Animal Control question

[Camelot Farms]

Does anyone know if animal complaints are confidential?

As in, can they tell someone who called them?

Just curious....

 

[justtoni44]

I think you would have to ask them. I believe it would be different in different places.

 

[chickenpiedpiper]

There are a lot of variables. The ACO in most cases, does not HAVE to tell you who made the complaint. A lot of times if the person making the complaint asks that it not be told, then the ACO can opt to not release the information. However, It is thier call, depending on the situation.

Rarely is it a good idea to tell who has made the complaint. That just causes trouble in the neighborhood. the fact that they know who made it is often enough. The real issue to an ACO is not who made the complaint, but how real the complaint is, and that it be dealt with appropriately and resolved.

I hope that helps.

 

[Ms.FuzzyButts]

They don't tell them here.. They just tell them that they have had complaints and if they don't do what they are supposed to do to correct the situation, their animals will be taken from them.. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[Luvroos]

If it's someone that you have recently visited and does not know you well then their assumptions will go wild and you will be accused anyway. This has happened to me! If it's over livestock then there's not much that any ACO will do about it as per my experiences! Chicken are considered livestock in Va as per the Humane Society. Good luck!

 

[PineappleMama]

Funny I was just thinking that AC should be considered a Predator and/or Pest.

But, no, I don't think they tell around here... else I imagine Uncle woulda given them a piece of his mind back in the day...

 

[onthespot]

I have heard that around here, you can choose to remain confidential and then the only reason it can be disclosed is if the person with the complaint against them files a suit and subpoenas the record of the complaint against them.

 

[NellaBean]

Quote:
When I worked for Animal Control, we would not tell someone who made the complaint.......however they could either subpeona the records or file a request for information (basically the same thing) under the freedom of information act, etc etc......all of our request went to the City Attorney to "approve"...so no idea whether they were actually released or not.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Unless your state has a law that restricts those records from release, it is public information and available to the public. The amount of hoops that need to be jumped through to get the information might be as simple as asking, or might require a forma Freedom of Information request.

In Arizona the only types of public information that can remain confidential are the personal health and employment information of government employees and communications of a government agency with an attorney on a pending or comtemplated action. Seems like I am forgetting something, but it is similar in nature.

 

[Mattemma]

My neighbors were told when I filed a complaint.Unfortunately if you send in a complaint with no name they do not act on it. Once my neighbors knew I complained they threatened to report me everytime my dog barked outside,lol.