The Pueblo Chieftain: Animal shelter in turmoil
It’s hard to say what’s more troubling about operations at the public animal shelter over the last three months – the things we know or the things we don’t.
Here’s what we do know: The shelter’s staff veterinarian, Dr. Joel Brubaker, has left his job there and hasn’t been replaced. The shelter’s most experienced animal control officer has resigned to take another job elsewhere. Linda Mitchell, the shelter’s director, has been suspended.
And the state Department of Agriculture is conducting an investigation of the shelter that included a recent court-ordered search of the facility. That was followed by an emergency meeting by the board of directors for the PAWS for Life Animal Welfare & Protection Society, the organization that runs the shelter, which led to some personnel changes.

