Originally, there were only three former employees, a few former volunteers and numerous citizens who had reported problems to my office about abuse of animals and financial mismanagement at the CCSPCA. Subsequent to publishing a few of those accounts on this blog, over five hundred people have posted comments on this blog, called my office, mailed my office or came by personally. (Over 33,000 have logged onto this site, so far) As a result of having a forum for the public to discuss the issue, many, many have come forward to corroborate the original information. Many new allegations about previous sadistic acts against these innocent animals have also come to light. Many others have contacted me to say that they or others personally know of other acts but are afraid to come forward just yet. We are busy collecting sworn statements from those who make allegations about animal abuse and will provide them to prosecutors.
Amongst those in the category of bringing to light new allegations or confirming old is the story of the former Assistant Administrator who will be telling her story tonight at 11pm on WMAR-TV, (ABC) news at 11pm. You should know that the information she relays will be very graphic and emotional, the young or those easily disturbed by such things should not watch the program. I had this information prior to the Commissioner’s hearing but did not post it so as to not inflame the passions of those who came out to the public hearing. I also knew of some of the more horrendous allegations but had not discussed them prior because I had not found any eyewitness. Now that she has come forward another former employee came forward yesterday to confirm her eyewitness accounts. This newest witness will also be suppling an affidavit given under oath.
In addition to the former Assistant Administrator (the No. 2 position at the facility at the time) going on camera tonight, two of the original three former employees also were taped. I just do not know what the station has time to show tonight.
We are in the process of collecting Affidavits from all those who have eyewitness accounts of animal abuse or neglect and or information about the financial mismanagement at the CCSPCA. If you have information and are willing to swear under oath what you are saying is true. Contact my office and we will arrange to get the information to the proper authorities so we can add your voice to all those coming forward.
Bravo Mr. Smiegel. You are a credit to your profession. And I mean that sincerely. – Janelle Jones
By the way – where is WBAL through all of this? They are conspicuously absent.
I am concerned that the investigation through Chris Eastridge’s office (410-996-5335) is a CONFLICT of interest due to Keith Baynes. He says “we are liars”. This investigation needs to be done OUT OF CECIL. We need to take it to Harford County!
Keith Baynes needs to remember that he runs for Judge every election, don’t you all think we will remember this when we VOTE?????
CALL 410-996-5335 and get the investigation to Harford County, MD. We will NEVER get a FAIR investigation in this county!!
Fri, 1/9/09, Melanie Lynn Bass wrote:
From: Melanie Lynn Bass
Subject: Re: Thank you~
To: kbaynesatty@comcast.net
Date: Friday, January 9, 2009, 1:20 PM
Because you are the attorney, of course you are going to react this way! My cousin is an attorney as well, so I understand your comments. However, you are incorrect! Sorry to say! For 2 years I have tried to get the proper attention of what the SPCA represents, and no one listened. I have photos, written statements, interviews, etc….All of which, that are in the hands of major animal groups, the media, print, and local officials. I have tons of documentation, since you are asking! Also, it is such a shame that this county still runs under “the good ole boys” and now has to take the steps to make changes to help animals that have no voice! All of you ignored my calls, my emails, my photos, etc…… I am so thrilled that a Delegate from my state of MD is now the voice that WILL be heard! You have no idea how much info is out here. I personally spoke to 24 people today and them forward every complaint, document, pic that they have. And guess what?? All within 2 LONG years! How can you sleep at night?? I would suggest that on your meeting day, you should DISMISS the entire team and have “outsiders” investigate” this on the side to get a real prospect of what is going on. You and I both know that the other neglect, abuse, and authorization will hidden!
— On Fri, 1/9/09, kbaynesatty@comcast.net wrote:
From: kbaynesatty@comcast.net
Subject: Re: Thank you~
To: “Melanie Lynn Bass”
Date: Friday, January 9, 2009, 12:50 PM
I have no idea who you are. How many times have you been to the SPCA? Have you
interviewed anyone? Why do you necessarily believe when it is written in
someone’s blog that it is true? You speak of false statements. The blog is
full of them.
————– Original message ———————-
From: Melanie Lynn Bass
> Now, after reading Mr Baynes blog, I am even more furious! So what if you
are an
> Attorney, and Janney is the Sheriff! BOTH of you should be ashamed of
> yourselves! I told Mr Janney about these problems a year ago.
>
> And I guess it still boils down to “the old boys school” here is
Cecil! Well,
> look OUT gentlemen, the educated Baltimore/DC/VA people are coming! This
county
> is changing, and you need to get with the program!
