City Hall announced today that it would not renew or extend its animal-shelter contract with Halfway Home Pet Adoptions due to "operational concerns." The announcement comes as Halfway Home and its head -- Dr. Wayne Steckelberg -- are under investigation by the Missouri Veterinary Medical Board for alleged abuse and neglect.
The investigation began after a former Halfway Home employee filed a complaint with the state alleging a pattern of shoddy medical treatment resulting in the death, illness and mutilation of several animals.
The complaint cites a dozen individual cases in which animals died
in their kennels from easily treatable medical problems; were pulled
out of the shelter with untreated or diagnosed medical problems by
outside rescue groups; and, in the case of one three-month old kitten, was accidentally castrated while being prepped for surgery, then
swapped out with an identical kitten for the unsuspecting adoptive
family.
Kansas City privatized the city's shelter operations in 2009, awarding a five-year contract to Steckelberg. The city's contract with Halfway Home Pet Adoptions will expire on April 30.
Councilwoman Cindy Circo, who represents the 5th District, where the shelter is located, said Steckelberg was unwilling to work with the city during the investigation.
"Some very serious allegations have been made, and we have to take them
seriously," Circo told The Pitch. "As with any complaint, it may come back clean, but with any employee we would do the same thing, where
we put them on administrative leave. We don't want to prejudge someone, so
you find another spot for them to work in until they can be cleared. There has to
be a process, whether you like it or not."
Circo added that an interim manager would be found for the shelter until a permanent replacement could be found. "There will likely be a new (contract) written with some things adjusted. We'll likely want to expand the spay and neuter aspect of the program."
An Animal Advisory Committee meeting will be held tonight at 5:30 p.m. on the 22nd floor of City Hall to discuss the changes.
In an interview with The Pitch shortly before the city's decision was announced, Steckelberg admitted that city officials had asked him to remove himself from the day-to-day shelter operations while the complaint was being investigated. He refused, he said, because doing so would endanger the animals.
"I made it plain to the city I am not leaving this facility," he said. "I am needed here. I don't want the adoptions to fall off, and I don't want euthanasia to increase. I spent two years on this project, and I've done absolutely nothing wrong. The city wants me to continue, but they're being manipulated by rich people from Johnson County and one individual I won't name who wants to get control of this shelter.
"They're scared of these people," he continued. "It's a political maneuver. We've got councilmen up for election; we've got an e-tax on the ballot. They don't want any bad publicity. They think it'll appease these people if I'm not around."
Steckelberg denied any neglect or cruelty toward animals under his care, claiming instead that under his leadership, Halfway Home had actually saved thousands of animals.
"When the city was running things, they were probably euthanizing 6,500, maybe 7,000 animals a year. That's maybe 500 a month. In January, we did maybe 45," he said. "We did that by getting involved with rescue groups from 20 to 30 states, getting people from all over the country to contact us. When an animal is adopted out of here, they get exceptional care. But we're working out of a 40-year-old facility with no ventilation, and you need a whole different structure than what we have, but we do the best we can with it."
The complaint was filed by Sam Gooch, who started working at Halfway Home as an adoption counselor in June 2010 and left in January. She said she saw problems from the start, beginning with the staff ignoring requests for medical attention that she would file for animals.
"You'd put in a card asking for a dog to be treated, and a day or two later, there was nothing on the card addressing it," she said. "So I'd go to find out, 'Is this dog being treated?' There were no records in the system; there was no way to check that. So that was the initial problem."
The final straw came when she saw a dog being euthanized without proper sedation after the employee had been told not to euthanize any more dogs, she said. She filed her complaint in January, shortly after her resignation.
Yesterday, tensions between Steckelberg's staff and volunteers at the shelter over animal treatment became so heated that police are now investigating an assault charge. Bonnie Witt, who was at the shelter as a volunteer to walk the dogs, claims that Halfway Home staff assaulted her yesterday afternoon because of her connection to several e-mails that questioned the quality of veterinary care at the facility.
According to a report filed with the Kansas City Police Department, Witt contacted police claiming that she and another unnamed victim were at Halfway Home at 1:30 p.m. when they were attacked by five members of the staff; they were pushed, grabbed and kicked by the staff, they claimed. "I observed no signs of injuries to either victims," the investigating officer wrote.
