HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021_08_05 AWC Hearing MinutesSouth Bend Animal Welfare Commission
Hearing Minutes
August 5, 2021
1840 Hours
County City Building
13th Floor
227 West Jefferson Blvd
South Bend, IN 46601
Hearing Case Number 2021-10 City of South Bend v. Kent Odom(Order Issued
July 26, 2021)
Animal Control Commission Members Present: Rebecca Strand, Karen Haun,
Pam Wesolowski, and Barb
Leavell
City Staff Present:Lindsey Cuellar -SBARC Shelter Manager, Tom
Panowicz-Attorney for SBARC, and Dani Campbell
Weiss-Commission Attorney
1. The hearing was called to order by Anne Carol Nash, the Hearing
Officer at 1840 hours.
A. Hearing regarding Habitual Animal Offender residing at 1338 North
Elmer, South Bend.
B.Respondent is Kent Odom.
C. File was opened in May 2020.
2. Service was made and accepted by Hearing Officer.
3. Tom Panowicz called Lindsey Cuellar to give testimony regarding the
Citations and AWA’s.
A. File on the Respondent was opened in May 2020.
B. Seven animals were registered to Respondent.
1. Leola, a Terrier Mix, one year old.
2.Nina, a Terrier Mix, four years old.
3.Quinn, a Pug/Beagle Mix, three years old.
4.BamBam, Terrier Mix, two years old.
5.Bucklee, a Terrier Mix, one year old.
6.Quentin, a Terrier Mix, one year old.
7.Alice, Terrier Mix, one year old.
C.Four AWA’s were given to Respondent between September 2020 to
January 2021.
D.Eleven (11) Citations were given to Respondent between June 2020
to February 2021.
E.Respondent has licensed two of the twenty-two (22) dogs.
F.SBARC has seized all the dogs at this residence.
G.Two of the dogs, Leola and Nine had litters of puppies, along
with being seized and a warrant was served by SBPD.
H.Has not licensed all dogs, no has shown SBARC proof of
vaccinations.
I.Dogs have been seen running at large on several occasions.
J.Has surpassed the unaltered dog limit.
K.There have been bites reported but neither Respondent or victim
was cooperative.
L. Several exhibits were given into evidence.
1. Exhibit one (1) was a Notice of Hearing, Affidavit of
Service, and Certificate of Service.
2. Exhibit two (2) is SBARC’s summary regarding the hearing.
3. Exhibit three (3) is Person View Report regarding the
history of all dogs registered to this address.
4. Exhibit four (4) (a-g) are Animal View Reports.
5. Exhibit five (5) are Animal Welfare Alerts with attached
spreadsheet.
6.Exhibit six (6) are the Ordinance Violation Citations with
attached spreadsheet.
7. Exhibit seven (7) Leola and Nine vet paperwork.
8.Exhibit eight (8) copy of SJCHS application for food.
9. Exhibit nine (9) surrender letter from SBARC.
I. South Bend Animal Care and Control is asking the Commission for a
label of Habitual Animal Offender with a lifetime prohibition on
animal ownership.
J. City rests their case at this time.
4. Respondent, Kent Odom stated.
A.Respondent affirmed that he/she failed to prevent both litters,
failing to understand that dogs need to be spayed or neutered-
there is no other form of birth control for dogs.
B.Agreed that the fence around the premises needs to be fixed.
C.Stated he/she had warnings about beware of dogs.
D.States he is not a breeder that all litters were accidental.
5. The Commission discussed and voted on items listed below.
A. The Commission agreed that there is to be no harboring of any
dogs, except the one dog allowed.
B.A one dog minimum will be allowed.
C.Respondent must let SBARC in for an inspection of the property
and fence.
D.Respondent must get a copy of the South Bend Ordinance and know
what the rules are.
E.The one dog allowed must be spayed/neutered within next six
weeks.
F.Said dog must be licensed and micro chipped.
G.Respondent must provide proof of rabies vaccine within six weeks.
H.Respondent will never get a breeder’s license from City of South
Bend.
I.If Respondent gets any other violations, all dogs at residence
will be seized without benefit of another hearing.
J.Respondent will be labeled a Habitual Animal Offender within the
City of South Bend.
Hearing Adjourned at 2035 hours.