By Charles Owens, Bluefield Daily Telegraph
BLUEFIELD — An ordinance establishing civil forfeitures for neglected or abandoned animals is now in effect in Bluefield.
The new city ordinance was approved Tuesday on a second reading by the Bluefield Board of Directors. It is expected to help reduce overcrowding at the Mercer County Animal Shelter since many city animals are currently held at that facility while neglect and abuse cases make their way through the city court system.
The new rules should help speed up the process, according to City Attorney David Kersey.
Kersey said the ordinance was created with the assistance of the city’s animal control officer to address a potential backlog of animals at the shelter that are being held in abuse and neglect cases.
“This will allow us to move forward a little more quickly in going through the civil process as opposed to waiting for the criminal charges associated with the (animal) confiscation,” Kersey told members of the Bluefield Board of Directors Tuesday.
Asked about the ordinance after Tuesday’s meeting, City Clerk and Assistant City Attorney Anthony Heltzel said the new rules will essentially streamline the process.
Image courtesy of Bluefield Daily Telegraph