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
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.
The animal shelter story isn’t just about animals.
It’s also about mismanagement.
It’s even about prison labor competing with local labor.
After Susan Leavins read from her statement to the Department of Agriculture
about a starving horse, pigs castrated without pain relievers or antibiotics,
and maggots in wounds, Chairman Paulk advised her she had one minute left.
Then she got to her main point:
Continue reading →
You’re looking at an animal lover —Ashley Paulk @ LCC 24 May 2011
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.
Those board appointments will affect all of us for some time to come.
Here are videos of all of the 24 May 2011 Lowndes County Commission meeting
except the citizens talking about the animal shelter; those will follow.
Remember, much of the discussion already happened the previous morning
in the work session.
LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, MAY 23, 2011, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2011, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor
He’s back from Afghanistan and has a new plan to fight McDonald’s.
Vince Schneider asked the County Commission for an ordinance about hours.
After quoting from the U.S. Tenth and Fourth Amendments
and talking about privacy rights,
he read similar passages from the Georgia Constitution,
and this one, from
Section II. Origin and Structure of Government:
All government, of right, originates with the people, is founded
upon their will only, and is instituted solely for the good of the
whole. Public officers are the trustees and servants of the people and
are at all times amenable to them.
He then read a definition of ordinance,
and noted that many ordinances deal with issues of safety, health, morals,
etc.
His recommendation: for the Commission to pass an ordinance
limiting hours of operation for such type of enterprises.
That’s the county attorney visible directly past Schneider
(under the microphone).
Of course it’s the commissioners who must propose and pass any ordinance.
That will require
Continue reading →
Yesterday:
Mrs. Osborn,
