Bad Shelter, Good News!

[Roxane]

One little gal, all by herself in Vance County, NC, took on the rotten shelter establishment.

'Release Rover'
Cast of dozens speak about, and shout support for, better care at animal shelter*
By BARBARA ARNTSEN
Daily Dispatch Writer
In what could have been a scene from a Disney movie, Vance County commissioners heard a loud and clear message from animal lovers Monday -- clean up the animal control program.
The scenario was complete with politicians, upset citizens, a villain and more than one hero as the sordid saga of the animal shelter began to unfold.
Shelter volunteer Lisa Finch and Iams plant manager Allan Tart emerged as area heroes. Finch pushed commissioners to action and Tart pledged support to help make the shelter a world-class operation.
The room was filled with about 100 people who cheered for the animal advocates and fired indignant questions at slow-moving board members.
Donna Jones was first to speak regarding the practices at the shelter. She gave commissioners a sworn statement from Larry R. Ayscue Jr. who said he received good dog food from (animal control officer) Mike Grissom -- dog food which was from the shelter, and had been given to the county free of charge by Iams.
But it was Finch's clearly stated and poignant stories of dogs needlessly put to death when she had already found homes for them, of wet animals shivering in 40-degree temperatures, and of an alleged atmosphere at the shelter of neglect and cruelty which roused the audience to applause.
Every day dogs are suffering and dying needlessly, she said. When I began volunteering at the shelter two months ago I kept seeing purebreds, with collars, that were healthy-looking, being put down. I couldn?t understand that.
Finch searched the Internet and contacted rescue organizations. She was able to place 48 dogs in the past two months, thus generating $1,600 in revenues for the shelter.
Those are 48 dogs that would have died in the gas chamber if I hadn't saved them, she said.
From the period of January through August, the shelter made an average of $414 per month through adoptions. Since Finch has been volunteering, the shelter made $1,275 in September and $1,269 in October.
What I don't understand is the resistance from Mike, she said of Grissom. He has stated to a Humane Society worker that he won't work with me or them.
Finch told commissioners she wanted three things. I would like you to instruct Mike Grissom to cooperate with me. I would like to be granted more than the 10-day time period to adopt a dog if there is space available. And, I would like a reduction in fees for the rescue groups,? she said.
Finch stepped away from the podium to a standing ovation.
A Human Society representative also pointed out that since animal abuse was a crime, she would like to see the animal control officer pressing charges against citizens who mistreat their pets.
At one point, Chairman Danny Wright asked if the Humane Society wanted to run the shelter. His question was met with a resounding yes.
Also during the meeting, a local contractor offered to provide a heating system for the facility for free.
*The board agreed to turn the matter over to the animal control committee, and tried to defer any decision until a later date. But Finch and other citizens continued to press for immediate action.
Commissioners did request that Grissom work with Finch and others, and gave County Manager Jerry Ayscue permission to waive the 10-day rule if there was space available during the time they are reviewing the ordinance.
The board balked at making a decision regarding reducing fees for rescue agencies, but Tart stepped in and said that Iams would pay the $30 difference in the fees until the board made a decision.
I see a lot of passion at this meeting, Tart said. Our former company president had a Bassett hound that was rescued from the pound and we have access to a lot of information from around the world. This is our home county and let's operate a world-class rescue shelter rather than just meet the letter of the law.
Commissioners also agreed to form an advisory committee and review the animal control ordinance before their December meeting."
*****************

[Wienergal]

Well, that's some good news! It also shows what one person can do, and should give a boost to the Queenie Story efforts!

Oh, and by the way, GOD BLESS LISA FINCH!!!

<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm37.gif" border=0>

[dutchman]

I guess the next time I pick up a bag of food to donate to our local shelter it will be Iams. While it's not what I feed my boys is suppose to be decent and they are giving back to the animal community. In addition to the brave individuals who came forward we need to also remember the corporation who I suspect has a major impact on the local economy. Also a big than you to the heating contractor. Lets just hope the county will allocate the funds to provide the power for it.

Thank you for the report of some good news.

Tom and the boys (Frank and Tanner)

[dutchman]

After posting my first comment yesterday I went to the Iams web site and used their feedback form to send a than naming The plant manager thanking Iams for what their support. I would suggest other do so as well.

Tom

[Roxane]

Hey, great idea, Tom. I am on it immediately.
Thanks, http://216.74.85.16/ubb/smilies/smile.gif
Roxane & crew +2

[Roxane]

Here is the link:
http://www.iams.com/talktous/indexUSCAN.asp

[dutchman]

Roxane,

Thanks for posting the link. I was going to post it yesterday but the boad went off line for it's move before I could get back and I was too lazy to look it up again today from home.

Tom

[Jennifer]

I really like this story cuz it shows what one person can do even without being able to foster dogs. She goes to the shelter every few days, takes pictures of the purebreeds or adoptable dogs, then sends emails to the various breed rescue groups to get them to take the dogs.

