Save the Dogs and Cats of Douglas County Animal Shelter

13780+ signatures demanding progressive leadership at Douglas Co. Animal Shelter YAY!

On March 27 12 adoptable animals were killed, 13 were placed on 'urgent list' (given two days to be adopted/rescued), and Douglas Co. issued a press release County announces animal shelter improvements. Since then and thanks to massive public outcry and effort 10 of those dogs have been adopted and remaining 3 should find forever families soon. As stated in this article "Douglas County, Georgia, citizens taking a stand for animals …want their shelter to be the model that leads the rest of the country away from the belief that death is the solution…"

We need all paws on deck!! Please continue doing amazing work and distribute this petition as widely as possible.

We need help networking the adoptable dogs and cats at the shelter please see and like the volunteer run pages Furbabies of DCAS and Rainbow Connections

Angelica M. Almeyda

Save the Dogs and Cats at DCAS Facebook Page

All media coverage and documents

13450+ signatures demanding progressive leadership at Douglas Co. Animal Shelter YAY!

HUGE thanks to those who were able to attend the Candlelight Vigil on March 20th watch them in the news Group protests new Douglas Co. animal shelter director, read about it in the newspaper  Emory, board asks for paid volunteer coordinator at shelter as protesters again appear and see the pictures.

We need help networking the adoptable dogs and cats at the shelter please see and like the volunteer run pages Furbabies of DCAS and Rainbow Connections

Please continue doing amazing work and distribute this petition as widely as possible, we need all paws on deck !!

Angelica M. Almeyda

Save the Dogs and Cats at DCAS Facebook Page

All media coverage and documents

12400+ signatures today demanding progressive leadership at Douglas Co. Animal Shelter YAY!!  We have asked for a progressive shelter via

- The last two Town Hall meetings "chat with the chairman,"

- The last three Animal Control Advisory Board meetings,

- Numerous emails,

- A petition with more than twelve thousand signatures (thnak you),

- A protest at Douglas County Courthouse,

All of it was dismissed by the authorities, instead they have indicated they want to "move in an new direction,"  and in less than a week they have allowed 30 adoptable animals to be killed. This is the highest number of animals killed in a single week in almost a year. This is unacceptable, this is deplorable.

We will continue to demand a progressive leadership using all venues possible, because this is the very same shelter that had an astonishing 84% lifesaving rate on 2012, we can continue to save lives with the right leadership, please join us this week:

-  Monday March 18th 6pm Town Hall meetings "chat with the chairman,"

-  Wednesday March 20th 5pm Animal Control Advisory Board

-  Wednesday March 20th 5pm Stop the Killing  attend the Candlelight Vigil

We need help networking the adoptable dogs and cats at the shelter please see and like the volunteer run pages Furbabies of DCAS and Rainbow Connections

Please continue doing amazing work and distribute this petition as widely as possible, now more than ever we need all paws on deck !!

Angelica M. Almeyda

Save the Dogs and Cats at DCAS Facebook Page

All media coverage and documents

11600+ signatures today!! Thank you everyone!! HUGE thanks to those who protested the new 'lethal' direction that Douglas County Animal Control has embarked on since the hire of the new Director, Rick Smith, in November 2012. See the pictures Photo gallery: Residents Protest Animal Control Director and watch them in the news Group protests new Douglas Co. animal shelter director.

Unfortunately despite our best efforts this has been the worst week in almost a year: 30 animals have been killed at DCAS in less than a week, many even as the protest was taking place.

I urge you to please contact the authorities directly and express your concerns. Here a draft: "... I would like to express my deep concerns in the strongest of terms regarding the new 'lethal' direction that Douglas County Animal Control has embarked on since the hire of the new Director, Rick Smith. Killing 30 animals in less than a week is not acceptable, How can four dogs and two puppies, Garret, Mojo, Lee, Caramel, Bingo, and Snoopy, all be "available for adoption" while alive and be describe as "animal aggressive" for the first time in their 'euthanasia' report? How can cats be 'euthanized' for being "feral"?  See how friendly were many of the dogs and cats that were killed this weekThis shelter had an 84% lifesaving rate for 2012. The staff supervisors that made this possible resigned after Mr. Smith made his intentions clear, the volunteers that worked side by side with the staff are no longer welcome. The animals are being denied socialization time, picture, networking opportunities, a chance at life..."

