Calls for Change in How Dogs are Treated by Tennessee Counties
It seems that Tennessee (or at least parts of the state) may be years behind other states in handling stray dog issues. This article ran on The Tennesseean.com.
As counties grow, so does stray-dog problem
Wilson, Sumner animal-control services limitedBy NATALIA MIELCZAREK
Staff WriterOf an estimated 38,000 households in Wilson County last year, close to 14,000 owned a dog.
The number has been steadily climbing as more people move in, bringing their pets. Scores of pups end up on streets, lost or abandoned. If they get picked up by a county animal-control officer and have a known owner, they have five days to be brought home. If they are not known to have an owner, they get three days.
The lucky ones who can get adopted usually do — but only with help from outside agencies, because Wilson County doesn’t handle animal adoptions. If not adopted, the animals die.The scenario holds true throughout the Midstate. Animal advocates say the assistance that government-funded animal-control programs offer is inadequate and can’t keep up with growth. Those who do the job can do only so much.
The gap in services has forced private organizations and individual people to pick up the slack.
“My frustration is that our county government and the different municipalities are woefully lagging behind the times,” said Wilson County resident Donna Wagner, who said she has rescued scores of animals on her own.
“I expect them to enforce the laws that are on the books, investigate cases of animal cruelty,” Wagner said. “I understand that it takes money to do this, but I also think it takes goodwill.”
Wilson County does pick up stray dogs. But 34 of the state’s 95 counties, including Cannon, Smith, Moore and Trousdale counties in the Midstate, have no government-funded animal control at all, said Dave Head, president of the state’s Animal Control Association.
“Unfortunately, I don’t think they keep up with growth in any community, whether it’s in Tennessee, Florida or California,” said Judy Ladebauche, past president of the Animal Control Association of Tennessee. She’s director of Metro Animal Control, which operates on a $1.6 million annual budget and employs 27 people, she said.
“Animal control costs money, and usually they don’t get funded in a way that allows them to be really proactive, so they’re generally reactive.
“An agency that just picks animals up and, if they’re not claimed in three days, euthanizes them is what used to be referred to as a catch-and-kill facility, and certainly in the year 2006 we should all be way beyond that.”
Metro, others do more
Head cited Metro Nashville, Rutherford and Williamson counties as examples to follow. All offer a variety of services, from adoptions and spaying and neutering clinics to education.
“We have to continue to add people to be able to provide the services that are needed by the public,” said Loreen Darley, supervisor at Rutherford’s animal control agency, which employs 12 full-time and three part-time officers, plus management, and runs on a $1 million annual budget.
“More staff is always a plus. … We hope people appreciate the work that we do. We’re public servants, and that’s what we’re here to do.”
Animal-control services in fast-growing Sumner and Wilson counties are more scaled back.
In Sumner, animal control is handled by two people.
“I’m sure, as the county grows, we’ll have to grow, too,” said Richard Bennett, animal-control director, about the county that U.S. Census figures show grew by 14,000 residents between 2000 and 2005.
“Overall, I think we’re doing good with what we have,” Bennett said. “But it could always be better.”
Wilson County’s animal-control unit has two full-time officers and one part-time officer, a director and an assistant, and is among those that offer a basic service of responding to calls about stray dogs — a problem that local officials say plagues the community.
Nonprofits step in
But with steady population growth, some worry it isn’t enough, and private groups pick up the slack.
Diana Townsend and other animal lovers are working on a solution in Sumner County, where the issue of animal control and cruelty came up weeks ago. A Bethpage woman was charged with running a puppy mill and convicted of misdemeanor animal cruelty. More than 280 small dogs and cats were seized from conditions described as filthy, and most were put up for adoption.
“Sumner County has changed so much, and they still have the same animal control. It wasn’t adequate 34 years ago, and it’s not adequate now,” said Townsend, who’s a part of S.P.A., Safe Place for Animals, a group that’s getting nonprofit status and looking for a site for a modern animal shelter.
“In Sumner County or Wilson County, it’s just not a priority. Like everything else, it’s politics-driven,” she said.
Wilson County Mayor Robert Dedman and animal-control director Bill Arnold say the county service, with its annual budget of $150,000, is effective in handling strays.
“They don’t take in animals, and we probably should get into that,” Dedman said. “We don’t have the money to finance that many people. … As the growth comes, we’ll need to add a person or so.”
The county works with private animal-rescue groups and Lebanon animal control to adopt out some animals, officials said. The Humane Association of Wilson County has helped numerous times.
“We can’t take every animal that comes in the door without euthanizing another one for space, and we’ve chosen not to do that,” said Melissa Richards, president of the association’s board of directors.
