The Berkeley County Sheriff is looking a recent legal action filed within the West Virginia Supreme Courtroom of Appeals by a nationwide animal welfare group a “disgusting company tactic.”
Through the week of Thanksgiving, the nonprofit group Alley Cat Allies filed a petition with the state’s excessive courtroom, claiming Berkeley County Animal Management has mistreated a number of of its animals since 2020. That very same week, the animal welfare group bought 17 acres of land within the county for greater than $300,000, saying they did so to “additional their work” within the county.
On Wednesday, two weeks following the submitting, the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Division, which homes the animal management unit, formally responded to the allegations in a press convention.
Sheriff Nathan Harman went by means of every of the 5 allegations intimately, arguing the time and date the animals had been picked up, that care was given to every animal and that every one had been rescued or adopted in a well timed method, aside from two that needed to be euthanized.
“We aren’t a kill company in any respect,” Harman stated. “We’re an adoption company. Let’s reunite the canines with their house owners. And after I speak about euthanization, that’s the absolute final resort.”
Harman accused Alley Cat Allies’ actions as an “assault” on the county and as “ways” to obtain extra funding and trigger a “social media frenzy.” He additionally famous that the group’s authorized submitting submitted with the West Virginia Supreme Courtroom was achieved on Giving Tuesday – acknowledged as a nationwide day of giving.
“I will be daggone if I will stand silent and let a company nonprofit enterprise, the place people are making six figures, use this county group as their pawn to ascertain themselves right here,” Harman stated.
Alley Cat Allies President Becky Robinson makes greater than $240,000 yearly, based on the group’s most recent tax filing.
Robinson issued a press release following the press convention standing by her group’s claims, calling what they found at Berkeley County Animal Management “plain proof of animal cruelty.”
“Previous to submitting the writ of mandamus … Alley Cat Allies had conversations about our issues with the Commander, Patrol Division and Animal Management Division and others in Berkeley County Animal Management,” Robinson stated. “We additionally visited the shelter on a number of events … Our investigation has uncovered a sample of abuse, denying animals veterinary care and in some instances pressing medical therapy.”
Harman and Berkeley County Animal Management Chief Kevin Jones stated Alley Cat Allies by no means reached out to them.
Berkeley County Animal Management has till Dec. 31 to answer the submitting with the West Virginia Supreme Courtroom of Appeals.
