Helena-West Helena Mayor James Valley is facing possible criminal charges after the Humane Society of Southeastern Arkansas filed charges with the Phillips County Sheriff’s Department Monday after Valley directed city sanitation workers to free 10 dogs at the St. Francis National Forest last Wednesday. Ruby Burton, director of the Humane Society of Southeast Arkansas, swore out an affidavit for arrest against Valley, citing state animal cruelty laws dealing with abandonment, mistreatment and neglect, all Class A misdemeanors. At press time, no information on whether a warrant was issued for his arrest had been received.
Gloria Higginbotham, director of the Humane Society of the Delta, says they are looking at legal options for the local chapter.
Despite local, state and national outcries about the city’s abandonment of the animals, Higginbotham says the group has not received any funds to help alleviate the stray dog problem facing Phillips County as of press time Monday. The group has $700 to battle the problem that local volunteers raised.
“During Memorial Day Weekend, we received calls from concerned citizens about the welfare of the animals,” said Higginbotham.
She says that volunteers fed and watered the animals at the kennels at the street department over the extended weekend. They observed the sick and aggressive animals housed at the city’s kennels and even say Valley was at the property as he inspected some new equipment the city received. Higginbotham says Valley was told then that the conditions were not acceptable.
The group tried to get on the agenda for the June 10 council session but they were not allowed to address the council because of a city policy concerning agenda items and the days allotted to groups or citizens wanting on the agenda.
Photographs of the conditions were passed around to council members in the session, but no action was taken June 10.
Higginbotham says she scheduled a meeting with Valley and the pair met Wednesday morning after the council meeting.
“I told him the conditions at the kennels were not acceptable. I also told him we needed a shelter and property. He told me he was taking the dogs to Storm Creek. I told him, ‘Don’t take those dogs anywhere,’ and to give me two hours to get some people to help remove them from there,” said Higginbotham.
She says she also instructed Valley to cease animal pick-up and the humane society would adopt the animals in custody out.
“Within two hours, he dumped the dogs,” said Higginbotham.
Higginbotham said Valley didn’t call her and she found out from the media, that the dogs had been taken to the St. Francis National Forest for relocation by the city.
Higginbotham said that since the humane society had been dealing with the city over the matter, that Valley had expressed that the city didn’t have the money or manpower to house, feed or water the animals.
According to documents Valley released in April, the city has a sales tax reserve account with over $500,000 in funds slated for emergency use.
“We really need the community’s support,” said Higginbotham.
“A shelter needs to be controlled and maintained by the Humane Society. Their past track record shows that they can’t be trusted when it comes to the care of animals,” said Higginbotham.
Friday, Higginbotham, Valley and Phillips County Judge Don Gentry met at the Phillips County Courthouse to address the matter.
Higginbotham says both elected officials pledged their support and cooperation but the group still has no property for a shelter, which will serve all of Phillips County.
Burton’s affidavit stated that the city turned Humane Society members away when they tried to enter the facility located on city property saying “Volunteers were forced to crawl across the fence after dark to take care of the animals.” She added that she had tried to cooperate with Valley on or about January 24 and she says he told her “there are no laws on the books saying we had to clean up after the animals.”
Burton says in the affidavit that she called the state Health Department about the build-up of feces in the animal’s pens but “to no avail” and that nothing was done.
She further stated that Valley had hired a woman and paid her $500 a month to care for the animals at her private residence. When Burton and others with the Humane Society tried to file affidavits at the district court, they were turned away. They then contacted the Phillips County Sheriff’s Department and the 1st Judicial District prosecuting attorney about filing charges against Valley.
In response to this problem, the staff and management at The Daily World are supporting the Humane Society of the Delta by donating funds and are a designated drop-off point for supplies such as blankets, food and other items needed to care for animals slated for adoption.