After months of silence enforced by county officials, Riverside County’s new shelter director, Mary Martin, finally sat down for an unrestricted interview, offering a long-overdue look into the county’s troubled animal services. Known for her track record in improving shelter outcomes, Martin’s candid approach marks a stark departure from the defensiveness of her predecessor.Martin addressed the systemic issues facing local shelters, including outdated record-keeping software, rampant overcrowding—particularly in San Jacinto where up to five dogs share a single kennel—and the resulting infighting that leads to increased euthanasia. She emphasized that while euthanasia remains an unfortunate tool, it is a last resort necessitated by the shelter’s extreme conditions.In the interview, Martin also discussed the controversial $2.5 million consulting contract awarded to Kristen Haasen. Despite her previous collaborations with Haasen, Martin questioned the contract’s value, pointing out…..