MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – Tonight, two dogs sit inside the City of Mobile Animal Shelter after investigators said their owner failed to act after multiple warnings.
According to the City of Mobile Animal Control Officer Michael Crabtree, the owner of these dogs received multiple citations in a span of three weeks for not providing adequate shelter and proper access to food or water and adding that one of the dogs was too thin.
“They’re not at risk now,” Crabtree said. “When we removed them yesterday, they were in a state that there was no improvement seen from the owner.”
Crabtree said the dogs were left out in the rain with no shelter.
A photo showed one dog being kept inside a crate and another on a leash. State law defines adequate shelter as having walls, a roof, dry floor and can protect the animal from adverse weather.
Animal Control was made aware of this case when a Mobile man, who wants to remain anonymous, spoke up.
He told me he noticed these dogs were not doing well and immediately sent in a complaint.
“I noticed these two dogs were in the front lawn and one of them was kept in a kennel and the other was kept on a leash,” he said. “The dog in the kennel never came out that I could see.”
He said he would stop by almost twice a day to offer the dogs some food or water.
Right now, the owner is not facing any charges.
Crabtree said they get between 20 and 50 complaints a day and see more during the warmer and colder months.
In order for an owner who has had their pets seized by Animal Control, Crabtree said they have to go through a judge.
“Even though it’s under the custody of the animal control agency or that animal shelter, it still belongs to that person that it was seized from,” he said. “If there’s charges, whether it’s a municipal citation or if it’s a criminal charge, they will have the ability to have that go through the court process and depending on what happens from there, and what the judge orders, they may have the opportunity to get their animal back if they can demonstrate that those conditions have improved.”
There is no set number of citations a person can get until Animal Control takes the pet; it all depends on the case.
If you see any sign of animal neglect or abuse, contact Animal Control at (251)574-7940 or dial 311.
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