Shelter Reform for Lebanon Tennessee Animal Control Services
- by: Laura Lassiter
Shelter reform consisting of a supervisor in charge of animal control, taking animal control out of the purview of the police department, policy and procedure manual addressing humane treatment, sheltering, care and handling of animals, employees certified and trained
Dear Governor:
We hereby petition you to create legislation that will address shelter reform in the town of Lebanon, Tennessee. There is a great need for the following changes: a supervisor in charge of animal control, taking animal control out of the purview of the police department, a policy and procedure manual specifically stating protocols regarding the humane treatment, handling, care and sheltering of the animals, and certification and training of animal control officers. In addition, personality tests be given to prospective employees to determine the compatability of the employees with the duties required in handling and care of animals.
The latest incident which could have potentially been prevented had there been fr a protocol and procedure in place at the Lebanon Animal Control facility, occured Sunday, October 16, 2005, when an animal control officer, Josh Greer, decided not to take a mauled dog to a vet. The dog now faces leg amputation after being left untreated.
The 4-year-old black Labrador retriever, Zania, was a playmate to a 4-year old boy living in Mt. Juliet. She was picked up Friday, October 14, 2005, for running loose and placed in the Lebanon Animal Control facility because Mt. Juliet has no facility of its own. Zania was placed in a pen on Saturday with 3 other dogs, who for several hours, continuously attacked her until she was found laying in a pool of blood Sunday afternoon. Zania was removed from the pen, hosed off (to wash off all the blood), and left outside on the concrete. She lay on the cold (50 degrees), wet concrete until an anonymous phone call was made to the Director of the Humane Association of Wilson County, a nonprofit, private agency with no ties to Lebanon Animal Control.
The dog was laying apparently lifeless on the concrete floor inside a chain link fenced enclosure when the Director arrived. She discovered the dog was still alive and called the Police Department, who came with an animal control officer 30 minutes later. After another 30 minute delay, took the dog to the Lebanon Animal Hospital. The Director confirmed with the animal control officer that Zania was a healthy dog when she was picked up. They were also aware Zania had been injured earlier by the other dogs and left to recover on her own.
Dr. Craig, the attending veterinarian, verified the dog was in shock and had a subnormal temperature, had lost a lot of blood and would not have survived over night if she had been left untreated at the animal control facility. His report that night stated, "The patient was recumbent, unresponsive and in shock. There were multiple deep soft tissue punctures to the legs, neck and chest." The next morning, he reported, "The patient is minimally responsive and still unable to stand. Her temperature is normal; however, blood tests today indicate that the infection has entered her circulation in that limb. Her prognosis at this point is guarded. It looks like she will lose her leg if she lives."
Zania was violently attacked and left to die because of bad decisions. Those bad decisions apart from the culpability of Josh Greer, are a result of the lack of proper protocol and procedural guidelines for such occurrences. This is not the first occurrence of this nature, and there should be policies and procedures that address these and other issues and not left to the discretion of the employee. In addition to the policies and procedures, specific training and certification in handling animals is needed to assure proper care and welfare for the animals. We want this cruelty stopped now.
For the animals, we thank you,
Ký thỉnh nguyện thưKý thỉnh nguyện thưWe hereby petition you to create legislation that will address shelter reform in the town of Lebanon, Tennessee. There is a great need for the following changes: a supervisor in charge of animal control, taking animal control out of the purview of the police department, a policy and procedure manual specifically stating protocols regarding the humane treatment, handling, care and sheltering of the animals, and certification and training of animal control officers. In addition, personality tests be given to prospective employees to determine the compatability of the employees with the duties required in handling and care of animals.
The latest incident which could have potentially been prevented had there been fr a protocol and procedure in place at the Lebanon Animal Control facility, occured Sunday, October 16, 2005, when an animal control officer, Josh Greer, decided not to take a mauled dog to a vet. The dog now faces leg amputation after being left untreated.
The 4-year-old black Labrador retriever, Zania, was a playmate to a 4-year old boy living in Mt. Juliet. She was picked up Friday, October 14, 2005, for running loose and placed in the Lebanon Animal Control facility because Mt. Juliet has no facility of its own. Zania was placed in a pen on Saturday with 3 other dogs, who for several hours, continuously attacked her until she was found laying in a pool of blood Sunday afternoon. Zania was removed from the pen, hosed off (to wash off all the blood), and left outside on the concrete. She lay on the cold (50 degrees), wet concrete until an anonymous phone call was made to the Director of the Humane Association of Wilson County, a nonprofit, private agency with no ties to Lebanon Animal Control.
The dog was laying apparently lifeless on the concrete floor inside a chain link fenced enclosure when the Director arrived. She discovered the dog was still alive and called the Police Department, who came with an animal control officer 30 minutes later. After another 30 minute delay, took the dog to the Lebanon Animal Hospital. The Director confirmed with the animal control officer that Zania was a healthy dog when she was picked up. They were also aware Zania had been injured earlier by the other dogs and left to recover on her own.
Dr. Craig, the attending veterinarian, verified the dog was in shock and had a subnormal temperature, had lost a lot of blood and would not have survived over night if she had been left untreated at the animal control facility. His report that night stated, "The patient was recumbent, unresponsive and in shock. There were multiple deep soft tissue punctures to the legs, neck and chest." The next morning, he reported, "The patient is minimally responsive and still unable to stand. Her temperature is normal; however, blood tests today indicate that the infection has entered her circulation in that limb. Her prognosis at this point is guarded. It looks like she will lose her leg if she lives."
Zania was violently attacked and left to die because of bad decisions. Those bad decisions apart from the culpability of Josh Greer, are a result of the lack of proper protocol and procedural guidelines for such occurrences. This is not the first occurrence of this nature, and there should be policies and procedures that address these and other issues and not left to the discretion of the employee. In addition to the policies and procedures, specific training and certification in handling animals is needed to assure proper care and welfare for the animals. We want this cruelty stopped now.
For the animals, we thank you,
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