“The way I’ve been treated is un-American,” said Helena-West Helena Mayor James Valley Monday, saying that he has received hundreds of angry e-mails and phone calls after he ordered the release of 10 dogs into the St. Francis National Forest Wednesday.
Valley says the calls were “angry and profane and can’t be repeated.”
“I stand by my decision. I was doing what was in the best interest of this community,” he said.
Valley and city employees have dealt with issues in the pound since January when the Humane Society of Southeast Arkansas shut down the city facility.
On June 13, Valley met with Gloria Higginbotham, director of the Humane Society of the Delta and Phillips County Judge Don Gentry.
“We agreed to work together and do what we can lawfully do. Donate, no, but we will help capture animals like vicious dogs and take them to the vet,” said Valley.
“We will not house any dogs and we won’t have that issue again,” said Valley.
Valley said that if criminal charges were filed, the city would be responsible for any attorney fees associated with his defense.
Valley says that before Helena and West Helena consolidated, the two cities only had dogcatchers. Under the new city, animal control officers are a different matter, as their duties include the reunification of dog and dog owner, pest control and adoptive measures.
Some have been euthanized but Valley said that when city employees give a weekly report, how many was not included. He also did not know how much money the city had spent on euthanasia.
Valley said that the two animal control officers have since been reassigned to general duties in the street and sanitation department.
Valley said that the city would no longer handle stray dog complaints unless there is an emergency such as a vicious dog.
“This is 10 dogs. We have an animal population in Phillips County of about 50,000 dogs,” said Valley adding that dogs out number the citizens 3 to 1.
Don Zimmerman, director of the Arkansas Municipal League, said that if a dog the city released bit a citizen, the city could not be held liable.
He also added that the AML only handles civil matters for the city and that the AML probably would not defend Valley if charges were filed.
As for the outraged citizens crying malfeasance in office, Zimmerman said the correct term is ?non-feasence? and those statues outline a failure by a public official to execute the laws.
Zimmerman also said that cities in the state are required to provide its citizens with solid waste requirements, street maintenance, police and fire protection and other statues that pertain to protecting the safety, health and welfare of the citizens.
?I don?t think the city is required to have an animal shelter,? said Zimmerman.
Valley is the district vice president for District 1 of the executive board of the AML. This week, the AML will host its 74th annual convention where a workshop dealing with animal control will be held.
Valley said that the city does not have any plans to hold a special session to deal with the animal control issues the city is currently experiencing.