I live 20 miles from Lisa and our rescue group has worked with her some. She is wonderful.

[Heidismom]

Thanks for the story, and thanks for the link to Iams! I went straight to their website and told them how much I admired their actions. I also told them my girls' (dachsies) gift to the S.P.C.A. this year will be the usual blankets, but we'll switch the dog food to Iams'! I encourage all of you to do the same for your local shelters or S.P.C.A.s, too. I always say it's from my dogs to the homeless ones. Heidi, Gretl, and Siglen's mom, Julia <IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm27.gif" border=0>

[Roxane]

Thanks Heidi's Mom for taking the time to write, at this, the busiest season of the year.http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/angel.gif
Roxane & crew + the almost named puppers!

[Jennifer]

I wanted to post an update to this story...

I have been helping Lisa the past few weeks since I live very close to the shelter. I have been in the shelter many times and it is definately a bad shelter. There is no heat and ice forms inside the dogs cages. The dog warden has been working with Lisa alot better lately, but there are alot of changes that need to be made. There are currently 5 day old puppies in there without heat and it has been very cold. The shelter hoses down the dogs in the morning while they are cleaning the cages. No medical treatment is available at the treatment, except a rabies shot. If a dog looks sick, then it is put down. They have just started worming puppies in the past few weeks. We are trying to get them to give Parvo/Distemper shots.

They also use the gas chamber. I happened to accidently walk in while it was in use and I heard the most awful sounds I have ever heard and have been haunted ever since.

The good news is that in the past week and 1/2 we got 48 dogs out of the shelter!! Nine of those left in my car and I tranpsorted them to other rescue groups. It was amazing. Lisa is wonderful and works tirelessly to contact the rescue groups.

The case is going before the County Commissioner a week from Monday again. We want to make sure that we have supporters for the meeting, so if you know of anyone who lives in this area, you may want to consider attending. Email me offline and I can provide specifics.

Jennifer

[Roxane]

Lisa is doing a great job and so, by the way, are you. Please keep us posted.
Hugs,
Roxane, G, B, S, B

[Heather]

Jennifer, Lisa,

I applaud your efforts. Thank you so much for all you do.

[Wienergal]

Jennifer, I'm sure Lisa is thrilled to have help from someone like you! Bless your heart for jumping into this awful situation and helping the dogs there. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/angel.gif I'm not sure I could be anywhere around a gas chamber; I was just stunned to hear that such a thing is still in use.

[georgette]

Uh-oh, I'm having a difficult time with this. How prevalent is this - I can't even write it? What do I need to know? How naive have I been? Another sleepless night to be followed by many of nightmares.

[Penny's Aunt]

Although they are referred to as "gas" chambers, most of the units in use these days are "pressure chambers". I won't describe the effects, you'd throw up your turkey sandwich. Let's just say that not all the dogs die right off; they have to "sort" them when they take the bodies out.

They say it is humane -- it isn't. They say it is cheaper than one-by-one euthanesia. Maybe. But cost is not the be-all & end-all of existence.

[Jennifer]

Based on the noises I heard coming from the chamber, I definately think that this is very inhumane. I will also vouch that it was not an instaneous death. The noises went on for quite a while (about 5 minutes). I was so so sick to my stomach!!

This is an issue that is being brought before the County Commssion. If anyone has any facts or information about this, please forward it to me so that I can pass it on to Lisa.

The mama and the newborns got out today and into a rescue. Yeah!! I was so worried about those guys.

This shelter is really awful. When I was there this afternoon to do a pull, there were 3 six week old puppies in a pen out in the back of the shelter. It will get into the 30's tonight. They had a small dog house but that is it. There is no shelter over the pen. There were also 3 other adult dogs in the pen with the puppies. The older dogs had no shelter at all. I sure hope that it doesn't rain tonight. I know for a fact that there was space inside the building (which doesn't have heat but at least is inside) for the puppies.

<FONT COLOR="#00FFFF" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by Jennifer on November 27, 2000 at 07:50 PM</font>

[Jennifer]

Update on the Vance County Pound from the Commissioners Meeting:

Lisa had the flu, so with 15 mintues notice I had to speak in her place to the county commissioners. I did OK, but wish I had more time to prepare.

The CC approved putting heat in the pound!! Yeah. Someone donated the heating system and the money to pay the bill.

The Animal Committee reccomended that the fee reduction for rescue groups be adopted, that an additional 10 days be given to dogs being actively publicized to breed rescues (on top of the required 10 days) and that the shelter stops putting dogs to sleep just because an owner comes in and wants their dog put down.

A public hearing has to be held on these issues next month, but it is promising that the committee reccommended them.

They are also forming an Advisory committe to work on the other issues about pound conditions.

The final total of dogs walking out the front door since the last meeting 4 weeks ago was 62!!

