North resident Barbara Sharpe says the problem of stray cats and dogs wreaking havoc in her neighborhood is becoming worse.

She says recently a stray cat ripped off the ear of her cousin’s cat, requiring surgery, while a stray dog often comes near the residence growling.

“I have small grandbabies and I am afraid somebody is going to get hurt,” Sharpe said, estimating there are some 50-odd stray animals in the neighborhood that also wreak havoc in other ways.

She says the animals go through people’s trash and she says even when the trash is placed off the ground, the cats find it anyway.

Sharpe says the animals also get into and build nests in her home-based upholstery business.

“It is a mess,” she said. “We have a zoo.”

Sharpe says the road on which she lives -- Sharpe Road -- is a dead-end and that she has seen people drive up to an inhabited portion of the road and drop off the animals, letting them loose.

“They kind of donate them over here,” she said.

Sharpe says when she calls Orangeburg County Animal Control she is told that because of understaffing, the department cannot assist and has told her that it may be “a long time” before anything can be done.

Sharpe says she has been told to pick up the animals and bring them into animal control herself, but she fears getting bitten.

Orangeburg County Deputy Administrator and Public Works Director Earl Whalen said the county has had to prioritize its animal control: those having bitten people first, aggressive animals and then regular strays.

“When you look at Orangeburg County and the size of the county ... there is a lot of rural area to cover,” he said, adding that a reduction in animal control staff from seven to three has created a backlog for the department. “I hope sooner than later we will have our heads back above the water.”

Whalen said the applications are in the process of being thoroughly reviewed and that a correct decision is made.

“It is something we would rather see done sooner than later because we realize the impact this has had the past few months on the ability to serve our citizens in the community,” Whalen said.

The OCAC has been understaffed since June 1 of this year when the county fired the animal control program manager and four officers amid a probe of the shelter. They were cited for failure to properly administer euthanasia in the manner prescribed under the laws of the state of South Carolina.

Adam Myrick, S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control spokesperson, said Wednesday the investigation was still “status quo” and ongoing with no further details.

The firings left the program with just two employees still on the job: officer Anthony Simmons and clerical assistant B.J. Griffith.

The county has also placed Orangeburg County Litter Control Manager Ben Boensch, who formerly served as the shelter director for animal control, as a temporary animal control staff officer until the shelter is fully staffed.

In addition to prioritization, Whalen said the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office assists in picking up strays, but the number of strays throughout the county is really overwhelming, Whalen said.

“Strays are a problem ... because of people refusing to spay or neuter as they should,” he said, adding that homeowners who are not responsible for controlling their pets are also to blame. “We end up with those types of problems.”

Whalen says he encourages Orangeburg County residents to take it upon themselves to bring animals into animal control, which is located on Ruf Road off St. Matthews Road. The shelter is behind the Department of Social Services and the Kimlor Mills Outlet.

He said since the shelter has been understaffed, the public has been bringing in strays at the same rate as before the staffing was reduced. Of course, Whalen said if an individual is afraid of the animal or if the animal is aggressive, he or she should not attempt to capture it.

In the meantime, there have been ongoing discussions between the county and the Maude Schiffley Chapter of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals about the operational structure of animal control.

SPCA has shared its facility with animal control for many years, but new SPCA President Dr. Ann Hurst said contractual negotiations are ongoing with the county. She declined comment on the nature of the negotiations.

The SPCA had suggested entering into a contract with the county to provide sheltering services, administration and day-to-day activities.

When asked if the desires were still the same, Hurst said simply this is “on the table.”

Hurst said it is not certain as to when contractual negotiations will be finalized.

Under the initial proposal, the SPCA’s jurisdiction would begin when the animals arrive at the shelter and the organization would oversee euthanasia procedures, which would remain under the jurisdiction of animal control.

The SPCA has also sought the possibility of investing in a larger updated facility of its own. More than $100,000 in both public and private donations has already been committed to the new building. The total cost is expected to be about $1.25 million.

Whalen confirmed the talks with SPCA have “progressed quite well.”

“We are very close to ironing out an official agreement between the two bodies,” he said, reiterating his desire to see some finalization in the near future.

T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski can be reached by e-mail at gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5551. Discuss this and other stories at TheTandD.com.

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