A Berkeley County, West Virginia, Circuit Court Judge has sided with Alley Cat Allies in a lawsuit against Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department after it failed to comply with Alley Cat Allies requests for public records under the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The Sheriff’s Department has been refusing to disclose the requested records and as such violated FOIA, which is a critical citizen right to demand transparency and accountability from leadership.
FOIA refers to the law that compels governments to disclose public records at the request of citizens. It is a very important tool for Alley Cat Allies and other animal advocates, so this is a big win! We applaud the Circuit Court Judge for his decision, and for compelling the Sheriff’s Department to provide the public records we sought through FOIA.
The Court’s decision reinforces the truth that FOIA cannot be ignored at will, especially when it comes to the abuse of animals under county care. In the cat protection movement, the ability to demand transparency from local officials and animal shelters is key to getting a clear picture of the real issues facing cats and where lifesaving change is needed.
Such is the case in Berkeley County, where Alley Cat Allies has been working to protect cats since our in-depth investigation into Berkeley County Animal Control in 2021 revealed what we consider to be a shocking pattern of animal cruelty in the shelter. Since then, Alley Cat Allies has pursued legal remedies to protect the animals of the county now and into the future.
Alley Cat Allies filed FOIA requests for public records that include information on the Sheriff’s Department and animal control’s treatment of the animals in their care. Previously, the Berkeley County Circuit Court found that the Sheriff’s Department failed to adequately search for or produce the relevant documents and information as required by FOIA.
The new decision, which requires the Sheriff’s Department to pay fees related to their failure to comply with FOIA, are further confirmation that the Sheriff’s Department will not be allowed to shirk its duty to uphold freedom of information—and that it is not above the law.
With the ability to access the public records we requested, Alley Cat Allies can make decisions on how to best protect cats and kittens in Berkeley County. This is a very exciting victory in our ongoing fight to end cruelty to cats in West Virginia and beyond.
Learn more about our work in Berkeley County, West Virginia.