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Animal control officers should be people that we can count on to help animals who are in dangerous situations and in need of help. Unfortunately, this was not the case with a former Oklahoma Animal Control Officer named Timothy Peek.

Recently, a woman posted on Facebook about the conditions at animal control’s Fletcher Animal Kennel. Candi Bridges, who lived nearby decided to go check it out and help the dogs. What she saw and heard was awful. “It wasn’t like a bark, it was like they were screaming for us to help them,” Bridges described. The four dogs were locked in small, metal enclosures that were outside, despite winter storms. The kennels were covered in urine and feces, there was no food, and the water was frozen solid.

Because the enclosures weren’t locked, Bridges put hay, food, and water in the kennels. However, she couldn’t bear to leave them behind, even with their new provisions. She loaded all four dogs into her car and Rainbow Bridge Can Wait Animal Rescue is helping them get adopted.

Officers believe that the dogs had been left alone for at least four days in freezing temperatures. An investigation is ongoing and Timothy Peek, 54, who was in charge of taking care of these animals, has been arrested for animal cruelty. He claims that he had no idea about the storm; however, he had posted on social media about the weather twice. Carl Lewis, the Managing Editor for the Comanche County Chronicle, also says that he heard Peek yell “F— those dogs!” during his arrest.

Fortunately, the city has plans to discuss upgrading or relocating these kennels and is working with Rainbow Bridge Can Wait Animal Rescue to place any other animals they pick up in the meantime. However, the city also needs to make sure that this type of situation can never happen again. Many of these animals were likely in the custody of Animal Control because they were abused and neglected by their past owners. Sadly, they only suffered more abuse and neglect at the hands of the animal control officer that was supposed to protect them. Sign this petition to demand that Timothy Peek is barred from ever owning an animal again, or having a job in animal care and control!

To continue speaking up, sign these other petitions as well:

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