Steckelberg claims that, in fact, it was Witt who attacked his staff.
"We didn't call the police, heck no," he says. "She's absolutely not going to be allowed back. She's given us so many problems, every day complaining about this and that. 'Why aren't you treating this animal?' I've got a staff of five, and all we do is treat animals. They're all part of this group that wants me out, so the more things they can find and complain about and take pictures of to e-mail around ... it becomes a fever for them."
Steckelberg added that because of the claims of animal abuse, as well as altercations between staff and volunteers, he had planned to implement new rules to restrict who will be allowed access to the animals.
"We trusted some people and volunteers that can't be trusted, and the volunteers got completely out of hand," he told The Pitch two hours before the contract's termination was announced. "We've got a new volunteer coordinator now, different rules and regulations. They've got to work for us now, not against us."
Download the full text of the complaint, Steckelberg's response, and a response to Steckelberg's response.
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I have personal experience at Half way home and its all very good ! I have volunteered, adopted animals, taken family pets in to be treated and have met Dr. Steckleberg. I have always been treated professionally and my animals have gotten very good care. The staff there love thier jobs and it shows. The people I have met have been very caring and try hard to make a good match between you and the dog. I've seen them work long hours and weekends, 7 days a week to care for the animals and find them good loving homes. Dr. Steckleberg was kind to me and my animals and very professional.
Hopefully with someone else in charge more animals will be saved than this vet says.
I adopted a dog from there for 120$ and was amazed they tried so hard to push on the broad-spectrum anti-biotics for an extra fee.
I took him to my vet the next day. This dog had been there for 7 days. He had kennel cough-which had turned into ammonia, worms, severe dehydration, and covered in feces and urine when he was brought out for us to take home. this dog has cost me over 300$ to get better in the past 2 months, just on meds
i am sad for every dog that goes into that shelter. i realize volunteers try their best, so i am not attacking them. but i will never adopt another animal from that shelter. i could have gotten a perfectly healthy dog off craigslist for cheaper who still needed a home.
this shelter needs to reevaluate what their goal is...making money or rehoming dogs.
Actually the Dr. had his own practice originally. PT he was being paid by the city to do euthanasia. He was disgusted by the amount of euthanisia being done that he sold his practice to work with HH. During his entire career in private practice, he wasn't known as "Dr. Death". Unfortunately I think this whole situation has evolved because of numerous mistakes on all levels. The Dr. in not having a firm handle of the situation, and not asking for help when it got out of control, the city for politicising (sp?) it and not acting when issues were brought up. I think the most getting hurt right now are the animals, not the people. We all need to remember that no one is perfect and that most don't intentionally do things to hurt others. Unfortunately none of us on here know what the actual story is. We will actually never know. I wonder what people would say if it is found that it wasn't just the Dr. that made mistakes, but also some of the people who work for him...
I only dealt with Dr. S. one time and one time was enough, he was the rudest vet that I have ever dealt with. I took in my cat who could not longer stand or eat, I think he had had a stroke and since he could not take care of himself I opted to put him down. My friend had just started working there and said they were cheaper than anywhere else so I went there, I have had a couple of cats to put down because of severe illness and or old age and I have always stayed and held my cat while they gave them their shots. I am an RN and have a good idea about how these animals should be cared for, I am also an avid animal lover. I asked Dr. S, if I could be in when he put my cat down and he said it would cost me an additional 45.00 to be in the room, it was steep but I was willing but they took my cat and later told me I could see him but he was so sedated that he did not know I was there and while I was in the room I overheard Dr. S. say I do not want that woman in the room. Now I had not said anything but told him why I wanted him put down and I wanted to be with my cat. I was told to go to the waiting room where I sat for over n hour waiting until my friend came by and asked why I was still there as my cat had been dead for a long time. She did find his collar and gave it to me. I was not talked with by any of the staff except my friend when she found me there. I left in tears for my cat did not know that I was there to be with him. I talked with the reporter that had done an article about the place but I felt she was on Dr. S.'s side and I hung up. I had another chance to talk with her again and she said yeah I remember you and you just don't understand. She had a reason for every item I wanted to discuss so I won't be talking with her again. My friend has told me horror stories about the animals that were put down always when the doc. was not there. Just 2 young staff people who I guess that did not care about the animals they were killing. I am so glad that no one else will be treated like I was.
