The Marin Humane Society shut down an animal rescue group's San Rafael operations and seized 19 animals for treatment after uncovering "shocking conditions" at the center.

The Milo Foundation was forced to close its adoption center and animal holding site at 2060 Fourth St. on Friday, one day after an unannounced early-morning inspection by the Marin Humane Society. The inspection uncovered health and safety violations including triple the number of dogs and cats allowed at the site, animals living in their own feces and untreated for contagious diseases and inadequate staffing or medical supervision, Humane Society officials said.

"It was overwhelming," said Capt. Cindy Machado of the Marin Humane Society. "After witnessing shocking conditions for the animals at Milo in San Rafael, we issued a directive to the Milo Foundation that operations at its San Rafael facility must stop immediately."

Machado said last week's inspection was in response to complaints of mismanagement at the San Rafael site. In July, she accompanied an inspection of the foundation's sanctuary in Willits by the Humane Society of the United States that uncovered similar animal health and safety issues of inadequate housing and lack of care. That inspection was prompted by complaints from former sanctuary staffers.

The findings resulted in Humane Society officials meeting with foundation representatives "to address long-term plans for Willits and improve conditions there," Machado said.

Lynn Tingle, Milo's executive director, disputed the allegations, although she acknowledged the San Rafael center had more dogs on hand than its city permit allowed. She said the foundation was in the process of requesting the city to update its permit to allow an additional 10 dogs on site.

"I disagree with their findings," said Tingle, of Berkeley. "I just think there's a big difference between animal control and animal rescue. We're about saving lives. We're going to fight this."

Machado said there were about 30 dogs and 20 cats at the site on Thursday. The use permit issued by the city of San Rafael allowed for 10 dogs and 25 cats, she said.

The city of San Rafael has no record of complaints regarding the site and no application on file from the foundation to amend its use permit, said city spokeswoman Terri Hardesty.

She said the decision to issue or amend a permit requires review by the county public health department and the Marin Humane Society. Those agencies have authority to shut down the business if unsafe conditions are found, she said.

"We have to follow their lead," Hardesty said.

Machado said in addition to the strong smell of urine and excrement upon their arrival Thursday, inspectors found animals - some of which were in the process of being adopted - suffering from diseases including ringworm.

"It was a breeding ground for massive problems of animals with diseases and no vet care," Machado said. "They don't have any disease control measures that prevent diseases from passing through animal populations. It was just a time bomb waiting to happen."

Tingle countered claims of a lack of medical expertise, noting the foundation's veterinarian bills are about $10,000 a month. Veterinary paperwork was provided to the Humane Society, she said.

The center's five-person staff including a veterinarian technician and four animal care staffers as well as a dozen volunteers, Tingle said.

"As yet we don't have a veterinarian on our staff, but we have very established long-term relationships with vets in the Bay Area and Mendocino County," Tingle said.

The San Rafael center opened in 2008 in a building that used to house a veterinary hospital. The nonprofit foundation was created in 1994 to provide homes for unwanted pets.

Machado said the agency was working with Milo to make arrangements for its animals and provide treatment for those with serious health issues. The San Rafael center needed a "deep and thorough cleaning," she said.

In January 2007, Milo shut down its pet adoption center on Solano Avenue in Berkeley over neighborhood complaints that included excessive barking, excrement on the sidewalk and a pervasive smell of urine.

Machado said her agency was committed to helping Milo develop a plan "to prevent these issues from ever happening again."

Hardesty said if Milo did violate the terms of its use permit, the foundation may have to plead its case before the Planning Commission in order to retain it.

"There's going to be conversations between all agencies and the city," she said. "The next step will be to see if that makes sense to have a hearing on revocation."

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