• Chief, animal advocate promise to work together

By JEFFERSON WEAVER
Staff writer

A series of misunderstandings and miscommunication was resolved Tuesday when animal cruelty investigator Lisa Hartman spoke to the Whiteville City Council.

Hartman, who is appointed by the county, filed a request in July to speak to the council regarding an incident involving a cat on July 3. While large animals are her primary emphasis, Hartman is certified to investigate any kind of alleged animal cruelty. The position is not paid.

Hartman was initially contacted by Whiteville animal advocate and dog groomer Dorothy Fent. While she attended Tuesday’s meeting, Fent did not speak to the council. She has been an outspoken critic of both the city and county animal control offices.

In the July 3 case, the cat was being kept in a travel crate covered in plastic, Hartman said, and was originally confiscated by Columbus County Animal Control.

Elijah Kemp, the city’s animal control officer, was off during the holiday. Kemp and county officers regularly respond to each other’s calls when an agency is short-handed and during holidays.

Officers were called to the Strickland residence at 214 E. Smith Street after complaints about a cat and other animals being kept in inhumane conditions July 3. The cat was taken to the county animal shelter, and while police officers were at the residence, the owner arrived with food, water dishes and other materials to care for the cat.

Columbus County Animal Control director Rossie Hayes returned the cat to the owners after discovering they were shopping for pet supplies when the call was made to 911.

After clarifying who was responsible for the animal, the cat’s owner was given several days to get its inoculations in order, and told to make sure the animal had proper shelter.

Hartman said she attempted to contact Kemp, Lt. Bill Costello and Chief Jerry Britt of the Whiteville Police, but had no response.

She said she wanted to make sure local officials confirmed that the cat was vaccinated against rabies within the set time.

The owner presented a rabies certification for the cat several days after the deadline had passed.

Hartman told the Whiteville City Council that she was concerned because of what she saw as a lack of follow-up from the city.

“What is the protocol on this type of thing?” she said. “It does no good to give someone a deadline, and nothing happens if it isn’t met.”

Britt told the council that he was out of town at a conference during the period after the initial incident, and that he had received no message from Hartman.

“I wasn’t aware until this evening that we even had a certified animal cruelty investigator,” Britt said. “I can assure you, though, we’ll use her from now on.”

On further questioning from the board, Britt explained that officers have been advised by the district attorney’s office to handle animal cruelty cases outside the courtroom whenever possible.

“The primary concern should be the animal,” Britt said, noting that he and his family have a “house full” of pets.

“The court system is so bogged down we have been advised to resolve these types of cases out of court whenever we can. We try to do what is in the best interest of the animal. Most animals that go to the shelter will be killed. That’s what we’re trying to avoid, and that’s why we try to get things straightened out before it has to go into the courts.”

Hartman admitted she was unfamiliar with county and city jurisdictions, but said she was pleased to get to know Britt and Kemp “and straighten this out.

“I’m just pleased to get all this worked out,” she said. “It was good to get all these issues resolved. We all need to work together for the same cause, and I think we can do that.”

Under state law, animal cruelty investigators must be state-certified and appointed by county governments.

The state does not require that the county compensate the investigator in any way. Animal cruelty investigators are not law enforcement officers, although some counties have full-time police officers and sheriff’s deputies who are also certified animal cruelty investigators. Most communities use volunteers or animal control officers.

Animal cruelty investigators are entitled to join law enforcement and animal control officers on calls involving possible animal cruelty.

If an animal cruelty investigator suspects illegal acts such as neglect or abuse, the investigator may go before a magistrate to obtain a warrant.

In some cases he or she may remove endangered animals when accompanied by law enforcement or animal control. The animals may then be held by the investigator until the case is heard in court, and may later seek compensation from the animal’s owners for medical care and other expenses for the animal.