I hate that politics are getting involved in this...
The bottom line is, these abused and neglected animals arent getting the CARE and LOVE that they rightfully DESERVE.
Screw the politics, I could care less about who's up for re-election or who has more money or who is out to get whom. TAKE CARE OF THE FREAKIN' ANIMALS AND LEAVE THEM OUT OF IT!!! All they want is to be healthy and feel some sort of love and compassion in their short lives.
Ugh. I'm sure the allegations against this so-called Dr. are true...afterall, I know a couple people that worked here and I believe their words against anyone else's....He needs to be barred from working here and he needs to have his license to practice animal medicine removed. Thats the bottom line.
Hey Laura.. no yorkie's there right now. As for small breeds right now we have a couple of chihuahua type dogs, a couple of jack russell type dogs and an older little poodle. I friend requested you on facebook so we can work together on the dogs there... my email is gliderdance@yahoo.com I'll keep my eyes on peeled for a yorkie for sure.. let me know what you are searching for, size, sex, age etc.... Thanks for posting the message...
Carolyn- I put a plea out on my facebook. I've gotten a respone in search of a yorkie. I know things are crazy there, and I'm going to check the website, but if you have any or maybe any other small breeds could you PLEASE let me know. I was so surprised to have gotten a response to fast. I'm asking you because I know it is hard to keep pet finder updated. Thank you so much. This might be idiotic to do on here, but my e-mail is l.shive @yahoo.com. By the way this is Laura. Jennifers sister. If you can help that would be awesome. Thanks so much. Or if its easier im on facebook as well and get all my alerts on my phone if that would be easier for you. Alright I talk a lot. Thanks if you can help. Also I put a plea for adoptions, fosters, and volunteers. I could contact you if I get any responses?
TomKi 15 hours ago in reply to Garth
"And the funny thing is that I'm not believing a word of this."
Tomki, please reread this very Pitch article whose thread you are responding to. It clearly states that the city asked Steckelberg to step down from daily operation of the shelter while he is under investigation, and that he refused.
So it's not the word of commenters you are being asked to take on this - it is Steckelberg himself being quoted as refusing, and explaining why he refused, so I really don't understand how there can be any confusion about this.
Steckelberg doesn't own the shelter. The city does. Steckelberg had the city contract to run the shelter. The city asked Steckelberg, quite appropriately, to remove himself from the daily operation of the shelter while he is under investigation by the Missouri Vet Board, and allow his staff to run the shelter, which they already do anyway. Steckelberg refused, so the city terminated his contract.
Please do not insult the very hard working staff members, some current and many former, and the dedicated volunteers who remain at the shelter. They are responsible for virtually everything about the shelter that is operating as it should. Steckelberg was the one who made the decisions and choices that resulted in a flood of complaints, one that was filed with the Department of Agriculture, and this most recent one with the Missouri Vet Board.
Again, please read the documents posted by the Pitch. You are making some really erroneous statements.
Yes, the shelter needs all the help it can get. Obviously he is not the most qualified person since he not only allowed, but encouraged things to get to where they are now. Since you didn't see what was going one (as you clearly state above) how can you judge? There were a bunch of employees and volunteers begging him to do the right thing. Since he is the one in charge the blame rests solely with him, as would the credit had he done a great job. It was his responsibility to hire competent and compassionate people. Instead he hired and shielded psychopaths who abused animals and choked them out.
And doesn't this shelter, which he owns, need every bit of help that it can get? The city was asking the most qualified person there to stay away from his own business and his own responsibilities. Now I wish I could have seen what was really going on. I think there were a bunch of employees standing around talking and a bunch of volunteers not cleaning things up and blaming what went wrong on Dr. Steckelberg.
I do beleive changes need to be made for sure. As for working with the volunteers, I am more then happy to do so, in fact I have been there every day as a volunteer myself coordinating the volunteers who are coming in each day. I am not against the volunteers at all, don't know most of them, there are some that I do not agree with their tactics, anymore then I have agreed with some of the things I have seen Dr. S do. I'm just tired of all the bickering and fighting... no need for any of it now... what's done is done.. from both sides. Now we need to get back to what should have never gone out of focus... the dogs... (and cats for you cat people ;-) ) I am ready willing and able to work with any volunteer that shows up with the exception of a couple who shall remain nameless, and that is soley based on their behavior while at the shelter recently.