>
> You cannot make a “false” statement and look the other way, to
say this is NOT
> happening, because it is!
>
> Just so you know, please put on your best attire, because my Baltimore
news
> connections will be coming to interview you!!!
>
Rep. Smigiel,
If for no other reason, you have my vote next time you are in the running. (I will even volunteer for your campaign)Mr. Pipken also, just for showing his support and making an appearance at Tuesday nights meeting. Thank God!, there are still some descent politicians, doing the right thing. Think about it, these animals aren’t voters.
Commissioners – I am a tax payer, I am a Cecil County resident, but more importantly, I am a voter. I will be taking a close look at your actions/response to this situation and vote appropriately.
Please don’t let this issue drop, something needs to be done.
Melanie you are so correct that Cecil County is filled with the “the good ole boys.” In this county one hand washes the other; and there is plenty of that going around. Is it any wonder why so many criminals are let go? If the criminal’s attorney goes hunting, drinking or are buddy’s with the judge, the criminal walks with no punishment. I so agree that this should be an outside of county investigation. If the CCSPCA does get away with no punishment, it’s not because they are innocent, it’s because of who’s doing what with who. On 1/13, I was there for the picketing on route 40, at the candle light vigil and at the commissioner’s meeting. For the people involved with the CCSPCA that did not show and will not speak to the media you must have guilt, why are you hiding? The excuse you use are threats, no it’s you don’t want to face people that you have hurt over so many years.
thought some of you woud find this intresting- took the suggestion of blogger to call other counties cuz ours is foul and corrupt- guess what ?My calls were put straight through , those that I left a message with all called me back with in 30 mins! I was impressed! And they are all aware and are following the case! hey maby cecil county govt and cecil whig should start paying attention to other officials and media maby take some notes- hey all -guess who’s not voting for some people next election – all in favor of that say iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Why am I hearing about more and more of similar things happening in all states? To the witnesses who came forward, it took guts. To Del. Mike Smigiel thank you for NOT brushing this aside.
I normally do not vote Republican, but Delegate Smiegiel DEFINITELY has my endorsement (I do not live in his district).
I probably do not agree with him on anything else, but he has my full support because of his wonderful work on this matter.
ok just saw the news..if they dont have anything to hide then why did they kick the new crew out? this is total crap….I dont even know what to say now. i was at the SPCA today and they were just as nice as can be….not like before….wow what crazy people…justice will be done on all that is wrong and thats to include the people that lied about the spca if any….This place has gone down hill for sometime now…..i just cant belive it…and to say death treaths have been made come on now this is just getting out of hand for one if the person that made a death treath is reading this you should be ashamed and to the people of the spca…if you beleive that you are nuts..you should have came to the meeting tue to fight for your money to stay open where you knew police would be present…I am just dumb founded….wow just crazy….like I said before justice will be served on all the spca and the people that made statements about them that are not true…I hope all sleep well tonight and please God bless all that have done wrong and make them do right now
Why is a FORMER CCSPCA volunteer, Kate Benner, walking the TV crew around? She left there MONTHS ago! What the heck? Why is the “Vet Tech & Kennel Manager” Susan standing there covering her face with nothing to say if nothing is true? Kate must have missed the fact that all 30+ cats she was caring for before she left plus the ones out back are no longer there!! They’re DEAD Kate. I find it so difficult to understand how someone like her donates hours upon hours of their time to comfort and feed cats only to support a Director that killed all of those cats in the end? What’s going on here? I’m getting so confused.
By the way, my 2 cents on the HSUS investigating the place. Put it this way, there were never any blankets in the kennels there until I saw them on TV. Come on folks, things can be covered up and made to look any way someone wants them to look. Let’s look instead at the hundreds of eyewitness accounts here.
Delegate Smigiel,
I just got though watching the news piece about the treatment of animals at Cecil County SPCA. I can scarcely believe the atrocities that are alleged to have been committed at the facility. Killing dogs with hammer blows? Outrageous!
It’s time to prosecute the pusillanimous pack of puppy pounders! I have some words for those involved in the barbarous treatment of animals and they come from the Criminal Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland:
§ 10-601. Definitions.
(a) In general.- In this subtitle the following words have the meanings. indicated
(b) Animal.- “Animal” means a living creature except a human being
(c) Cruelty.-
(1) “Cruelty” means the unnecessary or unjustifiable physical pain or suffering caused or allowed by an act, omission, or neglect.
(2) “Cruelty” includes torture and torment
§ 10-606. Aggravated cruelty to animals – In general.
