Day Dreams Farm Equine Rescue and Rehabilitation in Cottrellville Township has been saving severely abused and neglected horses since its inception in 2009. President Lisa Ponke attended the July 24 St. Clair County Board of Commissioners meeting with a strong message, advocating for mistreated animals.
Ponke said when Jewell goes out to locations of potential abuse conditions, he checks for food and water and nothing else. She said that is not enough.
So far, she has collected 337 signatures on a petition from St. Clair County residents who agree that the county animal control needs a change in leadership.
St. Clair County Sheriff Tim Donnellon said when the department was revamped several years ago, most of the staff was let go, Jewell was one of the two employees he kept.
"Jewell is a top-notch employee," he said. "We hold our employees accountable. I have fired 13 people since I've been in office and I wouldn't hesitate to fire him if it was warranted."
Donnellon said the problem Ponke might be having is that her standards aren't the state law standards.
"I don't legislate, I enforce the laws," he said. "How you might want to keep animals and what someone else does is not necessarily against the law."
He is aware of Logan's Law that is making its way through Congress, a law that would put animal abusers on a registry like sex offenders.
"That's the way to come against it," he said.
Ponke cited one recent incident that occurred last week regarding horses in Burtchville. She said Jewel knew they were being mistreated for two years and "did nothing."
"He said they were let out every day for exercise, yet the clasp on the mare's halter was rusted completely shut," she said. "Officer Jewell had many chances to do the right thing, yet week after week, he simply turned his back and walked away."
Ponke said she spoke with Jewell and other county officials about her concerns, but no improvements were made.
Donnellon said the incident was "fully investigated." He said they had been out to the place many times up to May 15, but a visit on July 15 showed the owner's behavior toward the animals apparently falling into criminal conduct – mostly neglect.
Animal cruelty charges have been sought under the Animal Neglect/Abuse County Ordinance Article # 7: "failing to provide sufficient and suitable water and food which would thus cause the animal to suffer thirst or hunger" and "failing to provide reasonable wellness care or other curative measures to eliminate or minimize suffering when the animal is in pain or distress," Donnellon said.
Ponke asked that the horses be turned over to Day Dreams Farm, but the sheriff said his office had protocols to follow before giving the abused animals up. They ended up placing the two draft horses in a draft horse rescue and the gelding to a farmer. The owner gave up his rights to the horses and some dogs, as well.
Ponke talked with Commissioner Bill Gratopp-District 7 about the situation, but she said he continued to side with Jewell. After checking with Donnellon and Stephanie Ignash of the St. Clair County Animal Control, he said he was assured the three horses were fine.
"According to both, officer Jewell acted in a most professional manner and exercised the proper procedure in rectifying the situation," Gratopp stated. "The veterinarian was contacted and concurs with what Sheriff Donnellon and Mrs. Ignash stated. I asked for a follow-up regarding the three horses, and was informed that the two were placed in a good home, and a neighbor adopted the third.
As of this date, all three are doing well, thanks to the efforts of officer Jewell and animal control, under the supervision of the sheriff's office."
Ponke disagrees. She said many county residents are frustrated by the seemingly minimal efforts shown by the department. Some have called for intervention on behalf of a neighbor's abused animal, only to find a quick visit from animal control was all that was done.
One incident was in The Voice in March of 2012:
"The Port Huron Police Department is investigating an animal cruelty complaint involving six dogs in the 1800 block of Mansfield. Investigators responded to the residence yesterday after receiving a tip that the animals were living in unsatisfactory conditions. A search warrant was obtained to gain entrance into the home and the six dogs were found inside the residence.
"Conditions inside the residence were found to be deplorable. The animals, all mixed breeds, appeared to have been fed but feces and urine were found piled throughout the home. The conditions appear to have been ongoing for an extended period of time."
The story had a happy ending but Ponke said it was too little, too late from animal control. After many failed attempts to have animal control help the dogs, she said, they finally got help from another animal rescue agency.
"(Jewell) just not understanding that the problem is not that the horses ended up in good homes, but that animal control already knew about this for so long and did nothing until that officer pulled them out of there."
Jewell's office said all comments about the incident would have to come from Sheriff Donnellon.
(Voice News - July 26, 2013)
