Wrongdoers get off light, official saysDorchester County looking into judges quick to dismiss, cut fines By Dave Munday (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Monday, June 30, 2008
Tickets v. collectionBetween 2006 and the end of April 2008, Dorchester County animal-control officers wrote tickets totaling $305,025. The county collected $52,695, or about 17 percent of the fines, according to a report. SUMMERVILLE — Are animal abusers getting off with a slap on the wrist when they come to court? Dorchester County officials are asking that question as they look closer at how judges handle fines. A county official says judges are dismissing 80 percent of the fines, sending a weak message to abusers and demoralizing enforcement officers. "We would just like to see people who abuse an animal fined enough to make sure they think twice," said Dorchester County Growth Manager Eva Lunder, who oversees animal control officers. Lunder presented figures to council last month as part of a report on how the county might collect more money. Chief Magistrate Glenn Stephens said he is aware of the report but does not agree with the conclusion. The report does not include fines not yet collected after bench warrants were issued for people who didn't show up, fines paid over time, cases that are dismissed when the officers don't show up in court and reduced fines for guilty pleas. Also, part of the problem might be that animal control officers write the same $525 ticket for every offense and then leave it to the judges to sort out the facts, he said. "Judges are not trying to collect revenue," Stephens said. "We're judging for justice, what's fair. We have some good judges trying to make the best decisions. I think they (county officials) are just bent out of shape trying to collect $525 on every ticket." Stephens said he studied every code violation case in the county a couple of months ago and didn't see a problem with the judges. Frederick Hoerner has been a county animal control officer for 10 years. He gives everybody the same $525 ticket, even if it's just for letting a dog bark too much. "Some of the workers do get discouraged (when judges cut the fines for people who abuse animals)," Hoerner said. "But sometimes you find out it's not so bad after all, and you hope the judge does not throw the book at them. We write the tickets, but we're not the judge." Dorchester County Council Chairman Larry Hargett said he also gets complaints that judges are too quick to cut fines. "It is an issue," Hargett said. "We need to address it." The county will consider amending the ordinance to specify a minimum fine and will evaluate how tickets are written, Hargett said. In Charleston County, animal control officers are sheriff's deputies. The amount of the ticket depends on the severity of the offense, sheriff's Maj. John Clark said. "We allow for officer discretion," Clark said. "But the bottom line is it rests with the judge." Berkeley County's animal control supervisor could not be reached for comment. Reach Dave Munday at dmunday@postandcourier.com or 745-5862. |
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Comments
This article has 22 comment(s)
Posted by lillycollette on June 30, 2008 at 6:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Quote: Chief Magistrate Glenn Stephens said … "Judges are not trying to collect revenue;" ... "We're judging for justice, what's fair. … I think they (county officials) are just bent out of shape trying to collect $525 on every ticket."
AMAZING! A judge who understands that he is a member of the judiciary and not an employee of the Dept. of Revenue (DOR)!
This man should be conducting classes for members of the Family Court Bench because those folks just don’t get it.
Posted by ed52 on June 30, 2008 at 8:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
sounds like the judge is correcting a ticket happy group. there are better ways to help the pet owners than a $525 ticket..
Posted by ironhorse on June 30, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Any truth to the rumor that Michael Vick is the featured tour guide for the seal pup hunting trip?
Posted by drp7773 on June 30, 2008 at 10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Child abuse and animal abuse is sick, but come on we have gooten a bit out of control these days. Now the shelters are saying if you adopt a pet you have to take it to the vet all the time, shots, surgeries, dental,special foods, etc etc. if you dont do this they dont want you to adopt. They would rather the animal sit there and if it does not get adopted then they kill it. In the old days you pick a pet and you fed, cleaned and loved it, if it dies you buried it, you gave it a good life compared to what it would have in a shelter, But you did not treat it like a child and go broke taking care of it. Look at the vet bills and what surgeries and medicines cost, its ridiculous but hey the vets love ya all the way to the bank. Again they are animals not people. and again, abusing an animal is so wrong and there should be punishment but to get more punishment then what you get for abusing people is getting way off the charts and the 528 dollar fines come on..take the animal away and let the judge file an order where they cant own a pet if the abuse is that great, but the fine sounds just like a way to make revenue instead of correcting the problem.