(a) Prohibited.- A person may not:
(1) intentionally mutilate, torture, cruelly beat, or cruelly kill an animal;
(2) cause, procure, or authorize an act prohibited under item (1) of this subsection; or
(3) except in the case of self-defense, intentionally inflict bodily harm, permanent disability, or death on an animal owned or used by a law enforcement unit.
(b) Penalty.-
(1) A person who violates this section is guilty of the felony of aggravated cruelty to animals and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or a fine not exceeding $5,000 or both.
(2) As a condition of sentencing, the court may order a defendant convicted of violating this section to participate in and pay for psychological counseling.
[An. Code 1957, art. 27, § 59(c)(1)(i), (ii), (v), (2); 2002, ch. 26, § 2.]
Notice, the law specifically mentions unnecessary pain as a form of cruelty and holds those who authorize cruelty to animals legally culpable. The statute also provides a provision for those convicted under the section to be ordered to attend psychological counseling at their own expense. Those persons involved in the animal abuse at CCSPCA should be forced to get a “check-up from the neck up.”
With this I remain Your Humble and Obedient Servant,
Silence Nogood
what a color coded news cast what happen to the truth nothing was said about the meeting and about all the stuff that JERRY HAWKINS has done.Nothing about what was said about PITT BULLS or how JERRY HAWKINS shot my dog TE TE or any other dogs. Wow I cant beleive this its like they can do what ever they want and get away with it.
i have called chrysler,concord pets & Newark dodge as they are just a few of the advertisers that contribute to the Cecil Whig “rag” the spin the Whig is putting on this subject is ludicrous and puts Nancy in a spotlight with a halo glistening on her head… ridiculous she needs to have the horns that she has earned put there in its place
I’m a bit confused about the status of the CCSPCA. People keep calling for the County to change the personnel at the SPCA, but my understanding is that it is a private organization that contracts with the County for services. Thus, it is not up to the County who works there and who doesn’t. Additionally, the County can’t do much about the poor service provided by employees who treat their customers (citizens) disrespectfully. This is a business decision that lies with the CCSPCA. This speaks volumes about the concept of privatization of govt. services. The lack of positive control is a drawback. Where does that leave us?
Allow me to take a short aside and relate to you one of my first lessons in customer service. My first summer job was as a cashier. On the first day of training we all focused on learning to push the right buttons on the cash register. Next we did mock transactions. The first person asked the right questions, pushed the right buttons, and made correct change. The trainer told her, “You did great except you forgot the most important thing. You forgot to smile – because people don’t like to give you their money if you’re not smiling!” It appears that no one in this picture is smiling. I doubt that any other County service is suffering from such a high rate of customer dissatisfaction. Additionally, if cage space was being used for purposes other than housing adoptable pets, and a single animal was euthanized for lack of space, then the CCSPCA failed to provide the services of its contract. This situation illustrates the risk associated with the Artesion Water deal. In that case, the County would no longer have the option of changing providers. Let this serve as a warning as we move forward on selling off the assets of our public utilities.
The proponents of privatization claim it is a superior process because the free market system pressures contractors to provide quality services. This requires the presence of competitors vying to provide those same services. So, let us depart from all the rancor, and stoically make a business decision, understanding that CCSPCA has the right to rule itself as its Board sees fit, but that, as consumers, we have the right to find another provider for these services. At the Commissioners’ meeting on Tuesday, multiple other businesses came forward to offer these same services at a reduced cost. In the interest of efficiency, the County should immediately change contractors and part ways with the CCSPCA. This would bring a swift end to the issue from the perspective of the County Commissioners and allow them to get back to their regular duties.
This does not mean that I take the allegations of animal cruelty and illegal discharge of a firearm lightly. Therefore, call on Sheriff Janney to investigate all instances where Mr. Hawkins discharged his firearm by the same process he would employ for deputies, and determine if Mr. Hawkins was justified in firing his weapon by virtue of his life being threatened. In any instance where he was not justified, he should be prosecuted like any other citizen for:
1) dicharging a firearm within town limits,
2) discharging a firearm within 150 yds. of an occupied dwelling,
3) animal cruelty,
4) destruction of property,
where each is applicable. If for various reasons, either the State’s Attorney or Sheriff’s Office appears to have a conflict of interest (I noted elsewhere that the Sheriff is required to serve on the CCSPCA’s Board), then I trust that they would enlist the cooperation of another impartial agency to carry out these duties.
I moved out of the county because of this! I will NEVER have my animals treated at the ccspca.