In Dothan, AL, animal control is run by the police department. On the pound’s Petfinder page, which has zero animals listed for adoption, it states:
Because of the high number of dogs and cats we receive each week, we are forced to euthanize animals regularly.
And by forced to euthanize, they apparently mean getting kicks by torturing puppies to death.
William Henry Roberson, age 57, has reportedly worked for the city of Dothan for 21 years, including the last 14 as an ACO. Shortly after showing up for work on Friday, ACO Roberson allegedly intentionally locked a live mixed breed puppy in the facility’s freezer, which I presume is full of dead pet carcasses. Approximately 20 – 30 minutes later, another employee found the puppy, who died shortly thereafter.
ACO Roberson has been placed on administrative leave, arrested and charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty. Bond was set at $500.
If this is the first time this man has tortured an animal, I will eat my hat. I will eat all the hats. No compassionate person shows up for work at a job he’s been doing for 14 years and suddenly decides to inflict pain and suffering on a puppy for the first time. It seems only logical to believe this is part of a pattern of abuse with this ACO, one which his co-workers may or may not have observed over the last 14 years. The difference this time is that someone turned him in. Thank you, someone.
“It’s obviously disheartening when somebody who’s charged with protecting and caring for these animals then intentionally harms one,” [Dothan Police Lt. Will] Benny said.
Not ONE. There is a pattern here, I guarantee it. Will the Dothan police department, investigating itself in the matter, bother to dig deeper to determine if evidence of a pattern of animal abuse exists? Or will they just take a play from the city shelter abusers handbook and label the guy a bad apple, the torture a one time incident, and move on quietly with the business of animal killing?
Politely worded e-mails to Dothan police chief Gregory J. Benton requesting a thorough investigation to include any possible incidents of previous animal abuse at the pound and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law may be sent to dpd@dothan.org. And while you’re writing, maybe include a link to No Kill 101 from the No Kill Advocacy Center. In case the police don’t want to be “forced” to continue the needless killing of pets at the pound. Hundreds of other communities have ended the killing. The tools are available, at no cost. Can’t hurt to try. And we already know it hurts not to try.
(Thanks Clarice for the link.)