By Nathan Owens
Staff Writer
EL DORADO — After four years of covering Union County, a local animal control officer announced he would only cover the public’s animal complaints in El Dorado and nearby towns, until payment issues are clarified in the county.
Thursday, Animal Control Officer Charles Hartsell posted on Facebook: “I am sorry to say we will not be doing animal control in Union County…We cannot keep providing the service for free.”
In 1991, he began Hartsell Pest Control in El Dorado and shortly after Union County Sheriff Mike McGough was elected in 2012. He asked Hartsell to consult on animal cases four years ago. Over time Hartsell assisted cases with the sheriff’s office pro bono.
“The object was for animal control to handle all calls while deputies handled subpoenas,” Hartsell said. “Since then we kept getting more calls.”
In Oct. 2015, El Dorado officials started paying Hartsell as a city service and he listed his business as Union County Animal Control on social media.
In the message Hartsell said people can contact the sheriff’s office or their district’s justice of the peace if its services are needed outside of El Dorado.
“We will continue to serve El Dorado, Smackover, Norphlet and Hampton city limits. We will respond to other cities in the county if called by a deputy or their mayor,” he said.
The name of his company’s services have not changed.
Nathan Owens can be reached by phone or email: [email protected]. For news updates follow him on Facebook or Twitter: nowensednt.