Hardin Metro SPCA - Year in Review 2007

Year (Actually 8 Months) in Review - 2007

During the last eight months, Hardin Metro SPCA, Inc. was brought to life by an excellent eight (8) member Board of Directors and a group of committed officers, by completing and approving a comprehensive three to five year business development plan.

Early on the group applied for, qualified for, and received all of their required state and federal permits and approvals to be a Tennessee For-Public Benefit, Non-Profit Corporation and a IRS 501(c)(3) public charity. They close the year with having made very good progress in all of their first year goals and money in the bank, from donations and grants, to start 2008.

The three major goals for 2007 were, 1.) to complete all the required paperwork for approval as 501(c)(3) with the IRS and develop and fund a 3-5 year model business plan; 2.) stand up the Animal Cruelty Investigation mission with law enforcement and the Courts; and 3.) become, and be, reliable and effective spokespersons for humane animal welfare in Hardin County, in both the public and private sectors.

Animal Cruelty Investigations

Animal cruelty investigations and prosecutions have had a busy eight months. They nailed the alleged puppy chunker and several others individuals, while counseling numerous irresponsible pet owners, who were borderline negligent.

Our folks have been involved with investigations of alleged puppy-mills operations and provided services to several law enforcement agencies and groups, on a local, state and federal level. The cruelty investigation personnel and their efforts have received high marks for their knowledge, professionalism, and thoroughness in pursuing their cases and in their dealings with the Sheriff's Department, the District Attorney’s Office, and the General Sessions Court.

Every case that has been submitted to the courts has either been admitted to or bound over to the grand jury. Four cases are currently pending with Grand Jury, but to date their conviction or confession rate is 100%. Several animals have made the long trip through the system, from seizer through vetting and fostering to adoption, and their forever homes, or to rescue groups around the region and one as far away as New York.

Reliable and Effective Spokespersons

HMSPCA and it’s pro-active Board Members have been very reliable and effective spokespersons for animal welfare in the County, having successfully lobbied for start-up funds in the current county budget and participated with the Hardin County Animal Control Committee in the planning and presentation of a study/review for an Animal Services Department and facility for Hardin County Government, parts of which have already been acted on by the Board of County Commissioners.

It is being said, in quiet voices in the community, that the active participation of HMSPCA and it's respected Officers and Board Members have accomplished, with our local government and community, in six months what would, and normally does, take a year and a half to two year to get accompished by a newly formed non-profit.

What they are learning is, it’s not by accident. HMSPCA is not your normal newly formed non-profit. The difference begins with who they really are. Individually, each Board Member and Officer contribute a required, yet different, set of professional skills and expertise to the overall effort.

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  From the business management sector, they have the services of Mr. J. Stanley Shaw, MBA and Purchasing Agent for PCA (aka the paper mill), to serve as President.
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  From the finance sector, they have the services of Mr. Chris Jerrolds, CPA, President of Central Bank and former City Commissioner of Savannah, TN, to serve as Treasurer.
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  For the Animal Welfare expertise, they have Ms. Susan Brown, a long time respected advocate for animal rights and welfare management in the mid-south region.
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  From the media sector, they have the services of Mr. Brad Silliman, a former writer at the Courier and much respected for the quality of his work. In addition, they have the services of Mr. Jim Thompson, Editor of The Courier, as a member/advisor.
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  From the legal community, they have had the services of Mr. Vance Dennis, Attorney at Law and former County Attorney for a small rural Tennessee County.
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  From the veterinarian service sector, they have the expertise of Dr. Don Edwards, Veterinarian, who also works closely with the cruelty investigators.
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  For their Animal Cruelty Investigation Mission, to head up the program, they have Ms. Jerrilove Crockett and her husband, Mr. Peter Westrick, as their Chief Investigator, both retired San Diego police officers, one provides field services training expertise and the other investigations and prosecutions.
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  For their membership and fund-raising programs, they have Ms. Peggy Seaton of Seaton Boat Sales in Pickwick and her volunteers.
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  Last, but hopefully not least, for their day to day planning and organization efforts, they have Mr. Ted G. Cook, The Maverick Entrepreneur and a former Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy with a ‘won’t quit’, community activist, reputation, to serve as their Interim Executive Director.

Develop and Fund a 3-5 year Model Business Plan

HMSPCA applied for, qualified for, and receive a Community Assistance Grant from the State of Tennessee to purchase necessary operational equipment for their Cruelty Investigations mission. That kinda answers the question, do they know how to get grants?

