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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-25-19 SBACC Meeting MinutesSouth Bend Animal Care and Control Comm April 25, 2019 1805 Hours County City Building 13" Floor 227 West Jefferson Blvd South Bend, IN 46601 Animal Control Commission Members Present: City Staff Present: Hearing Minutes Filed in Glerk's Office E Y 3 LU19 _­- KAREEMAH FOWLER CITY CLERK, SOUTH BEND, IN Pam Wesolowski, Lynne Losecco, Dr. Mariah Covey, Karen Haun, and Barb Leavcll Jenn Gobel -SBACC Shelter Manager, Marlaina Johns -Code Enforcement, Tom Panowicz-Attorney for SBACC, and Dani Campbell Weiss -Commission Attorney The hearing was called to order by hearing officer Anne Carroll Nash, Hearing Officer at 1805 hours. A. Hearing regarding Habitual Animal Offender residing at 918 Milton, South Bend. B. Respondents are Brian and Angelica Ramsay. C. Have received 14 violations in two (2) years. D. Have received several AWA's starting in May 2018. 2. Service was made and accepted by Hearing Officer. Tom Panowicz called Jen Gobel to give testimony regarding the Citations and AWA's. A. File on this address was opened in May 2018. B. Three (3) dogs were seen on the property at that time. 1. Three adult German Shepherds. 2. Four German Shepherd puppies. 3. Two Boston Terriers. C. First violation happened in May 2018 due to animal (dog) running at large. D. From June 2018 to January 2019 several Citations and AWA's were written for animals at this address. E. October 2018 German Shepherd from this address killed neighbor's dog. F. Several exhibits were given into evidence. 1. Exhibit one (1) was an affidavit of service and order to comply and notices of hearing addressed to the Respondent, with memoranda attached setting for the hearing process guidelines. 2. Exhibit two (2) was a certified mail receipt proving service upon the Respondent. 3. Exhibit three (3) was a Memo History Report setting forth incidents between May 23, 2018 and October 1, 2018. 4. Exhibit four (4) was an affidavit from an employee of the St. Joseph County Humane Society, along with information concerning Angelica Ramsay obtaining food for three (3) adult dogs and four puppies on January 17, 2019. 5. Exhibit five (5) was a summary and copies of ordinance violation citations given to the Respondents on May 22, 2018 and September 30, 2018. 6. Exhibit six (6) was a summary and copies of ordinance violation citations given to the Respondent between May 22, 2018 and January 17, 2019. 7. Exhibit seven (7) was a memorandum dated October 6, 2018 regarding dogs killing another dog, along with photographs of dogs. 8. Exhibit eight (8) was a photograph of a dog date May 22, 2018. G. One of the Citation was appealed and it was reduced. H. As of the date of this hearing all the dogs still reside at this address. I. South Bend Animal Care and Control asking for the dogs to be confiscated and the Respondents be issued a five (5) year ban. South Bend Animal Care and Control is concerned about the breeding and amounts of animals that come through this address. City rests their case at this time. 4. Respondents, B. Ramsay and Angelica Ramsay, presented their case. A. Respondent stated he found one dog running loose not far from an alleged dog fighting ring. Respondents maintain they don't own all the pets that SBACC claim. Respondents contest the fact of whether it was their dog that killed neighbor dog. B. Respondent's filed into evidence items A through B. 1. Exhibit A was a copy of text messages between Jennifer Gobel and Respondent. 