Suspended
you don’t get your way.”
“It is reasonable to conclude that your organization’s true motivation is to undermine and disrupt the Catoosa County Animal Control Department and Animal Shelter,” says the county letter. The letter suggests the rescue group “has been hijacked by a small handful of individuals.”
The letter does not specify where the negative comments that it accuses CCAC of appear – only that they appear on “social media and other outlets.” It does not include the content of any of the negative comments to which it refers. The county’s letter accuses CCAC of denying responsibility for negative comments during the Oct. 11 meeting.
“Additionally,” the county letter states, “your organization has filed multiple open records requests with the Catoosa County Clerk requesting information that your organization seeks to utilize to distort, discredit, disparage, and disrupt the operations of the Catoosa County Animal Control Department and Animal Shelter.”
The county says in its letter that it will comply with open records requests because “we have nothing to hide.”
Also referenced in the Oct. 20 letter is a recent inspection of the county animal shelter by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. The inspection report, as well as the letter, is posted on the county’s Facebook page.
The inspection took place on Oct. 17. The inspection report lists the inspection as “regular/routine.” The inspector found no violations and stated that she witnessed no euthanasia during her 90-minute inspection. The report states that the shelter has a capacity for 40 animals and that 25 animals were being held at the time of inspection.
The inspector noted in her report that while she was at the shelter, a dog was brought in and appeared to be elderly, suffering from a severe flea infestation and looked emaciated. She wrote that she was assured that a vet would be coming later in the afternoon to check the dog.
The county letter to CCAC emphasizes that its practices are in compliance with the law. It states in the letter: “If and when the issues raised in this letter are permanently and adequately addressed, the county is willing to reconsider its decision [about suspending CCAC].”
Sadler, in an Oct. 22 email, responded to the letter, saying, “Catoosa Citizens for Animal Care wants nothing more than to help the homeless animals of Catoosa County, and plans to continue being a resource for the residents and their pets even if the shelter director and county officials aren’t willing to work with us. We are hopeful that the recent events will be the beginning of a much needed conversation with the residents of Catoosa County about the current conditions and policies at the shelter and how improvements can be made that would benefit both the animals and the community. The public is encouraged to attend any of our public meetings which will be listed on our Facebook page.”
Walker, in his letter to CCAC, closes by stating the “animal control department follows the law, plays by the rules, and cares deeply for the animals in their care.” He also states that “the employees of the Catoosa County Animal Control Department have my full support, and the full support of the Catoosa County Board of Commissioners.”
More information/ reading: Catoosa County has posted their letter to Catoosa Citizens for Animal Care, as well as the most recent inspection report from the Georgia Department of Agriculture, on their Facebook page: facebook.com/ CatoosaCountyGA. The county’s web site is: Catoosa.com. A contact page for Animal Control can be found under “Departments.”
Catoosa Citizens for Animal Care can be found on Facebook at facebook.com. CatoosaCitizensForAnimalCare. Their web site is catoosacitizensforanimalcare.