Westport selectmen accused of silence on animal cruelty

Some on board take offense, say they are doing their utmost

By Bruce Burdett
Posted 10/16/17

They protested animal cruelty leniency in front of Fall River District Court, and animal advocates also took the Board of Selectmen to task recently for what they called silence on behalf of …

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Westport selectmen accused of silence on animal cruelty

Some on board take offense, say they are doing their utmost

Posted

They protested animal cruelty leniency in front of Fall River District Court, and animal advocates also took the Board of Selectmen to task recently for what they called silence on behalf of animals.

“It seems to a lot of people that the Board of Selectmen doesn’t care about this issue because you are always playing catch-up,” said Kathy Feininger of Stop the Insanity — Westport.

Their frustration was sparked by recent court settlements that resulted in neither fines nor jail time for Stephen and Nicole Botelho, both of whom were charged with six felony counts of animal cruelty in connection with the deaths of two dogs, a cat and a lizard at their Sanford Road home.

“I have been asked by members of this very board to soften my rhetoric, to change our name, to be nicer,” Ms. Feininger said. “We will do all of these things when we find that you as a board take the subject of animal cruelty in Westport seriously.”

More town involvement might have prevented the prosecutor and court from enabling the plea deal, said Chris Wiley, of Join the Conversation Westport.

“If you knew how serious this case was, why didn’t any of you … stand up in court to back the case?” Ms. Wiley asked.

That would not have been proper, said town attorney David Jenkins.

“I consistently advise the board that decisions with respect to arrest and prosecution rest in the hands of the professionals,” the police and prosecutors, he said. Selectmen need to step back from the criminal process.

“Quite frankly I, all of us, are surprised with the settlement that occurred behind closed doors,” said selectman R. Michael Sullivan. “I am very, very disappointed by how this was handled at the court level and by our supposed advocates, the District Attorney’s office.”

But he and others on the board disagreed with accusations that the board does not care about the issue and has done too little.

“We have spoken out for the last year and a half at our meetings forcibly against it,” said selectman Craig Dutra.

“To accuse us of not participating … I, quite frankly, am insulted,” said selectwoman Shana Shufelt, citing work she and others have done.

“We can be frustrated, I am frustrated, at how things progress and how long it takes to (bring about) change,” but that does not mean that real efforts have not been made.

“What we haven’t heard from you is a single public statement until after the rest of us have spoken,” Ms. Feininger said. “We are asking you to be more proactive than reactive.”

Saying that she understands the board plans to take up an animal related matter in closed session, audience member Constance Gee said, “Now the ball is in your court. I do hope that we won’t hear anything like, ‘We can’t do anything because our hands are tied.’”

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