Animal Neglect Case Questioned In Meeting

Animal Neglect Case Questioned In Meeting

By David Howell

Editor

WATER VALLEY –City officials fielded questions from Barbara Rounsaville about an alleged animal neglect case during the monthly city meeting held March 1.

Rounsaville cited two cases where malnourished dogs picked up by the city were handled differently. She presented pictures of the two dogs, and explained one had been impounded and turned over to a foster home for nourishment while the second dog was returned to the owner. 

Rounsaville explained that the dog that was returned to its owner belonged to her neighbor and she called the police after observing the dog rummaging through garbage at several residents, including her own, looking for food. She also said she first called the Second Chance Animal Alliance (SCAA) and was instructed to call the police, which is the protocol for a possible neglect case.

“They went over and investigated,” Rounsaville explained, but added her frustration mounted when she learned the dog had been returned to the residence, after someone promised to feed it while the owners were away.

“The police officer said it was out of their hands, the ACO (Animal Control Officer) has the final say,” Rounsaville added, reminding city officials that other cases had been handled differently by the ACO.

“I was told later that no one at SCAA received a call that the dog had been picked up and needed to be bedded and taken care of.

“Why was one returned and one not. It doesn’t make sense, either everybody gets the same treatment and we all have the same rules and we go by the rules or forget it, it’s not worth it,” Rounsaville told city officials. “These girls (SCAA) are busting their rear ends to try and make a difference for the town that they love, but they are not getting the support that they need. All of you in here know I am right.”

Rounsaville also questioned the training the ACO receives to determine how a neglect case should be handled.

“The girls (SCAA) have certification and kinds of training. The policemen may have some training, I don’t know. But between the policemen, ACO and SCAA, why can’t they all work together with the proper knowledge to determine if it is abused or not? Why can’t the police make a call, they are law?” Rounsaville added.

Rounsaville then explained her main issue was not with the ACO, but instead with the lack of concern to do better.

“I want to urge the police department and SCAA to gain more knowledge and work together,” she added, adding more funding is also important. 

“I realize that we probably don’t do enough. But we do a quite a bit. Your girls know we are going to work with you and continue to try to do things for you. It’s not like we have turned our back on you,” Mayor Larry Hart said.

“We are going to continue to try to improve,” Hart continuing, adding that the city wants input from the training SCAA volunteers receive.

“Our goal is to hold the ownership responsible. I believe that’s where it starts… that’s the reason we have involved the police more in the protocol with a call,” Hart explained.

Next Hart requested Police Chief Mike King to provide details of the incident involving the neglect case.

King said the initial report was a dog on the loose on the neighborhood, and the dog was ultimately picked up on the owner’s porch.

“We arrived on the scene and picked the dog up. The officer left the scene. For whatever reason animal control called the officer and located someone supposedly taking care of the dog while the owner was away,” the chief reported.

King said the dog was released to the people on the scene.

“They indicated they would feed the dog and take care of it, the owners were out of town,” the chief added.

King also said he made a follow-up call the next day.

“It was a poor animal, it had four pups there in the home. They had made pallets for it in one of the bedrooms. I explained to them it had to be taken care of,” King said.

“As late as today, I talked with the owner who finally returned home. He understands that he has got to take better care of that animal and what the consequences will be if he doesn’t,” King continued.

“You are satisfied that they are taking care of the mother dog and pups?” Hart asked.

“The pups have been given away. The grown dog is still in the home and they are still taking care of it,” King answered, adding they will continue to monitor the situation.

“We may have not handled that perfectly, but it looked like a solution at the time. We try to keep the owner involved in the situation,” Hart said, adding the end result is court action in city court where municipal judge Trent Howell will render a judgment.

Other business handled at the meeting included:

• Approved the minutes from the February meeting.

• Heard the monthly Main Street update from Water Valley Main Street Director Mickey Howley. The manager reported that the short documentary, Yalo, won the audience choice award at the Oxford Film Festival. The documentary outlines Yalobusha Brewing Company’s first three years in business.

Howley also reported the local Main Street program was reviewed by the Mississippi Main Street Association and scored 90 points out of a possible 100. 

“There is room for improvement,” Howley added, before thanking Hart for his favorable comments about the program during the review.

Howley also reminded city officials that the Mississippi Heritage Trust would be scouting for locations for the June conference in Water Valley.

• Approved a resolution to apply for a Community Development Block Grant to help fund ongoing sewage rehabilitation.