We the undersigned demand a Progressive Director of Animal Control Services for Douglas County; or a partnership with a progressive organization to run Douglas County Animal Control. Chances of adoption and rescue for the animals at DCAS has been reduced, as well the amount and quality of care they receive due to numerous changes made by the new Director of Animal Control Services, Rick Smith. As a consequence the numbers of healthy adoptable animals killed will increase dramatically and the chance of owners finding their loved lost pets before they are rapidly killed will be reduced. The Douglas County Commission hired Mr. Smith on November 13, 2012, in his three months as Director he has failed to fulfill the main function of his position, to care for the animals in his trust and thus he should be removed as soon as possible. To do any different would only show the Douglas County Commission does not care for the animals in the county.
Among the most sinister changes are:
1. Rick Smith, new director, reduced the hours open to the public;
2. Rick Smith, new director, reduced the space available to house animals;
3. Rick Smith, new director, reduced the staff allowed to care for animals;
4. Rick Smith, new director, banned socialization time for volunteers and dogs in courtyard;
5. Rick Smith, new director, banned housing puppies together, less socialization and space for the animals;
6. Rick Smith, new director, cancelled the pre-sponsorship program that allowed citizens to sponsor a shelter animal’s vetting previous to its adoption;
7. Rick Smith, new director, impeded volunteers from the shelter; reducing care and networking for the animals
8. Rick smith, new director, refused to make available to volunteers the “Animals in Danger” list. This is the list of the animals that are at risk of being killed and that is created on a weekly basis. (NOTE: since the week of Feb. 18th this list is available at the County Website).
9. Rick Smith, new director, appointed his wife as the new volunteer coordinator;
10. Rick Smith, new director, and his wife, new volunteer coordinator, are in the process of establishing a non-profit organization.
11. Citizens interested in volunteering will have to apply for approval to the new non-profit. The non-profit can deny a citizen’s application and can dismissed an approved volunteer without cause
12. An appointed member of the Animal Control Advisory Board has been removed without cause
This changes have led to:
1. Lower rates of adoption and rescue for the animals;
2. Lower quality and amount of care for the animals;
3. Resignation of Road Officer;
4. Resignation of Shelter Supervisor, and within one week;
5. Resignation of Road Officer Supervisor;
6. Discontinuation of a very needed free spay and neuter program the “Mae West Fix ‘Em Free Program for Douglas County” sponsored by the Southern HOPE (Humane Options to Prevent Euthanasia) Humane Society.
Sincerely,
To be delivered to:
Douglas County Commission: Chairman 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 Members Helene Combs, Pat Fulghum, Diana Memmolo, Ron Baldwin
Douglas County Animal Control animalcontrol@co.douglas.ga.us, 1755 County Services Road, Douglasville, GA 30134. Telephone #: 770-942-5961, Fax #: 770-942-5914
County Administrator Eric Linton; ellinton@co.douglas.ga.us
For more information on the work the volunteers do see Furbabies of DCAS, Rainbow connections, Douglasville Pawlunteers. For all media coverage see "About" section at Save the Dogs and cats of DCACand also here http://ow.ly/hRNgJ
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