Animal Control Officer Suspended After Photos Of Dead Pets Were Posted On Instagram

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — An LA County animal care and control officer is accused of being careless and cruel.

Officials say the officer posted pictures of dead animals and pets on his personal Instagram account and presented some of them with jokes.

Public outrage was swift.

His supervisors didn't mince words when it came to their reaction about the photos being posted.

"We are shocked and appalled by the postings as we do not condone this type of behavior. We are fully investigating the matter, as we take these situations very seriously, and the employee has been placed on leave during that investigation."

The statement added: "The Department of Animal Care and Control has hundreds of employees that compassionately care for the animals we rescue on a daily basis and work very diligently to see animals in our shelters find there new forever homes."

The photos are too graphic to post on our website.

In some instances, the officer makes jokes about the dead pet carcasses being used as food.

One Instagram poster wrote that they understood the officer dealing with the ugly and graphic things he sees and confronts on a daily basis with dark humor. "But use some common sense here," they implored.

The officer has been placed on leave during an investigation, the agency said.