This is a follow-up to the article posted May 11 about the five dogs seized and four dead cats removed from the home of an NC animal advocate. None of this update is good news except the need being discussed for those in rescue to ‘police their own’ to prevent future tragedies.
According to the FOX46 Charlotte article Friday, May 12, Barbara Hart, 64, of Salisbury was arrested at her home Friday morning and charged with nine counts of animal cruelty. Her bond was set at $1,500.
Hart’s arrest warrant stated three dead and decaying cats were found behind a couch and a cat skull was located under the bed.
Thelma Stone, a neighbor to Hart, commented in an interview with FOX46
“She has been told several times and nothing has been done about it. How can you not half take care of them, and then just go down to Charlotte and forget about them up here? I’d like her to get the maximum due what she has done. Only God will have final judgment on her.”
The five dogs were taken to Rowan County Animal Shelter and were evaluated by the shelter veterinarian. A garage is reported to have contained empty animal cages but no food or water was available for them. The backyard was covered in feces, the warrant stated.
After her arrest, Hart was taken to Rowan County Detention Center and has a trial date of June 12, 2017. No information is available at this time as to whether she has bonded out.
Although this is a horrible case to report on, it has opened the door to discussion on social media on how those in rescue need to “police” themselves. A few people have commented on different Facebook threads that her rescue efforts were suspicious, but no one actually did anything.
It’s difficult to accuse a cat advocate with no proof, especially one with as good of a reputation as Hart presented on the surface. Someone suggested private residences need to be checked periodically, just to ensure this situation doesn’t happen again.
Several in cat rescue have also stated there’s nowhere to turn when rescue work becomes overwhelming. Cat rescues are full and concentrate on saving shelter cats. Craigslist and freebie ads are dangerous not only to the cat involved but can draw harsh criticism to the person trying to rehome a cat.
There needs to be an outreach program for rescuers before they get in over their heads. Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done. Until then, cat advocates have decided the need to be more vigilant has come. After Julianne Westberry and others in the Upstate who were caught with dead and decaying cats, Hart’s arrest has made those in the rescue community think twice about who they trust.
None of us know what happened with Barbara Hart. She hasn’t made a statement and has most likely been advised by an attorney to stay off of social media, as anything she says could be used against her in a court of law. It’s a shame if she needed help and couldn’t turn to even one of her friends. If she knew what she was doing and allowed her cats to die anyway, I don’t even want to think about that possibility…
For the record, no information about whether she had cats at another location or what happened to the 16+ neighbors claimed was at the home is available at this time. We can only hope she found homes for them.
Elisa
This is the only critically thought through and insightful post that I have seen to date on this story. I totally agree with your comments about the “truly guilty ones.” I have my own story regarding character assassination, harassment and more because of my advocacy work for cats in a rural Kentucky county. Negative media, legal action, collusion, in a witch hunt driven by some misguided and vindictive locals. Believe me, media is not always to be believed!
You hit the nail on the head with that one. You won’t believe how many fights this article has started on social media.
I understand and respect those feelings, but if rescuers don’t figure out a way to monitor themselves the state is going to do it for them. Too many well publicized cases like this are happening. Rescuers need to realize that they are under a microscope & setting up reasonable standards is much better than picking up the pieces of one’s life after a raid.
The idea of cat rescuers policing themselves is nice in theory, but I don’t see it ever really happening. People get too upset and indignant if questioned, no matter how tactfully, then they and their friends attack you on social media. I suggested the same thing after Julianne Westbury, so many people got mad at me. Our rescue group only works in small, trusted circles after that.
My guess is that she got cats from Rowan shelter, they had Panleukopenia and died suddenly, but not before infecting others. I know that nightmare all to well (after getting cats from Rowan!!) How she wouldn’t notice the smell is another issue…
What really irks me is that rescue people get shamed, arrested, raided, etc. while the truly guilty ones just keep on. I am speaking of the shelters, counties, states that don’t do enough (or anything) to stop the pet over population, but waste lots of money killing animals. Most often the only ones adopting out shelter animals are the unpaid volunteers/rescues. And they are all running ragged. Oh, and lets not forget to fault the biggest criminals: The pet “owners” who don’t neuter the pets, but continually “surrender” animals to the shelters when they get tired of them, or bring in litter after litter.
Excellent coverage, as usual!
All cat rescues and advocates need to police each other, work with one another, know who they are and where they live and make regular contact. You cannot just trust seeing them rescue from a shelter or post on Facebook.
Horrible situation and it’s justice at work but not harsh enough sentence for the suffering these animals were put through.