Caution, this sworn statement contains unconscionable revelations of animal abuse and neglect.
Posted by Delegate Mike Smigiel on January 18, 2009
In this message I am posting a sworn affidavit, which contains horrendous allegations. I held off on posting this until after the public Commissioner meeting since the statements are so disturbing.
Unfortunately, the local media continue to mislead the public into believing that these allegations are trivial and only involve two disgruntled employees. Since local media refuses to help spread the word and we need to gather as much information as possible, to supply to the investigating agencies, I will publish as many affidavits as possible over the next few days.
Ms. Van Scoy spoke on WMAR-TV about several of these allegations but because of time limitations they were unable to broadcast her full interview. Below is the full affadavit. I have already had other persons come forward to coroborate some of these new allegations. Thier information has been provided to the criminal investigators with the Office of the Attorney General.
Please be warned that there are truly disturbing statements within this document.
21 comments:
OMG I got to about #4 and I couldn't read anymore. If you have not read it the warning is right it is horrible horrible stuff.
I really hope this is a joke. I am disgusted to think people treat animals this way. If these allegations are found to be factual I will volunteer to personally abuse the people that are responsible for the abuse of these helpless animals. We assume the people that work in these shelters have a greater love for animals than the average person. Sadly even if these scum bags are found guilty they will not be given a sentence as harsh as they would be for abusing a human. Considering animals trust humans to care for them those responsible for these horrendous acts should be hung in the streets.
Anyone that was part of the abuse of an animal that wants to face someone that will fight back let me know. I will meet you anywhere you would like.
WOW AND THESE PEOPLE ARE HUMAN???
Sean, I think you all know me by now, this is no joke. Any time someone signs a sworn affidavit it's serious business.
Here's a good question for all of you. The Daily Times had an article about a PG County woman allegedly raped at 3:00 AM walking to a convenience store in Montgomery County. Now, do tell me why they have avoided this story even after I've had it posted for two weeks now? Yeah, you're getting your moneys worth there, NOT!
Sean
You are right they probably wont be given a sentence harsh enough. If these people are so mean spirited to do this to a helpless animals they are capable of doing it to a human as well. Lock them up and throw away the key. Make them eat dog food so they can remember each day what they have done.
Joe, is it worth my time to call WMDT or WBOC about this? If we can get an animal lover reporter on this maybe we can get some light shed on it.
And what was this PG county worker doing walking to the store at 3am?
I guess they thing SPCA stands for "Society for Purposeful Cruelty to Animals." What a horror this document is.
Am I missing something in this affidavit? This woman worked there for 5 years before deciding to contact someone?! Why is she coming forward now? Would she have just sat back and continued to watch these horrific things happen if she were still there? I am not saying what she says is or isn't true, I think she is just as guilty as anyone eles involved if she sat back and watched this over the course of 5 years.
Sean, for what it's worth, I already called them and presented them with the story. Aparently ALL of the MSM is afraid of lawsuits over this story. It's unbelievable.
shannon,
My Wife worked at the Salisbury Zoo for 18 years and when she complained with 100% evidence of all of the problems at the Zoo the Mayor COVERED IT UP, (hence why I created this Blog years ago) and never did a thing to fix it. Mind you, she hand raised most of those animals at the Zoo and if she would have simply walked out, they would have had no chance whatsoever. She felt the best thing fer her to do was to continue there and fight for the animals rights. Sadly she was punching the wind and fighting an obvious losing battle. WHAT SAY YOU NOW MAYOR TILGHMAN AND GARY COMEGYS?
This is just horrible. Those poor animals. I pray none were family pets that had to be left there thinking they would eventually go to a good home. Sean is right they won't get no where near a harsh enough sentence for what has been done to those poor animals.
This is disgusting. What disturbs me even more is that I have contacted the Delegate myself and gave him information on how to get these people out of the positions they are in and yet I don't see it being done. I work with many rescue organizations, I contacted them myself, they gave me information on who to contact, what information to get and bring to the table and where to send it. I copied and pasted all of this information into an email and sent it on to him.
Instead what I am seeing (and of course I can admit this is just from the outside looking in) is him continuing to contact people, get statements and post them on his blog, gaining more and more popularity. Is this about popularity/readers or is this really about saving the animals? Because if this about saving the animals...contact more then just the local news organizations and stop worrying about retaliation.
I myself sent copies of the information he had on his site to the ASPCA and they told me the commissioners had contacted them. NOT that the Delegate did. I find that interesting. I would have though HE would have beat them to that. They also said they can't step in unless asked. Well what if they were petitioned? C'mon Delegate...stop dilly dallying and DO something...use the info you were given from people who deal with this stuff on a regular basis....
Call the SPCA in Annapolis. I know people who work there and if they were given concrete evidence I can see them getting involved. Or call a woman by the name of Denise Gosnay in Glen Burnie, she is overly involved in animal protection and works closely with animal rescue groups. There more people who are seeing this the more it will be brought up and the quicker there may be something done.
The Dept of Agriculture is investigating as of 1/9/09 into the veterinary practices side of this.