Hopefully when the smoke clears, a positive a change has been made.
Tomki, Steckelberg's comment suggesting someone else to please step up was completely facetious. His ego is as huge, well as yours probably, and he would never ask someone else to do this job. And Kimberly67's point is well taken - it is the same thing. The man refused, when asked, to step down.
So the step up comment was meant for anyone except those willing to step up and do something? Does wanting to get in there and work to do as much good as possible automatically get you labeled as a whackjob or do we have to wait for you to decided who is worthy and who is not?
TomKi 3 hours ago in reply to Kimberly67
Didn't Dr. Steckelberg already suggest that anyone who could do better please step up?
Actually Tomki, when city first asked Steckelberg to leave the shelter and not be involved in day-to-day operations until the vet board complaint is resolved, Steckelberg refused to leave. So the city terminated his contract, so no, Steckelberg is not willingly stepping aside to let those who can do better step up.
And you act as an apologist for PETA, which is among the nuttiest of animal rights groups, and try to pretend that there is no animal rights involvement here.
The city has seen these whackjobs in action before. They aren't about to let a bunch of God knows what take over the shelter and try to run it.
Getting a bit newer...1989. For someone lying, he sure did lose a lot of court cases.
How about we get back to talking about the shelter and what is going on there instead of the fascination with lying animal rights activists? Most people on here believe in animal welfare and taking care of the dogs and cats who are currently suffering at the shelter.
In response to your question TomKi:
"Didn't Dr. Steckelberg already suggest that anyone who could do better please step up?"
The city isn't really letting anyone step up. There are people who would be more than happy to if the city and especially Mike Schumacher would just step out of the way and let them.
Maybe you argument would hold more weight if your comparison used something besides the Silver Spring Investigation from 1981.
Didn't Dr. Steckelberg already suggest that anyone who could do better please step up?
I will repeat again, I volunteered at Halfway Home, and I also worked at Halfway Home. I have seen with my own eyes how the shelter is run, and it is simply a fact that the shelter can and should be better managed than it is now.
You can accuse people of being underhanded as a way to marginalize them because you disagree with them, but that is not the case here. No one has been "set up." The complaints are legitimate. Many people tried to address these problems through the proper channels, and can document all of their efforts, but neither Steckelberg nor the appropriate city officials ever took real action to rectify the concerns and complaints until the evidence piled up so overwhelming that they finally had to step up.
I have seen it all for myself, having worked on both the volunteer side, and then as a shelter employee. No one can take the truth of what I have experienced away from me. This is about replacing failing leadership with more capable, consistently humane, and progressive management. This is about doing the best we can for homeless animals rather than continuing to settle for a terrible status quo.
Steckelberg has been called Dr. Death. That sounds like a fair nickname. After all, he spent 10 years working part-time at the KCMO pound, most of it killing the animals.
Add in the 2 years that he’s run Half Way Home, and we’re talking killing 30,000 animals over 12 years? 40,000? 50,000?
I'm not sure that I have ever personally attacked you. Perhaps you take it personally when I propose the idea that animal rights activists are trying to perform a hostile takeover of Steckelberg's shelter and that they might be pulling an Alex Pacheco at Silver Spring trick.
In reply to Gilderdance, how is telling volunteers to walk through and pick out dogs to euthanize an adult way to do things? To me, it sounds like the shelter is doing things out of spite and trying to prove a point. In the end, the only ones really getting hurt in all of this are the animals. It's really sad the animals are stuck in the middle and aren't getting the care they need. Has anything been done to really try to get people in their to adopt? Is anyone besides volunteers begging people to come help out? Are dogs being given any mind stimulating toys to help reduce stress? Or, is the goal just to warehouse dogs so the shelter can say "see, if you thought it was bad before, look at it now." The really sad part is there are people who would gladly step in today to help the shelter and work to make improvements to the way things are run, but the city has their own ideas. With the change of management at the shelter, there should be change in the city with who oversees the shelter (Mike Schumacher needs to go...he has been complacent in this mess for way too long).
We all may disagree about a lot when it comes to the shelter, with what is going on and who is to blame, but I really hope that most people on here care about the animals. They are the ones getting hurt the most right now. It's sad and it doesn't need to happen.
