County Leaders and Volunteers Clash over Hardeman County Animal Shelter
This video is no longer available.
For a hand full of volunteers, the Hardeman County Animal Control Shelter is like a second full time job. “We need support from the county and we need support from the public,” said volunteer Jackie Kelley. According to Kelley, the shelter, which is operated by the county and funded by tax payers, was handed over to volunteers to find new homes for as many dogs as possible. It was good news for the dogs staying there considering the high euthanization rate. “In a weeks time it varied, probably between 20 to 40. They euthanized approximately 600 dogs last year,” said Kelley. However, that has changed. Kelley said they have found new homes for about 300 dogs since the beginning of the year and they have only had to euthanize about 50, all thanks to the work of the volunteers. However, they do run a tight ship, making sure dogs that are not adoptable are not placed in the shelter. That is where the problems start, according to animal control leaders. “The biggest problem of all is just communication, lack of respect for each other, what they are trying to do,” said Gene Mills, the director of Hardeman County Solid Waste and Animal Control. Mills said his employees tried to drop off dogs that were picked up on the street at the volunteer shelter after the county’s older shelter was filled to capacity. “We felt like we have a limit as anybody does with anything,” said Kelley. The disagreement led to a meeting with county officials and volunteers. “He basically said that we would take the overflow, we did not have a choice,” said volunteer Beth Cossar. Feeling frustrated and unappreciated, some volunteers admit they thought about leaving. However, that would most likely mean the end of the road for most of the dogs at the shelter. “We are trying to make a positive affect on Hardeman County, but if they do not let us it could be a negative affect,” said Cossar. “We will get there, it may take a little bit of time but we will get there,” said Mills. As of now, Mills said he is keeping his animal control employees at the old animal shelter and will let the volunteers from the newer shelter take dogs they think are adoptable. In the end he said the only thing that really matters are the animals and that is something that he and the volunteers can agree on.