2. Exhibit B was a rabies vaccinate certificate dated October 20, 2018, certification of Gram, a male Boston Terrier and animal welfare alert dated September 30, 2018, twelve (12) citations, and a letter to the Respondent from the City of South Bend Department of Law regarding a ticket appeal. C. Respondent stated they have now put up a six (6) foot privacy fence to keep dogs from running loose. D. Respondents contested the validity of several citations they received. E. Angelica Ramsay admitted to lying on the form so she could try to get extra food for the dogs within the household. F. Both Respondents have vowed to work with SBACC despite the contentious relationship between the City and the Respondents. The Commission is taking the case under advisement and will issue a decision at May 2, 2019 meeting. Hearing Adjourned at 1950 hours South Bend Animal Care and Control Commission Hearing Minutes April 25, 2019 2000 Hours County City Building 13`h Floor 227 West Jefferson Blvd South Bend, IN 46601 Animal Control Commission Members Present: City Staff Present: Pam Wesolowski, Lynne Losecco, Dr. Mariah Covey, Karen Haun, and Barb Leavell Jenn Gobel -SBACC Shelter Manager, Marlaina Johns -Code Enforcement, Tom Panowicz-Attorney for SBACC, and Dani Campbell Weiss -Commission Attorney The hearing was called to order by hearing officer Anne Carroll Nash, Hearing Officer at 2000 hours. A. Hearing regarding Habitual Animal Offender residing at 1150 North Adams, South Bend. B. Respondent Manriquez appeared, Respondent Alverez did not appear. Respondent stated he no longer resides at this address. C. Case Number 2019-02. D. Since 12-2017 there have been eight (8) violations. 1. Exhibit one (1) was the Notice of Hearing, picture of notice left at the residence and rules for the hearing. 2. Exhibit two (2) was the certified mailing cards for Jennica Manriquez. 3. Exhibit three (3) was a Person View Report from SBACC setting forth incidents between July 14, 2017 and March 11, 2019. 4. Exhibit four (4) was an Animal Review Report from SBACC for Lady, a female Pit Bull Terrier. 5. Exhibit five (5) was an Animal Review Report from SBACC for socks, an adult short hair black and white cat. 6. Exhibit six (6) was an Animal Review Report from SBACC fo CeCe, a female Pit Bull Terrier. 7. Exhibit seven (7) was a summary and copies of Animal Welfare Alerts given to the Respondent between July 13, 2017 and March 11, 2019 as well as a screen shot from the Facebook account of Jennica Riffle. 8. Exhibit eight (8) was a summary and copies of ordinance violation citations given to the Respondent between December 28, 2017 and March 18, 2018. 9, Exhibit nine (9) was a medical history report for the dog identified as Cece documenting a rabies vaccination on March 19, 2019. 10. Exhibit ten (10) was a Case View Report from SBACC dated March 11, 2019. 2. Service was made and accepted by Hearing Officer. Tom Panowicz called Jen Gobel to give testimony regarding the Citations and AWA's. A. File was opened in December 2017. B. The dog in question, Cece, appeared to be abused, running loose and was unhealthy. C. March 2019 an AWA was issued in response to Cece, due to a bit case that was reported. 1. Cece was taken into quarantine for ten days after this incident. 2. It was requested that Cece be seen by a vet and a report sent regarding the dog's health. 4. South Bend Animal Care and Control asking for the dog to be confiscated and the Respondent be issued a lifetime ban on ownership. City rested their case at this time. 6. Respondent Manriquez stated she wished for a new "board" to decide her case since she felt we were biased. A. Stated she had Cece put into quarantine voluntarily. B. Stated Face book post was a joke regarding feeding Cece being fed jalapenos and Tequila. C. Respondent stated vet faxed SBACC two times regarding the health of Cece. D. Respondent Riffle's testimony was at times hard to follow and extra information that was no pertinent to the case kept getting added. 7. Respondent wished several items be entered into evidence. A. Exhibit A was a document from Western Veterinary Clinic, demonstrating that Cece was examined and vaccinated against rabies on March 19, 2019. B. Exhibit B was a rabies vaccination certificate dated March 19, 2019. C. Exhibit C was a medical history report from Western Veterinary Clinic dated March 19, 2019. The Commission is taking the case under advisement and will issue a decision at May 2, 2019 meeting. Hearing Adjourned at 2110 hours.