Photograph: Michelle Benoit (right) speaks to the Parish Council last week concerning dogs taken from her residence by parish animal control investigators. At right is Bridgette Piattoly, attorney who represents Benoit. (Photograph by Bobby Ardoin)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
A St. Landry Parish Council member is asking for Sheriff Bobby Guidroz and District Attorney Chad Pitre to complete an investigation which alleges illegal seizures of dogs from a Sunset-area residence and the alleged falsifying of a search warrant by parish animal control investigators.
Council Member Wayne Ardoin addressed the allegations last week during a Parish Council meeting that included the alleged Nov. 23 Curley Road incident when the dogs were taken from the home.
Ardoin additionally requested during his address that Council Attorney Garrett Duplechain craft a resolution that brings the investigatory findings before a grand jury.
Duplechain told the Council he can prepare the resolution that will be presented in January.
Brigette Piattoly, a New Orleans attorney said she represents former animal control director Terri Courvelle and Michelle Benoit, who told the Council during the meeting that her two dogs were taken from her residence without her permission.
Courvelle was removed from her position as animal control director by parish president Jessie Bellard on Nov.30, according to a Dec. 9 voluntary statement that Courvelle gave to Sheriff Deputy Samuel Ortego.
The statement by Courvelle and another separate Dec. 13 statement to Deputy Casey LeDee from Benoit in connection with taking the dogs have been obtained by St. Landry Now.
Bellard has stated since his decision to dismiss Courvelle, that he will not comment on the matter since it involves a personnel matter.
Ardoin told the Council that the two animal control investigators allegedly entered the Benoit residence without a search warrant, while they investigated an animal complaint made by a neighbor.
After entering the residence and taking the dogs, the two investigators then allegedly secured a search warrant from District Judge Ledricka Thierry, Ardoin told the Council.
“The search warrant was typed up and brought to a judge after the fact. This lady (Benoit) has been violated and the judge might have been misled,” Ardoin added.
Ardoin said the two small dogs taken from Benoit are no longer at the parish animal shelter.
One of the dogs Ardoin said was apparently handed over to a rescue group, while the other was euthanized due to a physical condition.
Benoit told the Council that she was living elsewhere at the time her dogs were taken from her home and brought to the animal shelter.
The dogs Benoit said, were being fed and provided with water by her every couple of days while she was staying with a friend. “I never left (the dogs) without food and water,” Benoit said.
Piattoly told the Council that she will also press for an expanded investigation perhaps federally of the incident which involves allegedly taking the dogs from the Benoit residence without the permission of Benoit and the removal of Courvelle following the incident.
Bellard told the Council after the presentation by Ardoin, Benoit and Piattoly that he is not yet ready to comment on the allegations concerning the alleged incident.
“There are a lot of things that are being said. At the right time, all the issues will be addressed. Right now I am not commenting due to the investigation that is being conducted,” Bellard added.
On Dec. 15 parish government issued a press release which stated the Bissell Pet Foundation has announced it will begin working with the parish animal shelter to provide assistance with guidance and help with for animal rescues.
