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CHESTERFIELD CO., S.C. – The Chesterfield County Council Chairman Matt Rivers said it as plainly as he could Wednesday. “(A) unanimous agreement of Council, without a vote, just discussion per our attorney, is that the animal shelter and all concerns of that are to remain solely with the County in all respects. That is an issue that is off the table as far as (the) nine members of County Council are concerned, and they’re off the table in total,” says Rivers.
New Sheriff Jay Brooks wanted his office to take back control of the animal cruelty investigations part of the shelter. Opponents of the Sheriff’s plan circulated a petition that collected more than 5,400 signatures. They also showed up at Wednesday’s meeting. “The shelter is now at it’s finest that it’s been since I’ve been around. And they’ve been doing an excellent job, and they don’t need to change anything except go forward with what they’re doing,” says Nancy Kimrey of the Greater Pee Dee Area Animal Spay and Neuter Clinic.Β
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“We didn’t want it to revert back to what happened previously with the shelter. We’ve come a long way to rebuild our county for that shelter,” says Victoria McGonigal of Dochas N Gra Animal Rescue.Β McGonigal’s husband Jim runs the shelter now. He tells WCCB Charlotte of Council’s decision, “It’s a vote of confidence for the shelter staff and for County Council for the progression being made in the last three years, and they’re satisfied.”
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Jim McGonigal is credited with the shelter’s 180 degree turnaround from three years ago, when it was under now-imprisoned Sheriff Sam Parker.Β A WCCB Charlotte investigation in 2011 discovered that shelter employees were unlawfully shooting animals, one shelter worker had a criminal background, there were issues with the unauthorized possession of firearms and virtually non existent record keeping of Schedule II narcotics.
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Now, even investigators hold the shelter in high regard. “This place has changed completely. It has become somewhat of a model for the rest of the state,” says Eddie O’Cain, a Humane Society of South Carolina Cruelty Investigator.
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Animal advocates tell WCCB Charlotte that while they celebrate winning Wednesday’s battle, they do fear the Sheriff’s Office won’t accept council’s decision and may look for other ways to regain control. Both Sheriff Brooks and Undersheriff Rob Lee were out of the office Wednesday and unavailable for comment.Β
