|
Marshall |
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wants Spotsylvania County supervisors to censure one of their own for his involvement in an animal-control investigation last month.
PETA's letter to Board of Supervisors Chairman Jerry Logan yesterday calls the actions of Supervisor Emmitt Marshall a "disgrace" and a violation of the board's ethics policy.
Marshall said yesterday that he intervened in the seizure of two foxhounds last month in hopes of persuading the county's animal-control officer not to file charges against the dogs' owner. But he maintained he did nothing wrong.
PETA's request comes three weeks after Marshall tried to persuade veterinarians and employees at Spotsylvania Animal Hospital to release two gaunt hunting dogs to his son's friend. Animal-control officers delivered the dogs to the hospital after a resident filed a complaint about the dogs running at large in the Lake Anna area.
PETA's Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch said she received several calls about the incident.
"People are very concerned that he was interfering with an investigation, and, frankly, the medical care of these dogs," she said.
The animal hospital's veterinarian said in July that the dogs had infections and were 20 pounds underweight. Marshall argued the dogs were just a few pounds underweight.
A judge ruled July 25 that the dogs were not neglected and ordered them returned to the owner, Jake Payne of Louisa County. The animal-control investigation remains open.
Logan said yesterday he had not yet seen PETA's letter.
"If that letter is bringing up these allegations and making it an issue, it probably is something that the board will want to talk about," he said. "I would have to discuss it with other board members and see how they want to deal with it."
Typically, allegations about a supervisor violating the board's code of ethics are discussed behind closed doors. Rarely, if ever, have supervisors exited the closed meeting and formally announced that a member violated the code.
Marshall said yesterday that he had not seen the PETA letter either.
He said that on the morning of July 19 he went to the Animal Control Office to speak with Director William Tydings to urge him not to press charges. Tydings was not there, so Marshall said he went to the animal hospital to get the dogs released.
"I certainly have not violated any code of ethics," he said. "They accused me of saying that I was going to call the sheriff. That is not true."
Dan Telvock: 540/374-5438
Email: dtelvock@freelancestar.com
To read Spotsylvania's Code of Ethics, spotsylvania.va .us/departments/bos/ |