Posted by myheartwillgoon on June 30, 2008 at 11:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The real problem is not the magistrates. If they put on these fines, these people just can't pay them so they go to jail. I guess Eva Lunder would rather let an illegal Mexican drunk driver on the street than someone who can't pay a dog mistreatment fine. Dorchester jails are already overcrowded. This is the same Eva Lunder who in a year of working for the county is supposed to be managing growth but hasn't done nothing.
Posted by forget on June 30, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My "application" for adoption was declined at the SPCA a little more that a year ago. I would not disclose my yearly income nor would I submit my previous dog's vet records. I was told that my having a 10 yr old was not a good match with a puppy. Not a pit bull puppy or anything, a dachsund/chihuahua mix.
Drp is correct in saying that too much is required to take in (to me, adopt is reserved for children) a homeless animal. That's why the SPCA has as many as it does.
I opened the newpaper and purchsed a dachsund puppy from an individual for my 10 yr old. She loves her and takes care of her. Kind of sad for the one we had to leave there in a cage.
Posted by JohnS on June 30, 2008 at 1:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The SPCA needs to lighten the rules a little. It's sounds like "forget" did enough to give the puppy a good home.
Posted by Nonsense on June 30, 2008 at 3:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't think it is the SPCA's business what my yearly income is - so I probably would not get a pet - do they run a credit check? That is unbelievably ridiculous. I just wonder how many people lie about their individual circumstances. Like "forget" and "JohnS", I feel sorry for the poor dogs and cats - because they probably could have gone to good homes but instead are put to sleep...really sad.
Posted by realdealsummerville on June 30, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Which SPCA are you taling about? I just adopted from Francis Willis in Summerville and they did not ask me any of this.
Posted by forget on June 30, 2008 at 3:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I remember years ago going to the "pound" and walking up and down the lines of cages and looking to see what they had. Looking to see what was there you can bond with. That day we went there, they asked us what type of dog we were interested in. When we said a dachsund, she in turn said that they couldn't help us with that. I had called the day before and was told they had a dachsund mix. When I asked if I could just look to see what they had, I was told they don't do that. I then found someone that would show us the dog. And show us is all they would do. Wouldn't even let us take it out of the cage. How am I supposed to know if this animal is going to gnaw off my hand or not by looking at it from across the room? After that came the "interview", and well the rest is history.
More animals would be taken home if they would just plain let them go.
Posted by ForPnC on June 30, 2008 at 3:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Something more needs to be done other than handing out the same fine that they know isn't going to get paid anyway. First off, take the animal away.
I think the people that work at shelters are azzes for good reason - they put up with a lot of scum and are trying to protect the animals. Some are way too protective and to ask you how much you make is over the top.
There are plenty of rescues that have wonderful animals to adopt (I DO use adopt) and the best thing about them is you'll already know all about them from the foster parents.
Posted by forget on June 30, 2008 at 3:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This happened in G.C. hwy 176 and 52.
Posted by forget on June 30, 2008 at 3:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Besides my yearly income, they wanted to know my approx. square footage of the home, how many people live in the house, children and their ages, other pets, what kind of area the animal is going kept in, how long during the day the animal will be left alone, the name of the vet and vet records of the animal I have at home, how much I plan on spending on this animal yearly. Plus a variety of other things. If someone gets a chance, you need to go by there and pick up their application. In Mar. 2007 is when this happened. by the way, it was going to cost $159.00 for this animal, and I couldn't take it home for three days.
Posted by realdealsummerville on June 30, 2008 at 4:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The SPCAs in Charleston are not together. They are all seperate. The one in Goose Creek is a good shelter. They ask these questions because over 1000's of adoptions they have found certain trends. For instance, just like a criminal profiler. They are not always right, but they know more than you do unless you have adopted 1000's of animals. If you look at the National SPCA website you can learn more. I do not mind the questions, as long as they are not too personal, if they will better help me get a nice animal.
Posted by forget on June 30, 2008 at 4:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Too many personal answers were wanted. The people were rude. I'm a very average person wanting a very average dog (a small one) for my daughter. I came into the place very upbeat, picking out a dog as a surprise for my daughter. I left very embarassed, as I was told in front of 8 other people in the room, that my application was being declined because I have an inappropriate home for a dog. Mind everyone, I had a 3 bdr, 2 bath home in Sangaree, with a privacy fence, in a cul de sac. The one child was all there was (no small children). And we work an average number of hours a week. What more could a homeless animal want or need?
