Dr. Jacqueline Chevalier, resigned as the shelter's medical director. Chevalier is a veterinarian at the Tri-State Veterinary Center in Huntington. She did not attend the news conference and could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but O'Dell provided reporters with copies of Chevalier's resignation letter.

In the undated letter, Chevalier said she resigned because shelter staff repeatedly failed to follow the protocols and training that she designed to prevent the spread of disease.

She also said the shelter owes her $16,600 for work performed during the past two fiscal years and that animal cages she loaned to the shelter have been damaged. She asked for $8,000 to cover the costs of the cages.