Animal cruelty penalty is high

Neglecting your pets or livestock can cost you big and possibly land you in jail, and county and city officials are trying to combat what seems to be a rising problem of cruelty to animals.

Donley County Attorney Landon Lambert blames the ongoing drought and bad economic conditions for people not taking care of their animals properly.

“In the last two to three weeks, I’ve had two cases come in – one with a horse and another with a dog,” Lambert said. “We’re going to prosecute these cases, but we also want to set up alternatives so this doesn’t happen.”

Clarendon City Hall and the county attorney’s office are trying to raise awareness to prevent animals from being neglected and also want to offer solutions to citizens who may be simply unable to afford to care for their pets.

City Administrator Lambert Little said his office is working on a possible incentive to have people spay or neuter their pets but the measure will have to go before the Board of Aldermen.

“Right now the only thing we can do is euthanize,” Little said.

The county attorney and city administrator encourage people who aren’t able to take care of their animals to find new homes for them through services in Amarillo.

“If it’s livestock they should sell the animals or contact family members to take them,” Lambert said. “The Humane Society out of Amarillo will take horses, but I prefer placement with family as a first choice.”

Both city and county officials encourage people to contact the Amarillo SPCA at 806-622-0555 or to contact the Animal Rescue Shelter, Inc., in Amarillo, which is specifically a “no kill” shelter, at 806-622-1082.

Lambert says animal cruelty is a Class A Misdemeanor that carries a maximum fine of $4,000, up to a year in jail, and restitution for expenses incurred in rescuing the animal.

The county attorney said a Clarendon man was recently fined $1,000 and put on probation for two years for charges of Animal Cruelty. Brandon Goodwin was arrested in May after city and county personnel were dispatched to his home on Carhart Street where they found a small female dog hanging dead from a fence. Officials said two other dogs had no food or water and were covered with ticks, and one was so tangled around a post that it only had about two feet of moving area.

“When my guys come into City Hall with tears in their eyes, you know it’s bad,” Little said.

City Hall says dogs are not permitted to be chained up unless someone is there to watch them, and they must have 150 square feet of playing space per animal. City rules also state that pets cannot run at large in the city, must have a rabies shot tag issued by the city, and must be provided food, water, and shelter. Pets picked up by the city have ten days of adoption time before getting euthanized