Animal Shelter Director Allegedly Steals Over $22,000 In Adoption Fees And Donations

An animal shelter director at the Plaquemines Animal Welfare Society in Louisiana was arrested for allegedly stealing over $22,000 in adoption fees and donations.

Board members became suspicious of Denise McCoy Manger on June 9 and thought she might be stealing cash payments from pet adoptions.

They searched the PAWS database and found that the cash deposits made by Manger didn’t match the records on the database. They contacted PPSO and reported internal theft.

According to PPSO, at least $22,075 in cash proceeds for adoptions were unaccounted for since January 1. Manger was the only person who had access to the funds from April 2012 to June 2013.

Two undercover cops adopted two dogs from the shelter for $260 on Sunday. Once the adoption was complete, the cash was put in safekeeping for future deposit by Manger.

Manger was later seen in the shelter removing money from the safekeeping. She used the cash to purchase merchandise and was short $575 on the deposit she submitted Monday.

When investigators questioned the 40-year-old, she admitted that she stole the money to support a prescription drug habit. She was officially charged with theft of $1,500 and is being held without bond.

Manger isn’t the only animal shelter director who has been accused of stealing money. In May, a former official with a Michigan City, Ind. animal shelter was charged with forgery and theft for allegedly embezzling more than $100,000 from her workplace.

According to court documents, Jennifer Westphal wrote checks belonging to the animal shelter and cashed them between January 2007 and April 2013.

Westphal was busted when an audit was done at the shelter in April. If she is convicted of the charges, she could face up to eight years in prison.

What do you think should happen to Manger if she is found guilty of stealing money from the animal shelter?

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