Animal control officers call for tougher neglect laws

ALABAMA -- Colbert County Animal Control officers are working to crack down on animal cruelty cases, but say they're not getting the help they need from lawmakers to follow through on their cases.

Officers said they're nearly overwhelmed when it comes to investigating animal cruelty cases, and that it is an issue they're faced with daily.

At first glance, a particular group of seemingly happy dogs are awaiting a forever home at the shelter.
But just a few months ago, their futures were uncertain.

Colbert County Animal Control Officer Anthony Wilbanks says the dogs were doing whatever they could to stay alive when he seized them and got them the medical attention they needed.

  

"There was a total of seven puppies," said Wilbanks. "One of them had been kicked, according to the veterinarian, and it was dead."

Despite regaining their health, the animal shelter is unable to put them up for adoption because of the ongoing investigation, thus adding to the shelter's overcrowding issues.

And the caseload doesn't stop with this one.

"As of right now inside this office, we have a total of six animal cruelty cases that are open," Wilbanks said.

Wilbanks added all the cases are similar in neglect and poor health of animals. He said many of the seized animals come from repeat offenders.

"It's frustrating because we work all these cases and spend all these hours, and they slap them on the hand and pretty much turn them loose," he said.

Unfortunately, most animal cruelty and neglect cases end up like that -- the person gets unsupervised probation for 30 days - maybe a year or two. Then they can go right out and get new animals and abuse them.

Wilbanks worries about their ability to control the issue if the laws are not strengthened. He says it will take citizens to help to make a change.

"They can lobby local congressman and say we need stiffer animal laws in the state of Alabama," he said. "Until we get some help from higher up in the legislature, nothing is ever going to be done."

Because this is an ongoing investigation and there has not been an arrest made in this specific case, we chose to withhold the name of the owner.

We contacted the man's attorney, and he said he didn't wish to comment on the case at this time.

(WAFF - Oct 27, 2014)