So, Tomki means that LOYAL employees and volunteers just 'deal' with the needless sickness and death...like little robots. Close your mouth and support the doctor, even if he is screwing up right and left, at the expense of innocent lives.
NO volunteer OR employee would want to get the operator of ANY facility in trouble if they were doing a good job...plain evidence of that is the way these volunteers are still trying like hell to help these animals...arranging rescues and adoptions...even food and various other supplies that the shelter can't seem to come up with on it's own (really???).
Too bad this poorly designed comment system will not let me reply directly to TomKi's poorly thought out comment.
"Underbidlo" is AKA "My eyes have seen..." not sure why its posting me with that name
Tomki- I have respectfully taken into consideration everyones thoughts on this discussion board. Yours included. I did not personally attack you, as you did me. I have not only been confused by your comments, but I have been irritated. At this point i'm pissed off. Though you are not worth my energy. You are an egotistical, closed minded asshole who REALLY likes to hear them selves talk. Please take your pedestal else where. Your ignorance to facts is unnerving. You are doing nothing here but wasting peoples time with your counter posts of bullshit. This story is very serious. I think that's really what pisses me off the most about you. MANY many peoples lives have been changed by this situation. MANY MANY MORE dogs lives have been changed and/or taken because of this situation. You are unsuccessfully trying to make a mockery of this entire comment board. Please go and take your self centered insignificant thoughts with you.
Closeted animal rights activists include disloyal employees and disloyal volunteers. Those people often deliberately make things worse at an animal care facility to get the operator in trouble.
Thank you for never giving up on McGyver and all the other ones in the same situation.
TomKi, define animal rights activist. Also, define closeted animal rights activists.
And seriously, they knew that they deliberately set up the situation at Silver Spring and they still use it against everyone, so this is a current lie, not just something out of the past.
It is always possible to kvetch and I have to wonder how many of the "volunteers" were there to actually help and how many were there to set him up to feed him to the animal rights activists. Quite right I have something against the animal rights activists. They are trying to destroy a lot of animals and humans.
Seriously, TomKi? Bringing up something from the 1980's to make a point about something you obviously know nothing about. You really have a thing against animal rights activists. Go work at the shelter and then make a comment.
I volunteered at Halfway Home, and I also worked at Halfway Home. I have seen with my own eyes how the shelter is run, and it is simply a fact that the shelter can and should be better managed than it is now.
You can accuse people of being underhanded as a way to marginalize them because you disagree with them, but that is not the case here. No one has been "set up." The complaints are legitimate. Many people tried to address these problems through the proper channels, and can document all of their efforts, but neither Steckelberg nor the appropriate city officials ever took real action to rectify the concerns and complaints.
I have seen it all for myself, having worked on both the volunteer side, and then as a shelter employee. People can name call, and attack my character, but they can't take the truth of what I have witnessed firsthand away from me. Most of the people who work at the shelter now, and in the recent past, know me, and know my character. Some of them may disagree with me, but they know that I am a decent and honest person who worked very hard for the shelter as a volunteer and an employee. This is about replacing failing leadership with more capable, consistently humane, and progressive management. This is about doing the best we can for homeless animals rather than continuing to settle for an unacceptable status quo.
I do question the idea that things could be "so much better." I keep getting the feeling that you people are trying to set Dr. Steckelberg up the way that Alex Pacheco set up Dr. Edward Taub at Silver Spring. Pacheco admitted to withholding food from the monkeys. He could have cleaned the cages and made sure that the monkeys were fed. He also staged some of the famous photographs, probably all of them.
I just want everyone to understand that we all tried everything we knew to resolve these problems privately through the proper channels. But our efforts fell on deaf ears at every turn, for more than a year. All we want is a better day for the animals. Municipal sheltering will always be complicated and difficult, and hard decisions will have to be made every day, but things can be so much better at Halfway than they are now with some creative, compassionate, and progressive leadership. I'm tired of being told that Halfway is "better" now than it was when the city ran the shelter. Less terrible is still TERRIBLE. Not acceptable. We can do so much better.
We can and we will.
Thank you as well Kimberly for you posting your thought and experiences. Makes me feel a little more hopefull when someone else can share their horrible experiences at the shelter as well. I am honestly so sorry for what you went through and witnessed. And I COMPLETELY understand everything. No one should have to be a part of anything like that.
