County elects to handle animal control

Humane society usually too full to accept animals By DWIGHT OTWELL
dotwell@cherokeescout.com Tuesday, August 26, 2008 8:06 PM CDT     Editor’s note: This is the second of a two-part series on the troubles affecting the Valley River Humane Society.

    Nancy Parness of Bellview couldn’t get anyone to help with a stray dog that became aggressive, and eventually the dog had to be shot.

    The dog’s tail was missing, and it seemed to have mange, Parness said. The Valley River Humane Society would not accept the dog, saying they were full. People from Project Paws, a new animal organization in the area, caught the dog but it “went ballistic and bit through the noose and escaped.”     “We noticed that its joints began to swell, and it started acting aggressive toward our dogs,” Parness said.

    A veterinarian told Project Paws representatives it sounded like the animal had symptoms of first stage rabies.

    Parness said she called the Cherokee County dispatch, and a deputy called her back. He was nice and tried to be helpful, but after checking with superiors told her the sheriff’s office couldn’t do anything because the dog was not aggressive toward humans.

    “There is rabies all around this area,” Parness said. “What it boils down to is that we need animal control.”

    “We desperately need animal control for all our counties,” said Jeri Ruth Roberts, a lifetime humane society member and former president. “We don’t have county-owned facilities, which are expensive and time consuming to operate. The county funding is solely designated for animal control.

    “However, the county commissioners can’t hand a blank check over to the humane society without proof and documentation that they are willing to accept stray and unwanted animals, and work with the counties to re-establish animal control. Understandably, our county officials can’t be expected to use our tax dollars to help pay for every animal to live out its unteers from rescue groups and foster homes want to care for the overflow, that’s fine. Right now, we are at a standstill. This is hoarding of animals.”

Shelter took in 87 animals

    Waylon Hill was named manager of the humane society shelter, a facility he said is usually full. Forty animals were to be shuttled up north to be adopted last week, and there will be room to accept more animals for six to seven days, he said.

    The shelter can keep 85-100 dogs if it includes young, smaller dogs. If there are a lot of big dogs, the capacity is 70-78. There are four cat rooms with 12 cats per room, and more than 48 cats can be kept if the number includes kittens, he said.

    Clay and Graham counties are paying humane society  for animal control, but Cherokee County elected to do its own animal control, Hill said. The humane society accepts animals in Graham County between 4-5 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Ingles shopping center, and in Clay County from 9-10 a.m. on Thursdays at the Ingles center.

     The average cost is a little over $70 per animal for those two counties. Swain County thought it was better to use a group from the Cherokee Reservation, Hill said.

    “Cherokee County said they have their own animal control,” Hill said. “A few weeks ago an animal was hit on the four-lane. We picked it up even though Cherokee County wouldn’t.”

    Hill said the humane society offered to do animal control for Cherokee County, including accepting strays and abandoned animals, for $45 an animal. The lower cost is because the shelter is in the county. Hill added that  he provided the county with figures, budgets and everything they asked for when they were negotiating with the county to provide animal control.

    Hill said there was a group that didn’t like it when shelter manager Jeff Lockett left and Londi Moore – who was president for several months – took over. He invited Roberts to come see the shelter, but she declined.

    During July, records show that the humane society took in 15 owner-relinquished animals and 72 stray animals from Cherokee County. During the month, the shelter took in 23 animals from Graham County and 66 animals from Clay County. A number of animals have been dumped at the humane society during closed hours, and many people are not aware that Cherokee County elected to do its own animal control, Hill said.

    Hill agreed that it is not good to keep animals at the shelter for a long time. While the humane society doesn’t go out and pick up animals in Cherokee County, they are accepted if someone brings them in and gives a donation.

    “We are out here to help the animals as best as we can,” Hill said. “But if we [take in too many animals] we will be shut down.”

 Members list demanded

    Clay County attorney Michael Hendrix wrote humane society President Linda Bamfield on behalf of several organization members asking for a list of voting and non-voting members. He wrote that it is their intention to contact all members and call a special meeting to discuss and vote on several issues they think are in the best interest of the facility.

    He said his clients are legally entitled to the information, including members’ address, phone numbers and voting/non-voting status. He wrote that failure to provide the information by Aug. 13 will result in his seeking court-ordered injunctive relief.

    Roberts said the list was not turned over by the deadline. Bamfield said they need to know who Hendrix’s clients are so they can determine if they are members of the humane society.

    Hill said he has never refused to provide anyone with humane society records as long as they are voting members.

    “If an attorney writes you and says he represents a list of voting members but won’t tell you who they are, would you [provide the list]?” Hill asked. “No one came in here and asked for a membership list that I know of.”

    The Valley River Humane Society board meeting is always open to membership, Hill said. The board meets every third Thursday at 5:30 p.m. The last two meetings have been at the humane society’s thrift store on U.S. 64 West. Previous to that, meetings were held in the basement of Murphy United Methodist Church.

    The solution to overpopulation of animals is spay and neutering, Roberts said.

    “That has been preached for years. Our three counties are all in the same situation,” she said.

    Bamfield suggested that the humane society and rescue organizations work together.

    “The Bible says that we are supposed to take care of the animals,” Bamfield said. printable version e-mail this story

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