SALEM HUMANE SOCIETY Lawsuit filed over removal of horses

The suit seeks $1 million in damages from the humane society.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The president of the Salem Humane Society says neither he nor Columbiana County's humane officer did anything wrong in removing 14 horses from a farm near Glenmoor earlier this month.
"We know animal abuse when we see it," said Peter C. Johnson Jr. "We stand by our decision."
The humane society, which serves Columbiana County, is being sued in U.S. District Court, Youngstown, by five Columbiana County residents who say they were harassed and threatened by Johnson and humane officer Bill Fast, and that their horses were unlawfully seized by them.
The suit, which seeks $1 million in damages, was filed by Penni White-Knoedler of East Liverpool and her husband, Eric N. Knoedler, Christy Lynn Cook of New Waterford and Debora Dietrichsen and Daniel B. Wallace, both of Wellsville.
The suit says White-Knoedler operated Angels For Horses, an animal shelter where she cared for lost or abandoned animals, including horses, dogs and chickens. After the animals were nursed back to health, they were placed for adoption.
Removed
Earlier this month, humane society agents removed horses from the shelter, contending that the animals had been abused. Johnson said the horses were placed in foster care, where they remain.
He said the animals were removed after a two-year investigation spurred by complaints the society received about White-Knoedler's operation.
Atty. Mark S. Colucci of Youngstown, who represents the plaintiffs, wrote in the lawsuit that Johnson and Fast engaged in a series of "night raids" on White-Knoedler's shelter, and that they made false statements about her and about her operation to the press.
The suit says that other plaintiffs, who own horses they adopted from Angels For Horses, were told they are in possession of stolen animals.
Johnson defended the seizure of the animals.
"We have a job to do regarding the enforcement of animal-cruelty laws in Columbiana County," he said. "We felt that we did that job properly and within the confines of the law."
bjackson@vindy.com