Captain Andre Jackson is in charge of the Clayton Co pound in GA where approximately 60 dogs were killed on Monday after some dogs sneezed:
CBS46 asked Clayton County animal control officials what kind of contagious illness prompted the latest action.
Jackson said, “We can’t determine at this time, but we had an increase in animals that came into the shelter, and they began to exhibit some signs of runny nose, coughing, and sneezing.”
Interestingly, when the reporter tried to press for answers, he was told he’d have to file a FOIA request, which he did. So basically they don’t know what the sneezing was about or if they do, they aren’t going to tell unless forced by sunshine laws to provide the information. But they “had to” kill 60 dogs. Sounds legit.
One of the dogs killed for this unknown/super secret sneezing thing had reportedly just whelped a litter of puppies at the pound. Those puppies are now orphans being bottle fed by a member of the irresponsible public.
Clayton Co does not vaccinate upon intake – one of the most basic tenets of disease prevention in shelters. There has been talk for years about “starting over” in a new facility, which Clayton Co voters approved funding for in 2009. But a new building won’t force shelter staff to do their jobs.
Mass killing for non-specific reasons, killing a nursing dam, failure to follow best practices for disease prevention, telling a reporter to file a FOIA request in order to get his questions answered – these are the hallmarks of a dysfunctional shelter in desperate need of reform. And the same exact things will happen in a shiny new building, if that ever materializes. Taxpayers need to demand meaningful reform at the Clayton Co pound now.
(Thanks Clarice and Anne for the links.)