Barnesville mayor Peter Banks and city manager Kenny Roberts appeared before a meeting of the local humane society July 27 to address concerns regarding the local animal shelter.
Roberts read and distributed materials to the approximately 30 people in attendance in which he was highly critical of coverage of recent issues at the shelter in The Herald-Gazette.
One of the photos in question.
YOU NEVER ANSWER MY QUESTIONS AND I REALLY WANT TO KNOW YOUR POINT OF VIEW... DETAILS PLEASE!!
Keep reporting the news about this so called animal shelter they way it is and not some coverup story as the city officials want.
It's about time someone stood up for our pets.
Civil actions may be warranted.
Four cats were transported to a feline rescue by one of our volunteers, and we have found a rescue to take pug.
Shame on whoever dumped those poor things out half starved.
We encourage people with puppies to call us, sometimes we can help and they don't have to go to the pound.
it's great if some rescue group comes along and saves them or someone who was looking to get a dog anyway adopts one, but is it sad they haven't been adopted if it means no one is looking to add in a pet?
Shame on you!!
DONKEYS!!
The city is trying to argue the fact that old water treatment plant is not apart of the Animal Control Center. It's like 50 feet behind it. The dogs were seeking shelter that the Animal Control Center could not provide them at the time. Why didn't they just put up a fence with a unlocked door so who ever dropped the dogs off could do it it in a fence were the dogs couldn't roam free? I think thats what Thomaston has at theirs. This would help them capture the dogs because they would be already caught.
They also said that the dogs were fed and given water till they were caught. Photos don't lie. Those dogs haven't been fed for some time. They could have been dropped off that way, but five dogs in one or two days that look like that? Come on.
I could be wrong and the situation could be worse than I could imagine and if that is the case the City should do something other than pass the blame or trying to dodge the bullet! Thats not going to solve anything, but I think that's what this whole thing was about in the first place. Something needs to be done!
I think it's low and childish that the City didn't first talk to the press and express how they felt about the coverage before going to a meeting of the local humane society and distributed materials putting down the only local paper.
P.S.
IMOP, I think the paper was in the right publishing what they did. I did not find the photo to be misleading in any way. So the photo was taken behind the Animal Control Center. And? I don't care if it was taken on top or below of the Animal Control Center. The photos shows emaciated dogs next to the Animal Control Center and it is their job to capture and take care of these dogs. Have they caught them yet, and How long did it take? I would like to know.
Yes the people that dumped the dogs off is the one a fault, but you can't do anything about that. What is your suggestion?
So I'm sure that they posted truthfully what info they were given.
I have read this paper for many years and have never seen them just make news up. They don't have to with a town like this.
Perhaps a camera will need to be installed that can take pictures of the license plates of the folks who do it.
So the city officials can toss all the mud they want at the newspaper and the citizens of this town.
The fact is, you did not handled a sewage problem on Holmes Street in a timely manner, and you handled the parvo incident in the manner that would be easiest for you.
I pay taxes here since I live and work here and I want you to account for your actions.
HOW DID THE EMPLOYEES FEED AND WATER THE DOGS IF THE EMPLOYEES WEREN'T PRESENT?
The department has obviously been underfunded and ignored. There are obviously some sorry low-life scum bags that treat garbage better than they treat their pets.
Let the city* and county government AND community get their ticked off butts in gear and make some changes! *stop spending time writing elaborately worded speeches trying to defend yourself.
Good work H.G. and Honey Whitten for getting the ball rolling!!
The real story, as I read the story, is an inspector from the state said it was not necessary to have killed all of the dogs. The original article said "Honey Died Needlessly".
The seven page "Animal Control Report" does not dispute the primary focus of the article, that Honey died needlessly. It does take issue with the pictures, re-enforcing what the captions below the pictures already said.
The issue is not that someone dropped off some dogs at an unknown time, or that the pictures were of a building immediately behind the shelter. The real issue and main point of the article was that Honey and other dogs died needlessly. Let's not lose the focus on that.
