SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) — After multiple allegations of animal abuse and neglect were disproven in investigations, Sangamon County has hired lawyers to help them investigate their internal affairs.

This is different than the other investigations we've seen so far because it is geared mainly toward employee complaints.

The county is using the Stratton Reichert law firm, which officials say is often used when the county needs guidance on personnel or labor issues.

The lawyers will investigate claims from animal control employees, conduct interviews, and then release their findings.

Gail O'Neill, who oversees animal control as part of the health department, says it seemed like the best way to handle these claims transparently.

"They're not strangers to us, and they know how we kind of operate, so when we were having issues come up and we wanted to investigate and find the best way to do it, we asked them to step in," O'Neill said. "And that's how this contract happened."

The contract will be in effect for six months to start out, and it will cost up to $24,000.

The law firm has conducted two investigations so far, both submitted by the same animal control employee.

One claimed that a cat was not fed or given water, but investigators determined through interviews that the cat was in line to be euthanized after violently attacking its owner. Employees feared they would also be hurt if they handled the cat, and animals scheduled to be euthanized have a timeframe in which...

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