While I was on staff, kill day was everyday. The volunteers were not a part of the euthanizing. Really the volunteers were there to walk the dogs. Without them the dogs would sit in their kennels all day unless they were being adopted. I'm not sure what your reason for post was, but it sounds a little abrasive and I don't really understand why. And your comment "i dont need to play with animals?" Don't even bother wasting your important thoughts on the shelter. If you saw what the animals go through, you as volunteer whould be thrilled to offer the animals such an awesome thing (playing with the animals.) They don't get "played" with. They should. Their experience there is nothing like a trip to the Hamptons. You should practice thinking of your glass being half full. You seem aweful negative and bothered with this whole "animal" situation.
I understood anonymous saying the volunteers have gotten more animals out of there. I did not undertand him/her saying they were the only reason that animals were getting out of there. And with all of this discussion and debate about the volunteers, we must NOT forget the ONE person who put the volunteer and foster program into place. I know that all of us from or formerly from the shelter know who I am talking about. Without her, the shelter wouldnt have the succesful programs that it has now. And, not only is she supporting this must needed change, she was also the first person to put a complaint in. Thanks to the wonderful dept. of agriculture, it was treated as a joke. You know who she is, and how credible she is. She would not support false accusations. Nor would she report innacurate information. I have also stated that a lot of this blog has turned into a pissing contest. There will always be people that will thrive and participate in drama. But there are also people on here that support the reports and have supplied personal experiences to back up there reason. I have also stated that I have posted on here to provide people with information; As well as sharing my own personal experiences with Dr. Steckelberg and his lack of medical care and selfish and money hungry thoughts. Carolyn, you have seen this as well. I understand that you and others might be worried that rocking the boat will put the animals at risk. No one will make it that way but him. It is sad that you are not supporting these volunteers and there demanding of change. You know he is not fit to run that shelter. I also know that there are a lot of conflicts of interest when it comes to standing up to him for some that work there. That is very unfortunate. I truly understand that these people are being put in a hard position. But if we all band together to get him out of there, things will be okay. Or maybe they should just keep quiet about the whole situation. Instead of going against it. Stand up for what is right. You know he is not right. You know you have witnessed him and his antics. The need for change is strongly there. I dont feel the employees would or will be punished for supporting what is right. Everything happens for a reason. This situation wouldnt have happened if it wasnt warranted.
The volunteers along with several very caring and dedicated staff have helped place the dogs out of there. Marlan works is behind off networking and seeking rescue for the dogs there. Many of us have secured rescue for the dogs there and many of us coordinate transports to get them to safety. The volunteers are wonderful true enough but they are NOT the only ones working for and being successful and getting the dogs to safety.
The new volunteer program was set up by a team of staff members and myself.. a volunteer. It is in place and so far so good.
As for the "no euthanizing thing" we have stopped euthanizing for space in fear that it will only cause additional problems and accusations of euthanzing animals to spite the city, the volunteers or those who speak against HWH. Our shelter is over full and dogs are doubled up. The noise level is deafening and the dogs are stressed to the hilt. We have had dogs trying to attacke one another, volunteers and staff bitten etc due to the increased stress on the dogs from the over crowding. We have asked that the volunteers who have been the most vocal about all of this step up and either bring in crates to warehouse the dogs in (we have no space left) or come through and select those who they feel are acceptable to euthanize to make space.
FYI, the approval process for volunteers.. if you can show up, be positive and refrain from attacking other volunteers or staff and follow the simple rules set forth... you're in...
not sure who this is or how you can possibly post that you work at HWH and state volunteers are not allowed but you are either a liar or completely oblivious to what is going on around you. I am the new volunteer coordinator (a volunteer myself) and have had volunteers down there every day walking dogs, playing with the puppies, cleaning organizing etc. True we need more fosters but the volunteers who can come and behave themselves are more then welcome. The lovely volunteer who yelled profanities at me yesterday and made rude comments to me about my weight will not be welcomed back. But for those who want to come help the animals there who can manage to act like adults are completely welcome and needed. So "me" either fess up that you in fact do not work at the shelter or come out from under the rock you are living under. Perpetuating lies does not help at all.
Carolyn
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