Bannock County Animal Lovers Seek Better Enforcement Of Abuse Laws

Some animal lovers in Bannock County are speaking out, saying the county doesn’t do enough to punish the people who mistreat animals.

At a meeting with county commissioners on Wednesday, some said there are those in the county who have been abusing and neglectin animals without almost any repercussion.

“It’s a big problem in that we have people who have abused animals for 10 plus years. the same abusers throughout the county,? Portneuf Animal Welfare Society President Jo Lynn Anderson said.

County Commissioner Steve Hadley said he is aware of the problem, but fixing it is far from easy.

“It’s a real problem. And there are three or four, maybe five individuals who create the problem. I’m not sure we have the ability to go at them right now,? Hadley said.

Some at the meeting called for the county to put in place a full time animal control officer. Currently the county doesn’t have one.

“Maybe an animal control officer would help. But he’s got to have the certain qualifications to know what to look out for and what not to look out form,? Hadley said.

Anderson said the county needs to help simplify the process when abuse is suspected.

?It’s a very difficult process. Do the animals need medical care, or do we need to take hay out there, are we going to cite them? And that’s a whole long process in itself,? Anderson said.

Hadley said the county is trying to cut down the response time to reports of animal abuse.

“If they have an animal that’s down, take care of the problem today or tomorrow. Not a week from now and not a year from now,? Hadley said.