Abused dogs cost taxpayers $6,400
Staff writer
An oversight in how the situation was handled has resulted in the City of Marion being billed $6,429.93 for caring for two dogs seized last fall in a neglect case. The city now is seeking reimbursement from Marion County.
The issue surfaced during a city council meeting when the claims were reviewed last week.
The dogs were taken into custody by Marion police after a welfare check last fall and have remained at Animal Health Center of Marion while the case proceeds through district court, city administrator Brian Wells said.
Officers seized the dogs after responding to a complaint Sept. 13 at the 300 block of S. Cedar St. They observed conditions that led them to think the animals were neglected, police chief Aaron Slater said.
“It was basically a welfare check,” Slater said. “We ended up seizing the dogs due to what we saw.”
The dogs breed could not be recalled.
He described the two dogs in question as being in “pretty poor health” at the time they were taken.
No arrest was made at the time. Officers acted on probable cause, Slater said, and waited for confirmation from a veterinarian before deciding whether the case met the legal standard for neglect.
Rebekkah C. Coffman was charged Dec. 8 in district court with two counts of cruelty animals.
The city initially assumed responsibility under a local ordinance, Wells said. It allows impounded dogs to be held for a limited time before further action is taken. However, the situation became more complicated as the case developed beyond a municipal matter.
“If it was a municipal court issue, we’d be responsible for it,” Wells said. “We’re working with the county to transfer those expenses over to them since it’s a county court issue.”
The city did not immediately recognize the financial implications, calling it a situation where something “fell through the cracks” as the case continued, Wells said.
The dogs remain at the veterinary clinic because the case has not yet been resolved, contributing to the growing cost.
February claims reviewed by council show a charge of $4,380 labeled “boarding fees” to Animal Health Center, reflecting part of the ongoing expense tied to the animals’ care.
The county has not yet determined whether it will assume the cost. It is consulting legal counsel, county administrator Tina Spencer said.
“Since it’s a legal matter, typically what we see is the jurisdiction that is handling the case is who foots the bill for that,” Spencer said. “At first glance, it’s probably the city, but I’m having legal counsel review that.”
In a previous animal cruelty case, a Florence defendant was order to reimburse $3,370 the county for in boarding costs.
Animal Health Center declined to comment.