ISLAND COUNTY SHERIFF: Concerns raised about county animal control (WNT)
Jessie Stensland reports for the Whidbey News-Times from the Island County Commissioners board meeting on Jan. 3, 2022.
In the wake of a startling animal cruelty case, the Island County sheriff said his department will be rebuilding an animal control program “from the ground up.”…
At an Island County commissioners’ meeting Tuesday, Sheriff Rick Felici responded to concerns voiced by a dozen residents over the state of the county’s animal control program, particularly the unfilled animal control officer position, insufficient rules about how animals should be treated and a lack of teeth for animal control enforcement.
Here is a link to a video recording of the Island County Commissioners board meeting of Jan. 3, 2023. Animal control was a topic that arose during the public comment section of the meeting. Response by Sheriff Felici and the county commissioners begins at 42:12 and lasts for approximately 12 minutes.
They Said It
At the commissioner meeting, Felici commiserated with residents about the state of the animal control program. He explained that the county’s longtime animal control officer, Carol Barnes, retired a year ago and the office hasn’t been able to fill the position…
In an interview, Felici pointed out that one of the biggest challenges facing his office and law enforcement nationwide is the difficulty recruiting new officers — and that extends to animal control positions. Felici said he’s had some interest in the job but that applicants have to pass the same background check and polygraph exam that prospective deputies do…
In addition, Felici said Barnes was so experienced and had so much institutional knowledge that county officials relied on her to handle animal-related issues on her own for decades. As a result, protocols and codes related to animal control didn’t develop as they have in other counties…
“We’re not as interested in fining people or bringing them into court,” the sheriff said, adding that compliance with the law and protection of animals is the ultimate goal.
Felici said he hopes to find the right person who can help bring animal control “up to modern standards.”
“The idea is to train people who will also be building the program,” he said.
