YOUR VIEW: Overwhelming evidence against former animal rescue director

YOUR VIEW: Overwhelming evidence against former animal rescue director

In their Feb. 9 letter in The News ("TEARS founder should not have been charged," Your Views), Kerry Jacobi and Nicole Self misrepresented themselves and the facts regarding The Emergency Animal Rescue Service and its former director, Terra Cotromano. As president of TEARS, let me set the record straight.

Two years ago, Lee Anne Bennett, our vice president, and I were apprised by TEARS' accountant of financial irregularities, including $69,000 in ATM withdrawals by Cotromano, and a cashier's check for $20,000 payable to "Cash." We questioned Cotromano about these irregularities but received unsatisfactory answers.

We also received reports from TEARS' adoption coordinator, Danyell Jackson, of neglect, if not abuse, of animals, particularly 70 cats roaming free in an unheated, unventilated trailer. Efforts were made to get proper veterinary care, which Cotromano vetoed.

Cotromano had to go. TEARS' bank accounts were frozen. Cotromano opened a new account and made a television solicitation, resulting in donations for which there has been no accounting. End-of-year solicitations already sent out resulted in $13,472 coming into TEARS at the end of 2009. That money resides in the trust account of our pro bono attorney, John Saxon, and has been meticulously accounted for.

On Dec. 30, 2009, Cotromano was terminated. She then convened a meeting of the "membership" of TEARS that elected a new board and rehired her. The only problem: TEARS has never functioned as a membership organization. It will now be up to the courts to determine which is the real TEARS board.

On Dec. 31, 2009, our board, its lawyer, its governance consultant, Allison Black Cornelius, four volunteer veterinarians, the Birmingham Humane Society, deputy Dwight Sloan and his sheriff's department team and the Birmingham Jefferson County Animal Control office arrived at TEARS. Over three days, more than 200 animals were examined. Many were found to be victims of neglect and abuse. Based on the veterinary examinations, Sloan sought warrants for Cotromano's arrest. Twenty cases of neglect or abuse (from among many more) were pursued through the criminal courts.

For Jacobi and Self to represent there was "no evidence of criminal wrongdoing" is outrageous. Two veterinarians and Sloan testified to abuse and neglect of animals they inspected. Jackson and I testified to cats roaming freely in an improper facility. All 70 were diagnosed with upper respiratory infection.

There was overwhelming evidence of criminal wrongdoing, but at the end of many days of trial, District Judge Eric Fancher had no choice but to dismiss the charges because of technical defects in the arrest warrants.

Jacobi and Self cannot "assure the community" that TEARS will return. Cotromano and anyone acting on her behalf, which includes Jacobi and Self, are enjoined by Circuit Judge Helen Shores Lee from undertaking any activity on behalf of TEARS, including holding themselves out as TEARS.

What will happen to the organization and the money held in trust remains to be seen. What is clear from the criminal proceedings is that Cotromano never again should be permitted to have anything to do with animals.

In their Feb. 9 letter in The News ("TEARS founder should not have been charged," Your Views), Kerry Jacobi and Nicole Self misrepresented themselves and the facts regarding The Emergency Animal Rescue Service and its former director, Terra Cotromano. As president of TEARS, let me set the record straight.

Two years ago, Lee Anne Bennett, our vice president, and I were apprised by TEARS' accountant of financial irregularities, including $69,000 in ATM withdrawals by Cotromano, and a cashier's check for $20,000 payable to "Cash." We questioned Cotromano about these irregularities but received unsatisfactory answers.

We also received reports from TEARS' adoption coordinator, Danyell Jackson, of neglect, if not abuse, of animals, particularly 70 cats roaming free in an unheated, unventilated trailer. Efforts were made to get proper veterinary care, which Cotromano vetoed.

Cotromano had to go. TEARS' bank accounts were frozen. Cotromano opened a new account and made a television solicitation, resulting in donations for which there has been no accounting. End-of-year solicitations already sent out resulted in $13,472 coming into TEARS at the end of 2009. That money resides in the trust account of our pro bono attorney, John Saxon, and has been meticulously accounted for.

On Dec. 30, 2009, Cotromano was terminated. She then convened a meeting of the "membership" of TEARS that elected a new board and rehired her. The only problem: TEARS has never functioned as a membership organization. It will now be up to the courts to determine which is the real TEARS board.

On Dec. 31, 2009, our board, its lawyer, its governance consultant, Allison Black Cornelius, four volunteer veterinarians, the Birmingham Humane Society, deputy Dwight Sloan and his sheriff's department team and the Birmingham Jefferson County Animal Control office arrived at TEARS. Over three days, more than 200 animals were examined. Many were found to be victims of neglect and abuse. Based on the veterinary examinations, Sloan sought warrants for Cotromano's arrest. Twenty cases of neglect or abuse (from among many more) were pursued through the criminal courts.

For Jacobi and Self to represent there was "no evidence of criminal wrongdoing" is outrageous. Two veterinarians and Sloan testified to abuse and neglect of animals they inspected. Jackson and I testified to cats roaming freely in an improper facility. All 70 were diagnosed with upper respiratory infection.

There was overwhelming evidence of criminal wrongdoing, but at the end of many days of trial, District Judge Eric Fancher had no choice but to dismiss the charges because of technical defects in the arrest warrants.

Jacobi and Self cannot "assure the community" that TEARS will return. Cotromano and anyone acting on her behalf, which includes Jacobi and Self, are enjoined by Circuit Judge Helen Shores Lee from undertaking any activity on behalf of TEARS, including holding themselves out as TEARS.

What will happen to the organization and the money held in trust remains to be seen. What is clear from the criminal proceedings is that Cotromano never again should be permitted to have anything to do with animals.

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