[Tryergirl]

Yes! How wonderful! Thank you for the good news!!! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif

[Roxane]

Very proud of you, gal!http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/bounce.gif
Roxane

[Jennifer]

I wanted to update everyone on the situation at the pound where I do all breed shelter rescue. We work to get dogs into breed rescues and to promote adoption by individuals through PetFinder. Before we started working out of the pound, they were adopting about 5-10 a month and putting down about 170.

Last night, the commissioners approved several ordinances that will greatly help our work. Although we have many more things to change (altering animals before adopting them out, getting rid of the gas chamber, providing basic shots and first aid for animals), we are making progress. Feels like we have completed the first 100 miles for a 1000 mile journey.

The pound got a slew of media attention the past 2 weeks and we were on every news station around here. This is helping to prompt change and we now have a lot of media contacts to call on.

The heat has now been installed and should be turned on today. YEAH. It has been very cold here and the dogs have been suffering. Someone offered to install it November 6th for free and it is just now installed --- oh, well, the animals will now have heat.

Here is an article from the local paper.

Animal law is overhauled a bite at a time
Commissioners also appoint seven-member advisory panel
By BARBARA ARNTSEN
Daily Dispatch Writer
Vance County commissioners took action Tuesday night to address a slew of complaints about the animal shelter.
They approved four amendments to the animal control ordinance at a special meeting, voting on each one individually.
It was the second time in eight days that the board voted on the issue. During the commissioners’ Jan. 8 meeting, the motion failed to garner the unanimous support required by state law for the first vote on an ordinance after a public hearing.
County Attorney Robert “Stubbs” Hight explained to board members that only a majority was required this time.
Board members Wilbur Boyd, Danny Wright and Eddie Wright moved to pass the whole group of amendments but were voted down by Chairman Terry Garrison and members Deb-orah Brown, William “Bill” Fleming Jr. and Tim Pegram.
At first it appeared that Garrison was going to vote for the amendments, but he lowered his hand, which appeared to confuse Danny Wright.
“Which way did you vote?” Wright asked Garrison. The chairman then asked for those opposing the amendments to raise their hands.
The initial vote drew cries of protest from the audience.
“Where did the votes go?” yelled one man from the second row. “We had five votes last week and only three votes this week?”
Even while the board chairman tried to quiet the crowd, murmurs of “Delay, delay” and “Put off, put off, put off” could be heard.
The amendments include granting an additional 10 days for adoption efforts if the animal is considered adoptable by the Animal Control Department and if active adoption efforts are under way; reducing the adoption fees for the Vance County Humane Society and duly recognized animal rescue groups; enlarging the Animal Control Advisory Committee from a maximum of five members to a maximum of seven members; and offering stricter guidelines for the euthanization of vicious animals.
The first and only unanimous action the board took was the approval and appointment of the seven-member advisory committee.
Anne Bunch from the Humane Society, Sarah Coffey, Peggy Mason, Harold Thompson Jr., Lewis Edwards, the Rev. Leroy Anderson Jr. and Lisa Finch were selected to serve on the committee.
The board then took the other three amendments separately and passed each on a 5-2 vote.
Pegram and Brown, who prevented passage last week by voting no, again voted against the amendments.

[Meemoo]

Good JOB!!!

Yea...dachsie's have heat!!!! What a wonderful improvement. It's a great first step. You go!!

Loren

[Jennifer]

We haven't had any dachsies in the shelter since I started working out of it. Lots and lots of other breeds and mixes. I have told my husband that like it or not, if there is dachsie in that awful place, it is leaving the shelter with me and then I will find a place for it. I typically find a place for the doggie before I pull it. However, dachsies are the exception.

<FONT COLOR="#00FFFF" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by Jennifer on January 17, 2001 at 01:17 PM</font>

[Roxane]

Here in North Carolina:
Unless you live here, have been able to read _all_ of the newspaper articles, been in touch with those working on the Vance County Pound Project, it would be difficult for you to appreciate how much time and effort has gone into this.
Jennifer is too modest to stand up and take a bow for all of her hard work.http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/emb.gif
Lisa Finch got the ball rolling, our Jennifer and a gal named Dawn Thompson, jumped in to help. Together they have fought city hall and are winning! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/pink.gif
They have been stressed to the max, spent sleepless nights envisioning how many more dogs they would find frozen to death the next day, and hoped the community would rally around them.
Although I live on the opposite end of the state, I have been privileged to know about their efforts first hand, through their emails to me.
Trust me when I tell you how heroic they have been. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/angel.gif http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/angel.gif http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/angel.gif http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/angel.gif
Thank you,
Roxane and crew

[~Jen~]

Way to go Jennifer "3" cheers to you and the rest of the crew!! Wtg Roxane without you alot of these changes in North Carolina would NOT be possible so you deserve a BIG pat on the back as well!!

Jen (fellow NC'er)