Animal control officer facing charges of animal neglect
By HOLLY STEFANOFF (hstefanoff@reviewonline.com )SALINEVILLE - The animal control officer for the village of Wellsville is expected to be served a summons this week from Columbiana County Municipal Court to appear on charges of animal cruelty and prohibitions concerning companion animals.
The charges against Donald Hickman are a result of an investigation that took place at his property along state Route 39, Salineville, in January 2008.
Hickman is expected to make a court appearance 8:30 am. July 29, though when questioned Wednesday by The Review he said he had not yet received a summons.
Brenda Austin, Humane Society of Columbiana County agent, conducted the investigation on Hickman's property and reportedly found a great number of animals lacking sufficient food and water and housed inadequately for the bitter weather conditions.
Hickman now faces three counts of cruelty to animals and 10 counts of prohibition concerning companion animals. According to the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) section 959.131, a companion animal is any animal that is kept inside a residential dwelling and any dog or cat regardless of where it is kept.
According to Austin's report, filed with Columbiana County Clerk Anthony J. Dattilio, a total of eight dogs were found on the property running free without any visible food or water, witnessed by investigators. In addition, the report said 12 other dogs were confined in kennels or chained to dog houses, and several cats and rabbits were observed in the same conditions. Also, approximately 50-75 pigeons, chickens and other fowl were confined in various crates.
It was reported many of the animals found did not have proper protection from the weather conditions with temperatures dropping into the teens at the time of the investigation.
Hickman said that he believed the accusations against him were "crazy" and the animals were properly cared for. "They were fed, watered, taken care of well. I wish they would pay the feed bill," he said.
Hickman also admitted to Humane Society agents at the time of the investigation that a number of the dogs found on his property actually belonged to the village of Wellsville, and were caught while he was performing animal control officer duties. Hickman said he had planned to transport the animals the county dog pound in Lisbon.
"I was going to take them later but at the time took them back to my home because of the cold and the gas it takes to get them there," Hickman said.
As animal control officer, Hickman said his duties are primarily to catch stray dogs and take them to the village dog pound or transport them to the county dog pound.
Wellsville Mayor Joe Surace said that no action against Hickman will be taken by the village at this time.
Due to the pending charges and sensitive nature of the situation, the Humane Society of Columbiana County chose not to comment.