Please direct your concerns to

Douglas County Commission: Tom Worthan tworthan@co.douglas.ga.us, Commissioner Henry Mitchell hmitchell@co.douglas.ga.us, Commissioner Kelly Robinson kgrobinson@co.douglas.ga.us, Commissioner Mike Mulcare mmulcare@co.douglas.ga.us, Commissioner Ann Guider aguider@co.douglas.ga.us. Douglas County Animal Control Advisory Board acab@co.douglas.ga.us, County Administrator Eric Linton ellinton@co.douglas.ga.us, Douglas County Humane Society D.animals@mindspring.com,

We help networking the adoptable dogs and cats currently at the shelter please see/like the pages Furbabies of DCAS and Rainbow Connections

Please continue doing amazing work and distribute this petition as widely as possible, now more than ever we need all paws on deck !!

Angelica M. Almeyda

Save the Dogs and Cats at DCAS Facebook Page

8500+ signatures YAY !! We are going for 10000.  Thank you everyone!!

Tomorrow, Monday March 4th 10am-1pm, join the Protest at Douglas County Courthouse, (click link for details):  "This is a planned protest to protest the present animal services director of Douglas county Georgia, his regressive anti animal welfare and pro enforcement animal control policies and procedures, and to demand his immediate replacement…This is a protest against the Douglas county board of commissioners, who have repeatedly refused to listen to the people and who have given their support to the animal services directors policies of attacking and ostracizing dedicated animal welfare advocates and volunteers."

If you are wondering "What is happening in Douglas Co, GA?" you should read this great article and see the comments as well. All media coverage here.

New Policy at DCAS (click link for details): citizens who volunteered, until dismissed by Rick Smith on February 15th, and who want to continue socializing and networking the animals are allowed to see one animal per visit only and for no longer than 10 minutes. This is abuse of the animals, and it is illegal to stop volunteers from volunteering. The animals at DCAS deserve better, Douglas County deserves better. This should not be tolerated.

Please continue doing amazing work and distribute this petition as widely as possible, we need all paws on deck !!

Angelica M. Almeyda

For the adoptable dogs and cats see the volunteer run page Furbabies of DCAS

For more infromation see Save the Dogs and Cats at DCAS Facebook Page

We just got 6070+ signatures YAY !! Thank you everyone !! This week many have continued to voice concerns for the dogs and cats at the shelter, while the county commissioners have continued to dismiss them.  This is exactly what happened at the board of Commissioner Meeting Work Session on Monday 18th, you can read more in this newspaper article: "Controversy continues around animal services director"

If you are wondering "What is happening in Douglas Co, GA?" you should read this great article by YesBiscuit!  And see the comments as well.

You can see all the media coverage here and, also see (and like) our Save the dogs and cats of Douglas County Animal Shelter Facebook page.

Please continue doing amazing work and distribute this petitionas widely as possible, we need all paws on deck !!

Angelica M. Almeyda

We just got 4032+ signatures!!  BIG THANKS to everyone!!  We have accomplished much this week. This week the shelter was in the news again Controversy over Animal Shelter heats up and the Douglas County Board of Commissioners issued a Press Release County Responds to Criticism of Animal Shelter, New Director

I made a short response as follows: "I find it appalling that in these times elected public officials slander a retired law enforcement officer who seeks to save innocent lives using to their political advantage the topic of gun ownership made contentious through horrific incidents. Clearly they have as little compassion for human lives as they do for dogs and cats. The euthanization rate of 16% for 2012 they highly tout is the result of the hard work of staff and volunteers that are no longer able to work at the shelter, due to actions of the new director. In fact, records from Rick Smith's previous job as Director of St. Joseph Animal Control MO show that for 2008-2012 Rick Smith euthanized over 50% of the animals at the shelter."

There will be a board of Commissioner Meeting Work Session on Monday 18th. Please continue doing amazing work and distribute this petition as widely as possible while continuing this struggle renewed in its importance and urgency.

Angelica Almeyda

For more information see the "about" section at Save the Dogs and Cats of DCAS