September 16, 2015 Steve Taylor Shows Us

Just How Deep His Apathy Runs…

A Concerned Bartow County Citizen, meets with Steve Taylor, Bartow County Commissioner.

Topic:  Bartow County Animal Control Shelter Proposal for Improvement.

We’re surprised Steve Taylor even took the meeting.

But, let’s give him the benefit of the doubt for the time being.

Why the meeting?

The rescues that work with Bartow County Animal Control were Overwhelmed.  The person requesting the meeting says they have been asking for change for years to no avail.  Rescues that complained too loudly or caused too much grief…were banned from rescuing additional animals.  Resources were already low. This person thought the meeting could identify some issues and the rescue groups already helping were ready to help some more – rally behind Bartow County to make things better.

Let’s see if we can find any evidence that supports this…

Let’s look at one of the Facebook posts regarding rescues pulling the animals left at Animal Control – The ones Etowah Valley Humane Society didn’t take into their rescue and are contractually obligated to help but didn’t.  These animals are posted on Facebook for others to deal with.

September 16, 2015

Meeting Between
A Concerned Citizen of Bartow County

&

Steve Taylor – Bartow County Commisser

The animals of Bartow County are Handled by them.

• Most…but not all can get out…

Because…

• Etowah Valley Humane Society simply does not have the space

The rescues must “refrain from using such negative language”.

• And, if they can’t….They are banned.

Etowah Valley Humane Society got the job to manage All the Animals of Bartow County Animal Control.

They signed the contract.

Accepted the responsibility.

But, Etowah Valley Humane Society is not equipped to handle the amount of unwanted and lost animals in Bartow County.

This is the organization that has been contracted to do this job.

And, they don’t have the space?

You’re kidding us, right?

They DUMP the responsibility and the obligation of the contractual agreement onto other resources – other rescues.

They live in the Apathy they have created.  They think they did what they could.

THE PROBLEM with that is that they WEREN’T contracted to do what they could.

They were contracted to:

They’re not doing what they were contracted to do…they’re asking for help to meet their obligation but…

Then they get upset when a rescue posts to HELP the animals on the “kill” list.

That’s what the list is, isn’t it? If the rescues don’t come help the animals will be killed.

That makes it a “Kill List”.

And, when the limited resources…the rescues that haven’t yet been banned…can’t handle the volume of animals in the time Etowah Valley Humane Society and Bartow County Animal Control demands they meet…they are crushed…THE RESCUES ARE CRUSHED.

Because these people ARE Animal People – not like the director of Etowah Valley Humane Society, Brian Canty, who has self proclaimed publicly, he is “Not an Animal Person.”

Etowah Valley Humane Society even gets upset if a rescue themselves posts that they need help because they don’t have the space to handle all of Bartow Counties unwanted animals in the care of Bartow County Animal Control and these animals “will die” if no one shows up to help.

That’s the pot calling the kettle black.

These animals die.

It’s supposed to be a SECRET.

In their own words, just paraphrasing though…they’re saying…

“SHHHH, DON’T TELL ANYONE WE ARE “KILLING” an estimated 1,000 animals a year here in Bartow County. Over 5,000 if you look at Debbie Elrods statement to Press Release Distribution:  ““On average, we euthanize 5,000 animals per year.” 

Let’s Talk About The Meeting…

The Concerned Citizen presents issues and solutions…

Steve Taylor, Bartow County Commissioner, says, “NO.”

To EVERY SINGLE OFFER OF ASSISTANCE.

• A 35% euthanasia rate is no longer acceptable when surrounding counties have less than 10%.  Let us help you find ways to get the euthanasia rate down. NO.
• Sickness, including Parvo, Calcivirus, and upper respiratory infections, is rampant.  Let us volunteer to sterilize the kennels on a daily basis with a qualified disinfectant.  Let us give you a proven system of sterilization, a 400 page manual, utilized in other successful shelters, free of charge.  It walks you, or us, through procedures and products that would decrease the spread of disease in the shelter. NO.
• On admission animals are put directly into cages.  Let the volunteers assess them, weigh them, give them appropriate vaccines and deworm them, all on us.  Let us bathe, groom and socialize them. NO.
• There are no posts or procedures in place to assist the citizens of Bartow County in finding their lost pets.  Let us photograph and video tape each and every animal.  Let us post them on Pet Finder, Adopt a Pet, Rescueme, your own Facebook page and other places people could find their lost family member. As it stands now the only place some of the animals pictures are placed (not all incoming animals have their picture taken) is on “Rescue at Etowah Valley Humane” Facebook page.  No one knows to look there.  BCAC has a Facebook page, but doesn’t post on it.  Let us help you get the word out. NO.
• Etowah Valley Humane Society is the only rescue allowed to rescue an admitted animal.  Let other rescues pull animals directly out of BAC. NO.
• Etowah Valley Humane Society posts the pictures of the animals they were able to get pictures of on an Urgent Rescue page.  Rescues have 5 days to pull the animal or it will be euthanized.  Let other rescues pull directly from BAC giving more a chance. NO.
• Give us information on all animals in custody – let us know what animals are there so we may try to get them home, rescued or adopted.  Frequently there is a sign on the door noting BAC will not be taking any additional cats until Tuesday, euthanasia day.  You can house over 20 cats in your facility and at the same time only 10 or less cats are listed on Etowah Valley Humane Urgent page.  Let us help you give all the animals in your care a chance at getting home, rescued or adopted. NO.
• Etowah Valley Humane Society does a great job in adopting animals out to the public.  The problem lies with the Humane Society having the responsibility of all the animals in Bartow County Animal Control and only being able to pull or photo and post a small amount.  Let them be what they are – a rescue.  Let the County or other facility properly manage BCAC. NO.
• Currently there are 10 or less rescue groups that will attempt to work with BCAC/EVHS until we can provide healthier animals.  Let us help you keep the animals healthier and bring in more rescues and monetary support. NO.
• Currently there are no foster programs available.  Let us use our network to increase the number of animals being returned home, rescued or adopted. NO.
• At one time Bartow was the county the shelters were striving to be more like.  Unfortunately, the other counties have far surpassed Bartow in the quality of care, education and euthanasia rate. If the current staff is not willing to accept the responsibility of running their own facility, they should step down and allow new administration to make changes for the betterment of these voiceless animals. NO.
• Consider updating the current standards and regulations for this shelter. NO.
• Through volunteer and rescue commitments Polk County only had to kill 9 animals in 2015 for lack of space. Huge and wonderful change brought about by attention to the issues by the county and volunteers.  Let us help you do this at your shelter. NO.

And why should they, they’d have to DO something…other than collect the animals of their county for death.

Etowah Valley Humane Society states, essentially words coming from Bartow County Animal Control as they have abdicated all responsibility for the animals in their care, states, “The Society’s main goal is finding permanent lifetime homes for the great animals in our custody.”  

The society may have begun it’s journey intending to provide the great animals in their custody a permanent lifetime home, but have long ago left that path.  

What Remains is Simply Horrifying

Is Steve Taylor and Bartow County’s response to offers of assistance.  

It is clear they are detached, disinterested and dispassionate about the great animals in their care. 

Help us tell Steve Taylor and Bartow County Animal Control it is time for them to make a fundamental shift toward lifesaving in this shelter.  

Demand they either Stand Up or Stand Down to let other more qualified and caring do the job.  

There should be NO more animals dying at the hands of the uncaring in Bartow County. 

The Time Has Come for Change.