I beg to differ with Mr. Pritchard’s opinion regarding “malicious
intent”.
Lowndes County Manager Joe Pritchard says, “I don’t believe through
our investigation, nor through any info we received from the Department
of Ag, are able to indicate any malicious intent.”
Mr. Pritchard should understand that it matters not if this was done
with “malicious intent” or not. “Malicous intent” should be
determined by the investigating criminal agency, not a county manager.
“Malicious Intent” is only important in determining whether the
crime should be filed as a felony, or a misdemeanor.
The law is crystal clear regarding the denial of necessary medical care,
and/or humane euthanasia, for any animal deemed to be in need of such. Any
time a shelter impounds/houses a live animal, the shelter is required,
by law, to afford that animal with humane care – to include necessary
medical care or treatment.
The blogger then goes on to quote Georgia Code, which only brings
in the word “maliciously” for higher fines or imprisonment
for aggravated cruelty to animals.
Tomorrow will be a week and I have had no response! Very disappointing.
-Jane Osborn
Today:
Mrs. Osborn,
Thank you so much for your support. The County manager and several county
employees interviewed all the workers after a drug screen was conducted on
all employees back in late august of 2010. Several (4) employees advised
the people conducting the investigation (Joe Prichard, Mickey Tillman,
Page Dukes and Suzanne Pittman) of the charges brought to the Department
of Agriculture. From the
“It’s no longer a case of an individual making a claim, as it will
be evident by the physical evidence provided by the security cameras,”
said Pritchard. “The standard operating procedures such as frequency
of inspection of the animals and how often an animal will be reviewed
or examined, along with the veterinarian care, have been revised to the
general procedures set by guidelines of the Department of Agriculture
and the animal control ordinance we adopted several years ago.”
“You take that policy, coupled with the updated standard operating
procedures, added to the technical verification and I think that addresses
the issues,” said Pritchard. “My purpose is to eliminate any problem
or potential problem.”
Guess they thought a good time to start in-line YouTube video
was when they could show
kitties and puppies.
Hey, if that gets the VDT doing video, I’m for it!
As promised at Tuesday’s Lowndes County Board of Commissioners
meeting, the Lowndes County Animal Shelter (LCAS) allowed the public
the opportunity Wednesday afternoon to get a behind-the-scenes look at
the facility that has recently come under fire.
Employees, both past and present, have accused several shelter employees
of inhumane treatment of animals, the mishandling of tranquilizers and
illegal operating procedures.
Here is what I just sent to the Sheriff’s office by email:
I wanted to ask if someone who witnessed the alleged abuse of animals
at the Lowndes County Animal Shelter has to make a direct report to law
enforcement for an investigation to be started or if second-hand
information from the media would be good enough. I will include a link
to a video of the testimony of a shelter officer at the Lowndes County
Commission meeting this week. I am under the impression that animal
abuse is a criminal offense and that just having these reports go to
the Department of Agriculture will only result in a fine for the
shelter, not resolution of possible criminal wrongdoing.
The last animal shelter speaker
said she was looking at it from
a business perspective.
She called Commissioner Powell and they had a conversation.
She got a copy of the animal control ordinance.
She said she thought she had seen some things that others had not.
She complimented the Commissioners:
I know you to be people of your word.
After all that she indicated:
I guess I’m just asking that you restudy…
that those are the right people.
After she finished, Chairman Ashley Paulk said there would be a tour
of the shelter and everyone was invited.
Restudy that those are the right people
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 24 May 2011.
Videos by Johh S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
Why do you not fire that person? —Judy Havercamp
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 24 May 2011.
Videos by Johh S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
This speaker talked about when her mother took her to volunteer at
the old shelter, and how bad it was,
then about how the current shelter started.
When I moved back to Valdosta five years ago,
I couldn’t believe the change.
A real shelter and animal control officers
that had compassion.
I personally know some current and former animal control officers.
They are caring compassionate people with a deep love of their jobs.
When I read about the cruelty and neglect allegations in the paper,
I couldn’t believe we had reverted back 25 years.
So she looked into it, requesting the files from the Dept. of Agriculture.
What I received was a slap in the face.
The Valdosta Daily Times was kind in their reporting….
If taxpayer money isn’t being used to defend the defenseless,
what should it be used for?
Cheryl Hatcher said she has been
involved with Humane Society for a long time (which the Chairman vouched for)
and was among those who actually helped build the shelter.
There have been many discussions and conversations about things
not being done properly at the shelter.
And I really urge that you investigate what’s going on in the shelter.
I applaud you for putting cameras in the tack room,
although I think it’s been way too long to do that,
but I applaud you for doing that.
I really think that it is
not a waste of taxpayers’ money when you’re investigating to make sure
that animals will be taken care of properly.
If we can’t take care of animals and children,
then the world is going to suffer.
I think that if it’s necessary to put cameras in the tack room
there are bigger problems that need to be taken care of at
higher levels.
If we can’t take care of animals and children…. — Cheryl Hatcher
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 24 May 2011.
Videos by Johh S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
