There are problems at the animal shelter. They have not been resolved.

I think it's time to ask: what did they know, and when did they know it?

Let's construct a timeline:

• 2011-05-20 euthanasia violation
• 2011-05-20 statement from Heather Terry
• 2011-05-23 County Manager Joe Pritchard tells the Commission and the public:

  “We were not able to substantiate ... accusations other than that ... castration of pig.”

  That was even though WCTV already reported there had been several euthanasia violations last year.

  Pritchard also said they (the county in its previous investigation, presumably the one of 2010) examined the character of those testifying for the complaints and he said they found biases.

• 2011-05-24 County Commission Chairman Ashley Paulk tells the Commission and the public:

  “Whatever problems there are, they're going to be resolved.”

• 2011-05-24 The VDT quotes County Manager Joe Pritchard as saying:

  “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.”

  and:

  “You take that policy, coupled with the updated standard operating procedures, added to the technical verification and I think that addresses the issues. My purpose is to eliminate any problem or potential problem.”

• 2011-05-31 statement by Director Linda Patelski saying two people fired for euthanasia violation of 20 May 2011

• 2011-06-01 statement from Lenora Lynn Miller
• 2011-06-03 statement from Michelle Shultz
• 2011-06-03 statement from Shawn Chace
• 2011-06-03 notice of violation from Ga. Dept. Ag. to Lowndes Co. Animal Services
  
• 2011-06-03 statement on notice of violation by Investigator Pat Smith signed by County Manager Joe Pritchard
  
• 2011-06-12 open records request from Susan Leavens
• 2011-06-16 open records response from Shirley King
• 2011-06-29 Chairman Ashley Paulk threatens the Humane Society with legal action:

  “...the Humane Society provided two county employees with undercover cameras as a gratuity.
  ...
  I want those two undercover cameras returned by my two employees, or there will be some administrative action.
  ...
  I'm making this a public record.
  ...
  If I don't get those cameras back and the gratuity I'm going to pursue it through the Sheriff's office.
  ...
  Needs to be public record in the VDT.”

  He also said:

  “If anyone will make a sworn affidavit, I will take it.”

  After the meeting Chairman Paulk accosted Humane Society people and animal shelter employees in the parking lot and again threatened them with legal action.

So while an investigation was in progress for a euthanasia violation, with statements being taken from witnesses, County Manager Joe Pritchard told the Commission and the public he wasn't able to substantiate anything other than a different accusation, that such things were "a case of an individual making a claim", and with some cameras and updated procedures, "I think that addresses the issues."

One week after that last, Director Linda Patelski signed a statement saying two people were fired for the violation that GA Dept. of Ag. investigated. Three days later County Manager Joe Pritchard signed the statement by the Investigator.

Why didn't the county investigate, instead of leaving it to the state? How do these cameras and updated procedures address the previous allegations that have not been resolved?

Susan Leavens tried following the chain of command right up to the County Manager and the County Commission, yet the county couldn't seem to find a violation that the state could. Whose character should we be examining?

After County Manager Joe Pritchard signed the report from GA Dept. of Ag. Investigator Pat Smith regarding the euthanasia violation for which Director Linda Patelski fired two people at the Animal Shelter, Chairman Ashley Paulk, far from re-opening a broader investigation, threatened legal action against the Humane Society for conducting their own investigation.

People could start to get the impression that the county is trying to hide something.

Remember: Ashley Paulk told us last year he is code enforcement. He told us this year, about the animal shelter,:

“Whatever problems there are, they're going to be resolved.”

Why is the county sitting around waiting for somebody to bring them sworn statements? When the state did a proper investigation, there was no shortage of statements. What would the county find if it did the same?

There are problems. They have not been resolved.

Where does the buck stop, Chairman Paulk?

-jsq

Comments

[r, wright]

seems to me some one is looking for a scape goat, just saying!

[An Outsider Looking In]

Any citizen of this state wishing to file a complaint involving allegations against a person involving "Practicing Vet Medicine Without A License" may do so with the Ga. Secretary of State's Georgia Professional Licensing Boards division - by clicking on this link:

https://secure.sos.state.ga.us/myverification/SubmitComplaint.aspx

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(11) ‘Practice veterinary medicine’ or the 'practice of veterinary medicine' means:

(A) To diagnose, treat, correct, change, relieve, or prevent animal disease, deformity, defect, injury, or other physical or mental conditions, including the prescription, administration, or dispensing of any prescription drug, medicine, biologic, apparatus, application, anesthetic, or other therapeutic or diagnostic substance or technique on, for, or to any animal, including but not limited to acupuncture, animal dentistry, manual or mechanical adjustment procedures, physical therapy, surgery, diagnostic veterinary
pathology, any manual, mechanical, biological, or chemical procedure used for pregnancy testing or for correcting sterility or infertility, or to render advice or recommendations with regard to any of the above; but not including such administration or dispensing pursuant to prescription or direction of a licensed veterinarian;

(B)(i) To apply or use any instrument or device on any portion of an animals tooth gum or any related tissue for the prevention cure or relief of any wound fracture injury disease or other condition of an anima s tooth, gum, or related tissue.

(ii) To engage in preventive dental procedures on animals including, but not limited to, the removal of calculus, soft deposits, plaque, or stains or the smoothing, filing, or polishing of tooth surfaces.

(iii) Nothing in this subparagraph shall prohibit any person from utilizing cotton swabs, gauze dental floss dentifrice tooth brushes or similar items to clean an animals teeth;

(C) To represent, directly or indirectly, publicly or privately, an ability and willingness to
do any act described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph;

(D) To use any title, words, abbreviation, or letters in a manner or under circumstances
which induce the belief that the person using them is legally authorized or qualified to
perform an act included in this paragraph. Such use shall be evidence of the intention to
represent oneself as engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine;

(E) To apply principles of environmental sanitation, food inspection, environmental
pollution control, zoonotic disease control, and disaster medicine in the promotion and
protection of public health as it specifically relates to animals. This subparagraph shall
apply only to licensed veterinarians and not to other qualified individuals;

(F) To collect blood or other samples for the purpose of diagnosing diseases or related
conditions. This subparagraph shall not apply to unlicensed professionals employed by or
under contract with the United States Department of Agriculture or the Georgia Department of Agriculture who are engaged in their official duties; or

(G) To administer a rabies vaccination to any animal that the state requires to be
vaccinated.