward the new building. The total cost is expected to be about $1.25 million.

A brief tour of the building revealed the need as this reporter and photographer had to walk in single file to get by the cages of cats and kittens stacked up in the hallway.

"We want adequate space to receive the animals," Hurst said.

Hurst said animals have to be transported off campus to have surgery, which increases the time and stress both for animal and human.

"We want a medical area to treat the injured and sick animals and a surgery suite so we can do spaying and neutering," Hurst said. "To house an animal in an area that is humane costs money."

Clark said the county has been open to dialogue about a new facility.

"We have a number of things to talk about and they are all important and they are all to the betterment of the operation," Clark said.

T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski can be reached by e-mail at gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5551. Discuss this and other stories at TheTandD.com.

SPCA adoption

Orangeburg County Animal Control will bring the animals in and publicize the found animal and its location where found.

If not found after about three to 10 days, the animals are turned over to SPCA, where they are assessed and given the needed treatment. The animals are then assessed to see if adoptable and able to live in a home environment that is both safe for the family and for the animal.

About 35 cats and five dogs are available for adoption. Animals up for adoption are available online at www.orangeburgspca.petfinder.com

Animals are held until adopted or until they become sick or aggressive.

The shelter is open for adoptions from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday and is located at 225 Ruf Road, off the St. Matthews Road (behind the DSS Building). People can always come out on the first Saturday of each month between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

The adoption fee for dogs/puppies/kittens and cats is $75 and includes the following: age appropriate vaccinations, dewormings, spay or neuter surgery, rabies vaccination, collar, ID tag and a leash. Heartworm tests are done on dogs over 8 months of age.

Individuals interested in adopting are asked to call the SPCA at 803-536-3918 or come by the office at Ruf Road. Adoptions can be made by appointment by leaving a name and number after hours on the office voice message machine.

Foster care program

The foster care program was created in March 2006. The need for foster care resulted from the number of infant animals coming into the shelter that were too young for the adoption program.

The program was also implemented due to older animals not being able to respond to the shelter environment.

About 50 animals have been placed in the foster program since its inception.

There are currently two animals in short-term foster care.

The short-term foster care program aims to provide temporary housing for sick or special needs animals. The foster family would be responsible for providing food, water, litter and shelter. SPCA pays for medical costs.

Three cats eligible for the long-term shelter three months and are ready to be adopted this month in recognition of June as "Adopt a Cat" month.

Owners would accrue all the costs of animal treatment.

Foster care participant must be at least 18 years old. Interested individuals should call the shelter at 536-3918 or Sheila Gregory at 803-928-2778 or email at www.sgregory3974@yahoo.com

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