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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022_06_30 AWC Hearing MinutesSouth Bend Animal Welfare Commission Hearing Minutes June 30, 2022 1805 Hours County City Building 4th Floor 227 West Jefferson Blvd South Bend, IN 46601 Hearing Case Number 2022-06 City of South Bend v. Shirley Gray (Order Issued June 16, 2022) Animal Control Commission Members Present: Pam Wesolowski, Dr. Mariah Covey, Rebecca Strand, and Barb Leavell City Staff Present:Lindsey Cuellar -SBARC Shelter Manager, Tom Panowicz-Attorney for SBARC, and Kylie Connell and Ashley Snidecki- Attorneys for Commission 1. The hearing was called to order by the Hearing Officer at 1805 hours. A. Hearing regarding Habitual Animal Offender residing at 3719 Eastmont, South Bend. B.Respondent is Shirley Gray. C.File opened in October 2020. 2. Service was made and accepted by Hearing Officer. 3. Tom Panowicz called SBARC Manager Lindsey Cuellar to give testimony regarding the this case. A. Respondent file was opened in October 2020. B.SBARC stated that Respondent has been in noncompliance with issues ranging from dogs constantly running loose, not picking up her yard, and her dog attacking the next door neighbors dog at least three times. C.SBARC Officers stated at the time of the bites they are on a two or three on the health department scale. D.The first two bites Respondent did not comply with bite quarantine protocols and even his her dog from AWO’s on March 2021 bite, but only through SBARC convincing of other family members did she surrender dog to SBARC for quarantine. E.SBARC seeking to have Respondent labeled Habitual Animal Offenders within a minimum of ten years of animal ownership prohibition. 4.Respondent had her sister, Gloria, speak for her due to Shirley having suffered a gunshot wound to her head and has trouble with memory. A.Respondent stated that Shirley was not the owner of the dogs, Marcus Henderson was. B.Respondent stated that though Shirley lives there she does not own the house, Mr. Henderson’s mother does. C.Respondent stated that there are too many dogs inside the house and that there are kennels stacked on top of each other. D.Respondent stated that dog in question was at nieces house. E.Respondent is currently trying to get house put into her name and evict Mr. Henderson. F.There are also reptiles, i.e. snakes, lizards and an alligator inside Mr. Henderson’s locked room. G.Mr. Henderson chose to not appear and is currently hiding animals when SBARC appears. H.Respondent would like all the animals in the home to be removed. I.Respondent doesn’t feel safe in her home due to all the animals and has asked Mr. Henderson to leave the house. 5.A motion was made by the Commission to label the Respondent a Habitual Animal Offender, with a lifetime ban, on owning any additional animals within South Bend proper. A.SBARC will seize all animals at this address. B.SBARC will be allowed entry into the home to remove animals with no interference. C.SBPD will also be there at the time of animals removal to prevent any problems. D.Respondent’s sister may bring her dog over to visit when she does but dog cannot stay within the home. E.Motion regarding this case was made and carried by all on the Commission. Adjourned at 1910 hours.