The Maryland State Police have been asked by the State's Attorney to conduct an investigation into the other charges.
Del. Smiegel has not been grandstanding - the purpose of the posts on his blog have been to get others to dare to come forward. In the past, whenever anyone complained about the CCSPCA they were personally attacked.
WJZ, WMAR and Fox45 have all run this story on their news programs within the past week.
People are not JUST NOW coming forward - this is the first time that their complaints are being looked into seriously.
What this woman says about abuse is so disgusting and horrible. one of the newspapers said it was over 10 years ago this happened and she did come forward to the local police then, so don't blame her. she tried. the paper said the police investigated but didn't file charges.
I couldn't read the entire article, it made me cry. I dont know if it was any help but I called PETA and sent them a link to your blog. I can't believe people would do this to any living thing.
This response is in reference to Hope's comments. The Delegate's office reached out to HSUS and the ASPCA back in September and there are documents about those conversations. I'm not sure what it is you expect them to do other than make reccomendations, which does not fix any of the problems as long as the current people reside there.
This has nothing to do with him gaining "popularity" as you put it. The reason he puts up information on the blog is because the citizens here demand it from him and it has encouraged a slew of new people to come forward. The responsiblity lies in the Commissioners hands as his Office has no oversight over the SPCA. Their budget is given by the County Commissioners. You should share whatever suggestions you have with the Commissioners. The Delegate's office was the very first to contact HSUS, ASPCA, the Attorney General, the Sheriff's office, the Comptroller's Office and the State Vet Board.
You are missing a lot of facts and should be careful who you attack because it seems to me he was the only person willing to put his own reputation on the line to get these stories out!
Joe:
Your paper is probably a little better at covering both sides. But the paper in Elkton, the Cecil Whig, despite the serious nature of these charges still hasn't talked to any of the people with the complaints about the SPCA or Delegate Smigiel.
They just print statements from the SPCA and stuff attacking him for helping people get heard. Wouldn't you think they would at least talk to the people with the complaints.
You would also think the newspaper would be out there calling for an investigation to find out if any of this is true and if so to help protect these animals. But they're too busy helping deny the stuff for the SPCA.
Finally when the blog caused so much noise they had to listen as a large turnout finally occurred at the commissioners meeting. There were so many people there at that point and all the Baltimore TV stations, except one, they didn't have any other way to handle it, but to ask for an investigation. Finally they were forced to do something because hundreds of people showing up.
But the two newspaper reporters at the meeting apparently were too busy complaining about the Delegate and his assistant to gather the news. Several people heard them complaining about them and one wrote in to the blog, and put his name on the piece. He also wrote a letter to the editor, but that hasn't been printed yet.
Oh one more thing after the commissioners said they were going to investigate it through an outside agency, Commissioner Hodge takes his campaign manager to the next meeting of the SPCA board, the next night, to see if she could get a job as a public relations consultant for them.! Well the blew up on the blog too after a couple of the SPCA board members told people about it and the word got out on the blogs. Then he said no he was talking her down to see if she could run a task force to help them straighten things out!
Amazing that it takes this much noise to get a serious investigation done on something that should have been investigated years ago.
Thanks for covering it down your way Joe. You do a great job with this blog and it's my primary Salisbury area news source.
Now since all you bloggers types are on this and all the main stream media outside Cecil county, it's old news by the time the Cecil Whig gets to it, so they're irrelevant once it became such a big stoy.
you know what? this just makes me sick that someone could be as cold-hearted and ungreatful to a living thing. its bad enough that the animals are put down to begin with but for someone to do that? c'mon that's just rediculous!! I've had pets for quite a while and i will admit im not really a cat person but i would never do that nor have the heart to even think that. it actually, makes me sick to read this story and affidavit. i watch animal cops quite often on tv and i just dont understand how peoplecan be so heartless to do something like that. im sorry it just makes me sick.
This actually brings a tear to my eye to think that helpless animals that did nothing to this asshole and couldnt do anything to stop it are being treated this way. This guy needs to have the same treatment. sorry it goes against my beliefs of eye for an eye but thats just so wrong. Have him put in a UFC ring and let every fighter go at it with that officer, hell put me and everybody in this blog in there. The same things the officer but no matter what you do isnt going to bring those animals back or ease their suffering. ERRRR people need to have criminal background checks and psyciatric evaluations before even considered for these type jobs. They do more research for a correctional officer then they do for a animal care taker. I will admit that i have stolen a puppy that was being beaten buy a guy with a stic. the black lab puppy was on a chain and could not get away and this asshole was beating the hell out of the dog. This happened around 5pm when i went into work and it bothered me all night so finally at 3 am when i got off work i rode buy and the puppy was outside and had no water no food chained to a tree and looked so depressed. I walked into their yard and took her. (i told mom that i found her on the side of the road) sorry mom if your reading this lol. i think i told her that i almost hit it on the side of the road. But i think i did the right thing. The dog went to a good home with other labs and one husky.(by the way mom i did find dixie i didnt take her from a house). So in closing lets all find out where this guy lives and really tell him how we all feel, send him mail. this dude needs the same treatment prior to the death penalty.
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