var _sf_startpt=(new Date()).getTime() Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: 179 animals seized, animal control officer charged - Liberty, SC (US)
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Case ID: 15967
Classification: Hoarding
Animal: cat, dog (non pit-bull), bird (pet)
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179 animals seized, animal control officer charged
Liberty, SC (US)

Incident Date: Friday, Nov 20, 2009
County: Anderson

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged:
» Wade Patterson
» Faith Patterson

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

An Anderson County animal control officer and his wife have each been charged with 92 counts of animal cruelty after authorities seized 177 dogs, one cat and one bird from their home on Wednesday.

Anderson County sheriff’s Lt. Garland Major said arrest warrants were signed this afternoon against Wade Patterson, 40, and Faith Patterson, 26, of 131 Bagwell Road in Liberty.

The couple operated a dog rescue and adoption business called Bird Dog Pet Rescue at the location, where at least four complaints had been filed with the Anderson County Department of Public Safety in the past two years, Major said.

Wade Patterson is an animal control officer with the Anderson County Department of Public Safety.

Taylor Jones, director of Anderson County Public Safety, said Patterson remains an employee of the department, but has been placed on administrative leave.

“This is a shock to all of us,” Jones said. “Faith and Wade both had a reputation of being animal lovers. Wade always seemed particularly outraged when he’d come across an abused animal, or a neglected animal, which is why this seems so amazing.”

Jones said he was reviewing several calls Patterson had responded to at his own home between 2007 and this year.

“Our records show he answered nine calls to his own residence over a two-year period,” Jones said. “All of the calls involved him picking up strays and delivering them to the shelter. That would not be out of the ordinary because Wade lived in the region he was responsible for.”

Jones said this revelation made him “question the process.”

Capt. Keith Bowman, Patterson’s supervisor, said Patterson had worked for the Anderson County Animal Shelter before joining the animal control office in February 2006.

“All of our officers are in shock that one of their own could be caught up in this,” he said. “We have six officers who work animal control, and they are all reacting to this like a family would.”

Lt. Major said Wade Patterson turned himself in to the sheriff’s office this afternoon and would be taken to the Anderson County Detention Center tonight night for processing.

His bond hearing was pending.

Major said Faith Patterson, who was hospitalized early today for undisclosed reasons, would be served the warrants upon her discharge from the hospital.

The number of arrest warrants issued was determined after a veterinarian’s examination of the animals found that 92 of them had either been mistreated, poorly fed or abused, Major said.

If the Pattersons are convicted, they could face up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine on each charge.

Major said no further charges are expected in the case.

Carolyn Wemett, Faith Patterson’s mother and operator of the Foothills Humane Society animal shelter in Pickens County, declined to comment about the investigation Friday.

Wemett and her husband, William, are listed as the owners of the property and live less than 100 yards from where the animals were found, Major said.

Vicki Vickars, who owns the Animal Supply House in Easley, said Faith Patterson sometimes brought animals in for grooming, or to find people willing to adopt them.

“Faith sometimes brought animals up here for people to adopt, and I never heard any complaints about the animals,” Vicars said. “I don’t know Faith personally, but I will say that she did what a lot of people weren’t willing to do -- she tried to give the animals a second chance over being euthanized. People can point fingers, but from what I can tell, they were trying to help.”

She said the dogs Patterson would bring to her store for grooming were “ordinary dogs.”

“They’ve been coming in for about two years and I’ve never seen a problem,” she said. “I see a lot of dogs come in here from private citizens who don’t look any better than the ones she brought in.”


Case Updates

The wife of an Anderson County animal control officer was released from jail Thursday morning after being charged with 92 counts of animal cruelty.

Faith Patterson’s personal recognizance bond was set at $100,510, said Lt. Garland Major Jr. of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office criminal investigation division.

Major said Patterson was released from the Anderson County Detention Center after an 8 a.m. bond hearing Thursday.

Patterson’s husband, Wade Patterson, 40, was taken into custody last week and freed on a similar type and amount of bond. Faith Patterson, 36, was admitted to AnMed Health Medical Center in Anderson before the warrants were issued against her.

She was arrested Wednesday night after being released from the hospital, according to detention center officials.

The Pattersons operated a dog rescue and adoption business from 131 Bagwell Road in Liberty,where officials seized 177 dogs, one cat and one bird on Nov. 18, authorities said.

Wade Patterson is an Anderson County animal control officer who has been placed on leave from that position.

If the Pattersons are convicted, they each could face up to 60 days in jail for each charge and a $500 fine for each charge. The 92 charges against each of the Pattersons were issued after a veterinarian determined that 92 of the seized animals had been either mistreated, poorly fed or abused, Major has previously said.
Source: Anderson Independent Mail - Nov 26, 2009
Update posted on Nov 29, 2009 - 1:34AM 

References

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