LINCOLN- Agriculture Director Steve Wellman slammed a report Thursday that alleged he and his department failed to enforce laws pertaining to dog and cat breeders. He believes the report was "filled with factually inaccurate and self-serving biased information," and that the ombudsman "went out of his way to make the department look bad". Wellman also claims Rick Herchenbach, the whistleblower, is not protected under the whistleblowing state law.

Carl Eskridge, the deputy ombudsman, said he followed all whistleblower laws and that he has always been completely honest and fair in his investigations. He says the evidence in this case show his high ethical standards.

The investigation lasted 18 months and found that the Department of Agriculture failed to act on wrongdoing commercial dog and cat operations. Specifically, the department did not use administrative tools to hold bad operators accountable. The department also failed to refer complaints about abuse and neglect to local authorities. The report also concluded that Herchenbach acted within the state whistleblower law. Herchenbach is also suing the department for denying him a promotion because he raised complaints within the department, the suit is pending.

Wellman defended the department's actions in his letter while also acknowledging a few small wrongdoings. The letter was in response to the Agriculture Committee chairman's letter to the department after hearing the conclusion of the report.

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