Sheriff's office may assign full-time animal cruelty detective

ROBERTSDALE, Ala. (WALA) - A group of activists is urging the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office to step up in helping some of the area's silent victims.

Animal advocacy groups attended the Baldwin County Sheriff's Budget meeting in Robertsdale on Wednesday with a request: they want a full-time animal cruelty investigator on the sheriff's office staff.

Sheriff Huey 'Hoss' Mack likes the idea, but says there are obstacles to face.

A growing trend

Some animals are victims of horrible crimes, but they can't stand up for themselves and, in the meantime, the number of abuse reports is increasing.

SPECIAL REPORT: Cruel Crimes

The Baldwin County Sheriff's Office says over the past eight years, the number of animal cruelty calls has tripled, so representatives from local animals rights groups are pushing for the creation of a full-time animal cruelty investigator.

Sandra Nathan with the Alabama Voters for Responsible Animal Legislation (AVRAL) said, "The Sheriff's department has to answer every call that is outside of the cities and it's becoming where they need a trained, dedicated animal cruelty investigator who would recognize cruelty right away."

The President of Forever Homes Animal Rescue, Steve Williams, said, "This would help greatly in the reduction of these types of situations and more people would be held accountable for what they're doing."

Alabama's animal cruelty laws are very lax; in fact, most cases are classified as Class B Misdemeanors.

Baldwin County Sheriff Huey 'Hoss' Mack says since the state Department of Agriculture discontinued its animal crimes investigator, the sheriff's office caseload has spiked.

Mack likes the idea. But he says, right now, the county's revenue shortfall won't allow it.

He said, "We know that our sheriff's office, we're gonna have a decreased budget already over what we have had this year, so it becomes a priority, and we're looking at what can and can't be done."

Activists are undeterred

These activist groups aren't deterred. They feel there is so much more that can be done to help abused animals across Alabama, and they aren't going to stop fighting.

The animal activists are also encouraging local legislators make laws that are tougher on puppy mills.

They say puppy mills are prolific throughout our area, but are not regulated or taxed. They say, in some cases, this means the animals are raised in dangerous conditions with no oversight.

Nathan said, “[Puppy mill operators] are making a ton of money on the bodies of animals but they’re not paying any taxes.”

Nathan hopes the lawmakers show compassion and step up to create tougher laws on puppy mills.

Williams said, “They’re actually selling these dogs from anywhere to $500 to $2,000 a piece.”