By ETHAN HARTLEY The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has closed an investigation into alleged acts of animal cruelty levied against Warwick resident Rob Cote with no citations or charges filed, opting instead to use the situation as a
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The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has closed an investigation into alleged acts of animal cruelty levied against Warwick resident Rob Cote with no citations or charges filed, opting instead to use the situation as a teaching tool for animal control officers and residents statewide.
“Ultimately, the animal was not harmed in this incident,” writes environmental protective officer Scott F. Bergemann in the conclusion of the report. “Our department is using this incident to educate, not only the general public, but the workers that handle wildlife calls, as to the laws, rules and regulation of handling wildlife pests humanely.”
The situation started at the Feb. 25 meeting of the city council during a discussion regarding a new ordinance giving the city authority to fine residents who knowingly feed wild animals, even on their own property, which results in a public nuisance and can attract other unwanted animals, such as rats, to inhabit other residents’ property.
Cote, speaking in favor of the ordinance, outlined his struggles with wild animals encroaching and causing thousands of dollars of property damage to his home and lawn as a result of a neighbor throwing bird seed directly onto the ground. In his testimony, he outlined how he had resorted to trapping these animals, which included 32 skunks, 60 possums, eight groundhogs, four raccoons and 200 squirrels over the years.
Cote described one scenario, which the report indicates happened in December of 2018, where he had trapped a large skunk and was then tasked with the challenge of getting rid of the animal in a way that is allowable under state and local laws. In doing so, he had conferred with both DEM and Warwick Animal Control about possible solutions for getting rid of the trapped skunk.
An Animal Control Officer, identified in the report as Eric Brewster, told Cote he had heard of a method of humane disposal that involved hooking a dryer exhaust hose to a vehicle exhaust pipe and funneling the fumes into an enclosure holding the skunk – in this case he said the trap could be encased in a trash bag to contain the fumes – in order to euthanize the animal.
An unknown complainant forwarded the testimony to local television news outlets and to DEM asking for an investigation.
The report indicates varying stories between Cote and Brewster, each saying that the other tried to utilize the described method of disposal, and each saying that the method failed. Brewster states in his written report that after the method failed, he then took the skunk in his truck and released it about 100 yards away from Cote’s property to try and resolve the situation.
Bergemann makes clear that the method of disposal described in the report is “not a prescribed method of humane euthanasia” for a wild animal and that, “While both testimonies are very similar as to the majority of the facts of the situation that transpired, each points the finger at each other as to whom may have been responsible.”
In conclusion, DEM did not levy any citations or charges against Brewster or Cote, and instead sent a memo to all state animal control offices regarding state laws and regulations to serve as a teaching opportunity.
“Both subjects in this complaint were advised of the laws and regulations of, the transportation and release of wildlife, which is in place to restrict the spread of diseases such as rabies and distemper, and the humane handling of wildlife,” Bergemann writes. “The State Veterinarian has sent out informational material to all animal control officers and police departments to advise them of the current laws on the handling of wildlife humanely and transportation and relocation of nuisance wildlife.”
Cote reflected on the situation Wednesday, lamenting that property owners in Warwick do not have any immediately apparent means to deal with nuisance animals that invade their properties and cause property damage. He said he was told by a local pest removal company that removing an animal such as a skunk could run anywhere between $500 and $1,000 – which he considers to be a high burden for protecting private property.
“Because of the disparity between state regulations and the city regulations, the actual rodent on your property has more rights than you do,” Cote said. “Because you can't remove it.”
Residents of Warwick, among other urban areas in Rhode Island, are unable to exercise certain rights afforded to those in rural communities by DEM – such as killing them via firearm – due to local regulations. It is also against state law to transport a trapped animal elsewhere due to fear of spreading potential diseases.
The aforementioned ordinance imposing possible fines on residents who feed wild animals in Warwick has since passed second passage at the council and is now local law, punishable by an up to $500 fine for multiple offenses.
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Warwick Man
Cote is a liar
Thursday, March 28, 2019 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear Pepe Le Pew,
You are right!
Cote has once again, lied to the City Council, caused tens of thousands of taxpayers dollars to be spent, and caused unnecessary harm to the 80,000 taxpayers that are paying the tab.
In 2012 he said he was moving "out of Warwick". Don't we all wish he would at least make good on THIS promise from a guy who "couldn't keep a dive shop afloat in a city with 40 miles of shoreline"? (see Taco Tuesday's comment after the article "Pension dispute results in 2.6 Million owed to firefighters")
Happy Spring Pep!
Happy Spring everyone.
Rick Corrente
The Taxpayers Mayor
Thursday, March 28, 2019 Report this
CAMP2020
Cote is nothing more then a big mouth blow hard making up stories at city council meetings, costing tax payers thousands of dollars to investigate. It was his own words that created this issue. He has no problem stalking a funeral in an attempt to uncover "government waste" by DPW employees but he has no qualms LYING and creating a ruckus costing the city thousands. He should be forced to refund the city for the amount of "government waste" HE created with his lies. I knew the coward didn't kill the animal, as a matter of fact I'm 100% sure he runs like a little girl at the sight of a mouse. He just likes to talk to hear his own voice and he is a known liar and exaggerator. His credibility is shot.
Thursday, March 28, 2019 Report this
wwkvoter
And yet... Corrente is still calling himself a "mayor" and spouting nonsense... as usual. Too bad he cant get destroyed a third time and give us all some small benefit of his nonsense...
Friday, March 29, 2019 Report this
Former User
wwkvoter, something even better than another election loss is happening with richard corrente -- more of his comments have been deleted for making stupid accusations.
There was one on the fire chief article -- it's gone. And there were two on an editorial -- both gone.
Good to see that someone at the Beacon is exercising their right to moderate the website they own, in the way they feel is appropriate.
Friday, March 29, 2019 Report this
JohnStark
If I have the story correct, Cote has a problem with varmints in his yard. He takes legal steps to deal with the problem. DEM investigates and finds no violations. Not sure how he's the villain here.
Tuesday, April 2, 2019 Report this
Warwick Man
John Stark,
You do have your story mixed up. Mr. Cote claimed he killed hundreds of animals by hooking a dryer vent up to their enclosed cage and started his car and gassing them, highly illegal.
Or. He lied about it all.
I’m guessing he lied, he’s very good at that
Tuesday, April 2, 2019 Report this