At their Aug. 3 meeting, the Polk County Board of Commissioners appointed the volunteer Polk County 2020-21 Animal Cruelty Investigators who were then were sworn in on Aug. 4 on the courthouse lawn.

These volunteers serve under the leadership of the Sheriff Department’s Animal Control Officer Patti Lovelace and must follow guidelines set by the State of North Carolina. Animal cruelty investigators serve a one-year term subject to removal for cause by the Board of County Commissioners. While in the performance of their official duties, animal cruelty investigators wear in plain view a badge of a design approved by the Board identifying them as animal cruelty investigators.

Each animal cruelty investigator at his or her own expense must attend annually a course of at least six hours instruction offered by the North Carolina Humane Federation or some other agency. The course shall be designed to give the investigator expertise in the investigation of complaints relating to the care and treatment of animals.