VA: Roanoke Pound financial inquiry called for by some officials

Roanoke Pound financial inquiry called for by some officials
Saturday, June 23, 2012


ROANOKE, VA --10 On Your Side has learned several law enforcement officials in the Roanoke Valley are calling for a financial inquiry into the Regional Center for Animal Control and Protection.

Earlier this week, the police chiefs from Roanoke and Vinton, as well as the commonwealth's attorneys from Roanoke, Roanoke County, and Botetourt County, met with the Regional Center's advisory board to express their concerns.

Concerns included how some animals were treated at the regional center, and how taxpayer money was being used to support the Roanoke Valley SPCA, according to several sources who attended the meeting.

"It was not a warning. It was not a threat. We were expressing our concerns that things need to be in order," explained Roanoke police chief Chris Perkins.

Perkins confirmed he spoke on behalf of the law enforcement agencies in Roanoke, Roanoke County, Botetourt County, and Vinton; the four localities make up the regional center.

"They need to get their house in order," Roanoke commonwealth's attorney Don Caldwell said. "It's no secret we've got a pending investigation concerning a specific animal going on now, and that's going to go the way it's going to go, but it seems to me there's a need for some house cleaning [in the Regional Center] about how the operation is run."

The on-going police investigation revolves around a pit bull mix named Trinity.

The dog had to have a leg amputated after an untreated wound became infected, during her stay at the Regional Center earlier this month.

Police are investigating to see if it was a case of cruelty or neglect.

Bill Watson, who runs both the Regional Center and the Roanoke Valley SPCA, said he could not comment on Trinity's case.

He said he already had a plan to deal with the taxpayer money issue before the localities expressed their concerns to the board.

He said employees will now keep what amounts to time sheets, documentation on when they work for the regional center and when they work for the SPCA.

Watson said any money owed to the Regional Center would then be paid by the SPCA.

He said the localities need to give him more money to provide better service, such as hiring a part-time veterinarian to work solely at the regional center.

Right now the SPCA vet serves the regional center when she can and bills the localities for her work.

Several officials however want a better accounting of how Watson spends taxpayer money right now before they consider giving the regional center anymore.

The four localities give around one million dollars to the regional center every year, with Roanoke city appropriating the most money because it brings in the most animals.

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