ONLY ON 4: Bradley County Humane Society Shuts Down

One south Arkansas community is without its humane society, after the founder closed it, because she faces a felony theft charge. AT ISSUE, WHETHER BERNADETTE HARNDEN WAS FOLLOWING A STATE LAW THAT GIVES HUMANE SOCIETIES THE RIGHT TO TAKE ANIMALS, IF THEY`RE IN DANGER OF DYING. NEWS FOUR ARKANSAS` MIKE HELLGREN WENT TO WARREN IN BRADLEY COUNTY FOR THIS STORY YOU`LL SEE ONLY ON FOUR. MANY HUMANE SOCIETY INVESTIGATORS CARRY COPIES OF THE LAW WITH THEM WHEN THEY DO THEIR JOBS. BERNADETTE HARNDEN THOUGHT THAT`S EXACTLY WHAT SHE WAS DOING, BUT IN COURT TODAY, A JUDGE SAID NO. MORE THAN A DOZEN DOGS LIVE IN HARNDEN`S BACKYARD, MANY SHE RESCUED FROM ABUSE. BUT TOMORROW, THEY`LL START HEADING TO NEW HOMES, INCLUDING THE CITY POUND. Bernadette Harnden// BRADLEY CO. HUMANE SOCIETY "I`m going to close down. They got what they want." HARNDEN SAYS HER BREAKING POINT CAME TRYING TO HELP A DOG THAT SHE SAYS GOT TANGELED UNDER A GARAGE AND COULDN`T REACH ITS WATER DISH. "It was eating cat food, so something was wrong in its throat, and it was spitting up blood." HARNDEN TOOK THE DOG TO HER SHELTER. BUT IN COURT, THE JUDGE TOLD HER IT COULD COST HER--A FELONY THEFT CHARGE. "I`m not ashamed. I can hold my head up high. I know I can answer to Jesus. I did what I can do." KAY JORDAN WITH PULASKI COUNTY`S HUMANE SOCIETY HAS INVESTIGATED HUNDREDS OF ABUSE CASES STATEWIDE, SO WE ASKED HER, `WHAT`S LEGAL?` Kay Jordan//PULASKI COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY "We have the right by state law to go into a situation where an animal`s in a lifethreatening situation. We can remove that animal, take it to a veterinarian, and get it the care that is needed." THAT LAW CAME UNDER FIRE DURING THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION. JORDAN FOUGHT HARD TO KEEP IT. SHE TRIES TO TAKE A POLICE OFFICER WITH HER WHEN SHE RESCUES ANIMALS, FOR BACKUP. Jordan: "When you`re looking at an animal that may make it three days, you have to go through the legal proceedings of a search and seizure warrant." Hellgren: "If you hadn`t taken it, your belief was the dog would`ve died..." Harnden: "Eventually, yeah." NOW, WHAT`S DEAD IS THE HUMANE SOCIETY HARNDEN WORKED TO CREATE. "There are those who are dedicated, but God bless them, I need to rest." WHAT WON`T REST--THE PROBLEM OF UNWANTED ANIMALS--IN BRADLEY COUNTY--AND ACROSS THE STATE. AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THE OWNER OF THE DOG IN THIS CASE, HASN`T BEEN CHARGED WITH CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. BERNADETTE HARNDEN DID RETURN THE DOG TODAY. SHE SHOULD KNOW SOON WHETHER SHE`LL BE CHARGED WITH FELONY THEFT. SHE SAYS SHE`S ALREADY HIRED A LAWYER.