Woman Who Saved Animals During Hurricane ARRESTED

The Good Samaritan who rescued 27 cats and dogs during Hurricane Florence has been arrested for illegally practicing veterinary medicine.

Tammie Hedges founded Crazy’s Claws N Paws animal rescue and recruited volunteers to help her save animals that had been left behind in the rising flood waters. She converted a warehouse into a temporary shelter. But Wayne County animal control learned about the shelter, and confiscated the animals.

Wayne County Animal Services manager Frank Sauls took the animals and told Hedges she didn’t register the warehouse as a shelter. At the time, he told the Goldsboro News-Argus: “If we didn’t feel like anything was being done wrong, we would not have taken [the animals],” and that it was now “for the courts to decide.”

Even though Hedges gave up the animals, she was arrested and charged with 12 counts of practicing veterinary medicine without a license and a single count of soliciting a schedule IV controlled substance, according to the News-Argus. She was released on a $10,000 secured bond.

Some of the animals Hedges rescued were sick, so she gave a few amoxicillin and used topical antibiotic ointment for others. She also sought a donation of Tramadol, a painkiller used for dogs and cats. Hedges told the Argus she felt she had to help the sick animals.

“Vets were closed. Had they left the animals there, we could have had a vet come out here, because some vets were open later, but we didn’t get that option,” Hedges said. “During a state of emergency, you’re not going to find anybody open. I did what I’m supposed to do. I’m not about to let an animal be in pain and run a fever. When I have the availability and the supplies to help them, I’m going to do it.”