KOLD News 13 live, local and late breaking-Laws Limit Access Inspectors Have To Kennel Property

Laws Limit Access Inspectors Have To Kennel Property

By Jim Becker, KOLD News 13 Reporter

According to county records, Pima Animal Care inspectors visited the Jones' property on West Manville seven times in the past two years.

Several things caught their eye, such as too many animals in carriers, no water in site and a lot of waste, as noted in reports.

But Pima Animal Care Director Kim Janes says since dogs appeared healthy and the owners, Bill and Wanda Jones corrected problems inspectors brought to their attention, there were no red flags, at least not within visual range.

Janes says inspectors were never able to go inside buildings, and the law doesn't allow them to without the owner's permission and without a search warrant.

Had inspectors gone inside, Janes says they would have sounded the alarm.

If an owner tells inspectors to stay away, "all we can do is wait for a welfare complaint, and when we get one of those, go in and see whatever's in plain view," explains Janes.

The Joneses had a kennel permit, but Janes says the permit is merely a tool for owners of several dogs, not a business operating license.

According to records, neighbors and customers complained to animal care several times over the past two years, the most recent in September of 2007.

Janes say Pima Animal Care is reviewing its policies and procedures to determine how better to equip inspectors in order to prevent more trouble.

A search warrant executed Tuesday led to the discovery of more than 750 small dogs and 36 exotic birds.

The Humane Society of Southern Arizona is now giving the dogs veterinary care in order to see which ones can be adopted.