GC Residents Question Humane Society's Method Of Operation

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GC Residents Question Humane Society's Method Of Operation


Oct. 9, 2008

Some local farmers are questioning the authority of the Garrett County Humane Society and the manner in which its members seize animals and investigate alleged abuse cases. Kermit Yoder of Accident, seven livestock owners, county officials, and members of the Humane Society, HART for Animals, and PAWS (Partners for Animal Welfare & Safety) met with the county commissioners on Tuesday to discuss the issue.
"My fear now is [with] how the Humane Society conducts its business, somebody is going to get injured; the signs are there," Yoder said. "All you have to do is open your eyes and see them. I've heard horror stories about someone close to getting shot."

He added that he has been told that the Humane Society coerces people into giving up their animals.

"It's either a threat or a $1,000 fine, or they'll take your animal," Yoder said.

An ambiguously written state law currently places most of the authority of investigating cases of abuse and neglect on "an officer of a humane society." Local Humane Society members asked the commissioners last month to draft legislation to enable the county's Animal Control to take over at least some of that responsibility.

Humane Society president Lisa Baker noted at the September meeting that investigation work is sometimes scary, "but someone had to do it."

Yoder invited persons who felt they were "victims" and "treated unfairly" by the Humane Society to join him at this week's meeting to tell "the other side of the story." He also called for changes in the law. He read a list of items that people wanted included in the possible legislation. Those are as follows:

• There should be a second-chance law. Yoder said owners should have a chance to correct problems before the Humane Society seizes an animal. If they are not corrected within a certain amount of time, then the animal could be taken, he noted.

• The Humane Society should be educated about animal health. "There is a big disagreement on what animal health is," Yoder said. "Apparently, the Humane Society is not educated in this line, because of the way they've taken animals. Some animals have been taken from one place and put into a worse place."

• Humane Society members should be required to pass drug tests. That way, Yoder said, people will know that a member's judgment is not impaired when he or she seizes an animal.

A member of the Amish community also suggested that animal owners be allowed to receive a second opinion from their veterinarian before the Humane Society can take an animal, as the organization appears to not have to answer to any other agency.

"I'm willing to wait until the county commissioners have a chance to work something out and get some laws changed," Yoder said. "If not, there will be another public meeting on a Saturday so that more farmers and animal caretakers can be here."

He said the current law should be more widely known and suggested that it be published so that residents could review it. He also asked that the Humane Society publish something stating its opinion of how animals should be fed and taken care of, as people have different opinions about that issue.

The Humane Society's Dee Dee Clatterbuck acknowledged that that law is very technical. "But when it comes to feeding a horse, it's not rocket science," she said. "If it's thin, it's not getting enough food, or it's some medical problem."

Commissioner Denny Glotfelty disagreed. "That's not always the truth," he said. "I've had horses all my life, and I've had some that are just like people; they're [naturally] thin. There are always problems that arise in any animal."

The commissioner asked what the protocols were for seizing and inspecting animals

Baker said the Humane Society does give an owner a chance to correct problems. "If the owner cooperates, we don't seize an animal," she said.

Baker said her group has a form stating the number of days an owner has to correct a situation. That number, however, depends on the severity of the problem.

"We follow the law," Baker said. "We get a call [about possible neglect]. We go on every call. We talk to the owners. Sometimes we talk to the neighbors. We look at the situation."

She said 90 percent of owners cooperate.

"The other 10 percent don't care, don't want us on their property, don't want to do it, and tell us to leave," Baker said. "Then if we have to go back, if the animal's bad, then we will take a vet, and then we use the vet's expertise in order to tell us that, 'Yes, this animal's really, really bad," and then we take it."

Baker said she could not count on one hand the number of animals the Humane Society has seized in its 25-year history.

"If we're asked to leave a property, we leave a property," Baker said.

She added that the Humane Society has a paper that it leaves with owners. "It says that we were there, why we were there, with the contact phone number on it, with the law on it," Baker said. "And people usually call us, and we discuss it and it's taken care of."

Glotfelty said both sides of the issue needed to use common sense. He suggested that the Humane Society and animal owners get together and review the current law and make suggestions together for revisions.

Commissioner Fred Holliday said the county could not just arbitrarily change the state law.

"But if you come in with good, legitimate changes that most can agree on and make recommendations," Holliday told Yoder, "then, if we feel it's warranted, we could ask our legislators to introduce legislation. It has to be approved by the 'big house' east of here."

Commissioner Ernie Gregg noted, however, that because it is a state law, there are no guarantees that the General Assembly will use any of the local suggestions.

Glotfelty said until the current law is changed, it has to be followed, whatever it says.

"That's what Maryland gave us," he said. "Right, wrong, or indifferent."


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