Here's what isn't clear and still hangs open:
1.) The Animal Control Report states the gas chamber has been dismantled, but I understood it was used for the mass execution of those animals. I would like to know if it was finally dismantled as a result of the recent negative attention.
2.) The Animal Control Report did not dispute the claim that something else could have been done, and that the animals (including Honey)did not need to be killed. Does the City of Barnesville agree with this aspect of the reporting, or do they disagree and why?
Perhaps Mr. Roberts will address the important questions instead of focusing on the pictures.
We all need to work with the City and County to get better animal control ordinances passed. Unless we stop the repeat offenders who neglect pets or who allow their reproducing pets to roam free, the burden and expense will continue to fall on the rest of us and on the City.
This really has to be a solution by educating, and if necessary having the tools to jail or fine irresponsible people who think their animals can just be allowed to run free.
I hope we have open honest discussions about how to solve the problems created by irresponsible pet owners but I also would like to hear if the City disputes the main point of the article. So far nothing has been said about that.
We know the pictures were of the facility behind the animal control facility. The pictures already said that.
We have many ills in this town, and we need to address them.
Mr. Roberts, believe me when I say I earn a pittance of what you earn, but I have also stated that I am willing to put $100 toward a remedy to the events that led to Honey's needless death.
And you?
They had been saying for sometime that they were going to take it out.
Maybe the incident with Honey encouraged sooner than later, but it was on the way out anyway.
Nobody gives a damn about what buildings are in the photographs ... the story was about the DOGS and the pictures don't lie. And there was NO attempt even made by the officials in attendance of the meeting regarding what they plan to do to correct all of the shortfalls that are still happening. NONE.
Those poor dogs are most likely going to need vet care on top of proper nutrition for a while. I'm actually supprised that they haven't already gassed them since that is what the usual course of fire is there ... correct?
That's why I buy the paper
pictures misleading=story all wrong
An appropriate rebuttal would have been "we had to kill Honey because....". In that case the article might have been proved wrong.
The argument presented is the pictures might have been misleading to some, so nothing said can be trusted by all. Good politics if the people you are playing to are stupid.
I haven't read the posts because I don't read the garbage here but its obvious he's a liar.
Those dogs would be sooooo hard to catch.
They almost bumped the damn lens off the camera!
Someone needs to be criminally charged for the condition of the facility.
We have a racist president and an idiot city manager. What's this say about the people who elected them?
Keep your heads up and computer ready, you never know what other controversy you may uncover!
If this is true, will someone from DG come verify it?
I'm extremely disapointed that nobody in Lamar County came to the aid of these puppies. Not one person came to see them or called us with any interest in them. Talk is cheap, and once again, easily thrown in the wrong direction. The pound will be closed soon for renovations, and everything will be put down. There are more labs there, of every color...handsome dogs that do not deserve to die. We have a cat rescue that will pay the fees for the two cats shown in this week's "Adopt A Pet" tab at the top of this page. We cannot save them, but YOU can. Please help...
But my cat is neutered, is always current on shots and stays in the house so he can't escape or get sick.
He is however, a rescued cat, so this is my way of being a responsible pet owner.
I am not a dog person but I do feel empathy for these animals.
And please remember, I have $100 on the table for someone to match in coming up with a solution to this problem.
I know it's not much, but then again, I'm not the city mgr. and don't earn nearly as much.
When my nieces dog came up missing we tried to get into the shelter to see if he was there. We went by there several times during the day for a couple of days and there wasn't anyone there. We were told to call a number and someone would come out. We did that and waited over an hour and still no one.
I have lived in Lamar county most of my life and its about time something was done about this.
You know why those dogs were dumped illegally when no one was present. Probably because like many other people THEY NEVER SAW ANYONE THERE!!!!
The city manager is a joke and should be run out of town.
Maybe, just maybe...
Please see website for Georgia county animal control and ordinance info.
Your county isn't the only one that takes the cheaper route by not offering animal control services to the residents.