“What we would like to see is a full-service animal control, one that handles animal-cruelty investigations, one that does adoptions. Like other rescue organizations, we want our position to be a volunteer organization that assists animal control. We don’t want to be animal control. It’s the government’s job.” •
My experience/knowledge of animal issues in Tennessee has been this:
Years ago, police in Tennessee shot and killed a family dog when the car was pulled over. The adults asked the police if they could close the car door so the dog wouldn’t run out onto the highway, they refused the parent’s request and instead shot the dog in front of the kids.
Once traveling through this state a few years ago, I stared in horror as we drove down the highway and saw five dead orange tabby kittens every few miles or so for ten consecutive miles in the middle of the road. It was obvious they were tossed one by one from a car as it drove down the highway.
For these two reasons, I don’t go to Tennessee. I won’t accept a layover on a flight, I won’t drive through or vacation there for any reason . Between the scores of Tennessee residents who allow their pets to roam as strays, the high rate of euthanasia and the lawmakers who apparently don’t care about various animal issues, I’d say there’s a problem.
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes when I saw someone the other day, with a Tennessee license plate that was promoting kindness to animals. Yeah right.
Whoooaaa Rebbie… I will admit that we have problems in Tennessee with animal control just like other states, but what you witnessed is not a normal thing. That was horrible about the kitties, but surely you cannot judge a whole state on what one person did? The police incident was State Troopers in East Tennessee that killed that poor family dog. Because of this incident, there was state-wide training for officers on how to handle those situations in the future.
I am from Tennessee and live in the metropolitan Nashville area and to think for one second we are not animal lovers is absolutely absurd. Show me one state that doesn’t have the same problems. I read these forums on Dogster and belong to groups and the stories are heart-wrenching. None of them are from Tennessee.
The incident of the puppy mill lady a couple of months ago is a great example. Tennessee residents got in line to volunteer their services, cars were lined up to bring supplies to the warehouse these animals were being kept, money came in from all over the state. The out-pour of rage and compassion was like nothing I have seen.
I am a Tennesseean. I am proud of it. I am also glad you live in a wonderful place that doesn’t have strays and euthanasia and it’s absolutely wonderful your lawmakers care so much for your animals. I don’t think the rest of this wonderful country of ours is so lucky.
Oh, one more thing… I have 2 rescues. Oooooh, I also have one of those liscense plates.
I sat here and wrote out a responce yesterday to Rebbie but kind of figured with the mind set there was no point.
I am not from Tenn. (tho I have visited) and find it hard to believe we have 1 out of 50 states that houses nothing but animal haters!
Agreed; What Rebbie witnessed was horrid! I would have been equally upset, but why not use that energy in a more usefull way! Start a petition or put up some names and numbers encouraging fellow dogsters to write into?
Let’s not damn a whole state because of few sick people…
Thank you P.G. and “Thank you P.G”
You both have very good points! All the people in Tennessee are not dog haters. There are many great Dogsters and other dog lovers living in Tennessee and working for change. Let’s give them credit and support!
And thank you Rebbie. I understand your frustration. and I appreciate you having barked in. Heck, I’m from Tennessee originally and I get frustrated when I see things like those in the above article. But when I’m posting these articles on the blog its NOT to condemn a state or even a country; its to point out what needs to improve so people can make things better for us and our four-footed friends.
I live in Missouri now and it would be very easy for me to condemn the whole state (or Iowa or Nebraska or pretty much any of the surrounding states) for the number of puppy mills here. But i also know there are dedicated rescue groups like Heartland Weimaraner Rescue, Stray Rescue of St. Louis, Gateway Guardians and tons more who have dedicated their lives and money to helping dogs.
The same goes for the problems in China and South Korea where dogs are being killed to supposedly prevent rabies infections. There are many brave Chinese and South Korean Dogsters who are putting their own lives at risk to speak out against these atrocities.
So while we should and must point out the evil in the world, we must also point out and support those who work to push back the evil. Those are my heroes!
Seems a little harsh to judge the whole state on what little bit you saw. I currently reside here in TN, and will admit it has it’s share of HUGE probems. I have also been around the whole US, and it too has it’s share of HUGE problems. Heck when I lived in California it was nothing to see dogs in the desert abandoned because their stupid “owners” thought they could fend for themselves when they no longer wanted to care for them. It is like this every place you go, some worse than others. Untill people are educated I fear that it will only get worse.
We need all the help we can get changing things in Coffee County, TN!! I was involved in the BIG rucus in Ritherford Co years ago, and know what can be done. Any way you can help us here? We have 2 officers and noone in to adopt becuse it seems they both have to go out on a call. The truck is junk, and they have room for 7 animals at the Shelter. (more like a pound)
Billie,
Thanks for barking in.
Where is Coffee County? What’s closest large city? Is it possible to get some help from dog lovers there?
Also, please check the Dogster groups and forums. There are groups dedicated to helping smaller shelters.
Never underestimate the power and dedication of the Dogsters to get something done! They are helping smaller shelters all over the US and elsewhere.