Posted by lillycollette on June 30, 2008 at 4:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There are some very good comments here. Animal rescue has indeed forgotten its true purpose and evolved into an unregulated ‘Cottage Industry’ of selling animals.
They invade your rights of privacy with impunity and they coerce extra veterinarian expenses well above what the law requires AND NO ONE IS APPARENTLY KEEPING AN EYE ON WHAT’S HAPPENING.
I was so disgusted with the attitude and behavior of the Chas. Co. SPCA and Low Country Animal Rescue that I bought a dog from a private breeder.
Posted by ForPnC on June 30, 2008 at 4:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I got my last dog from the Low Country Lab Rescue. I would love to go to a shelter but what Forget is saying is quite true.
I'll pay the extra money and know what I'm getting without the hassle of a bunch of self-important ding dongs telling me I'm not good enough. Screw them.
Posted by realdealsummerville on June 30, 2008 at 6:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Animal rescue and the SPCA are not the same thing. And private breeders, by the way make the rescues and shelters stocked full with animals. Especially when they are chared with neglect. Think about that next time that you buy from a breeder. I love shelter animals. They have better personalities and appreciate that you have rescued them. They are also a lot less expensive.
Posted by wegwam on June 30, 2008 at 7:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
why does the growth manager oversee animal control officers? what makes her qualified? who oversaw a.c. officers before the growth manager position was created? what the heck is going on?
Posted by walleyedwoman1215 on June 30, 2008 at 9:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
For what it's worth: Eighteen months ago we decided to adopt a small, adult, homeless dog. We visited petfinder.com and found more than 100 rescue organizations (including SPCAs) in S.C. Pets' color photos, history, fees, spay/neuter requirements, all that info is online. We narrowed our choices down to three dogs at Home Away From Home Pet Rescue in Florence, S.C. We had to provide vet references and talked to the director via telephone before our appointment. Drove up on a Saturday, adopted a 3-year-old female English Jack Russell, very gentle, already spayed, housetrained, etc. Her elderly owner died and she wound up in rescue. Nicky is sleeping at my feet as I write, and my husband would fight an army for her.
Please, please adopt a homeless pet. I agree, some of the questions reported on this site are intrusive, BUT there are so many options out there. Check out petfinder.com!
Posted by mc53 on June 30, 2008 at 10:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you Judge Stephens for doing a great job! Sounds to me like Larry Hargett and Eva Lunder want to wear a robe. How dare they question a decision of a Judge when they were not even in the courtroom to hear both sides! Who do they think they are ?
Posted by abitskeptical on July 1, 2008 at 7:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A couple of yrs ago my husband picked up a hound he'd seen for weeks wandering along HWY 17 south. It had been getting skinnier & skinnier & was obviously lost or abandoned. There was a tattoo in the ear & the next day we put an add in the lost & found.
No one ever claimed the dog, so he became part of our menagerie. He has one blind eye, lots of buckshot in his ear flaps & has seizures periodically. Veterinarian said he had well established heart worms.
Someone left our back gate open & old hound dog jumped at the chance to take a look-see thru the neighborhood...& got himself picked up by the animal police.. :)
When we noticed that dog had escaped we called SPCA,went & identified him, but were told he had to be neutered before we could bring him home.
We told them the story of how we ended up with this poor creature. We said, "He is not healthy enough to be neutered. We've been taking care of this dog for months, something we decided to do instead of bringing him, a stray, to you. We will pay the fine because he should not have gotten out, but he will not survive surgery."
They insisted on enforcing their neutering policy. So we left the dog & waited to hear from them (anticipating a call that he had died in surgery).
After a few days they called to tell us we could pick him up--that--they determined he was not healthy enough to have surgery (surprise surprise). Then they wanted us to pay room & board for the extra few days they insisted on keeping him! We nicely reminded them that we offered to take him off their hands days earlier.
In the end they did not charge us for the extra days...but they wanted to!
It seems that the SPCA & rescue organizations need a good dose of common sense.
BTW, when my husband rescued this pathetic animal the vet said he was about 24-48 hrs away from death. He had seizures regularly the first few months we had him-we figured he wasn't long for this earth-that was 2 1/2 years ago & he rarely has seizures now.