HMSPCA put on it’s first fund-raiser/membership event at Victorian Christmas with the Chamber of Commerce, selling the first sweat shirts and signed up several new members, one being a current member of the Hardin County Board of Commissioners. That kinda answers the question, do they know how to do fund-raisers?

In addition to the grant for operational equipment, HMSPCA was the beneficiary of a significant foundation donation to establish a spay/neuter & vetting fund and another individually significant donation to establishing a World Wide Web presence and to purchase donation boxes for area businesses fund-raising efforts.

HMSPCA closes the year with thirty-one (31) dues paying and donating members. In addition, they have received cash donations from 4 non-members and a foundation and have also received significant in-kind contributions and support from several business, including The Courier, Rapid-Print, Wal-Mart, and the Hardin County Veterinary Hospital.

All in all, it's been a good eight months. Having said that, the planning is already well underway for 2008, but in order to continue Saving Lives and Stopping Cruelty to best of their ability, they will need broad community support.

If your reading this, you can help by joining them in the fight to stop animal cruelty.

Respectfully submitted for your consideration,

Hardin Metro SPCA, Inc.
December 2007

hmspca@charter.net

Commissioners Who Voted Against Animal Control Program

At the County Commissioner's meeting last Monday night, the Commissioners listed below voted against taking the first step in establishing a Animal Care and Control program in Hardin County, by voting against recruiting and hiring a Director of the proposed Animal Services Department, as recommended by the Animal Control Committee.

If you get a chance, and any of the folks represent your District, would you please help me find out the reasoning behind their vote by calling or contacting them over the next few days and let me know the results.

They made no comments about their vote at the meeting except for Commissioner Jenkins who expressed his position that he thought the public needed to have an opportunity to comment on the overall plan that had been submitted by the Committee even though the point was made that the overall plan was not before the Commission for approval or disapproval, at this time.

Commissioner Tracy Grisham, Chief of Police for Crump, did comment, after the meeting, that he didn’t understand what was being voted on and never votes for anything he doesn’t understand. There was a third option called, I pass.

Your help in contacting these folks, as soon as possible, would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Ted



Commissioner / Home Phone Number /District

• Roger Jenkins / 731-689-3829 / Three - Counce/Southside
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  Tracey Grisham / 731-632-0288 / Four - Shiloh/Crump
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  Jimmy G. Grisham /731-687-0154 / Five - Saltillo/Morris Chap
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  Nickie L. Cagle / 731-925-8022 / Six - Cerro Gordo/Rhodes/Olive Hill
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  Gene Bryant / 731-925-2092 / Seven - Whites/Walnut Grove
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  Mike Jerrolds / 731-925-2747 / Seven - Whites/Walnut Grove
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  Tom Haggard / 731-925-5720 / Nine - Courthouse

$2,500.00 Donation to Hardin Metro SPCA

Hardin Metro SPCA has received a $2,500.00 donation designated for 'Spay/Neuter and Veterinary Care' from Pete H. Brown and Mildred F. Brown Foundation, Inc., with an acknowledgment that "Your important work in protecting Hardin County animals is very much appreciated."

As you may know, as a 501(c)(3) Corporation, HMSPCA is not eligible for the Horse Creek CAP program, for dogs, and we have had to fund the spay/neutering and veterinary care of the animal we rescue and process for adoption with our limited general/operating funds.

This generous donation will not only allow us to establish a Spay/Neuter Fund, but will also allow us to apply for other federal, state and other non-profit grants, that require such specific and designated Spay/Neuter Fund, to supplement our efforts to rescue and adopt the animals, dogs and cats, we process in our animal cruelty investigations program.

An acknowledgment and appreciation letter will be prepared and sent to the Foundation and it’s Trustees. FYI the Trustees for Pete H. Brown and Mildred F. Brown Foundation, Inc. are: Jack L. Adams; J. Matthew Brown; Michael N. Brown; and our own Vice-President and Board Member, Susan A. Brown.

Thank you, would be an understatement.

Respectfully submitted,
Ted

Time To Stand Up

For you folks who don't get The Courier, the following is my Reader's Write this week.

The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in our power. If we have made mistakes, if we have tried and failed again and again, there is always another chance for us. We may have a fresh start any moment we choose, for this thing we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down. (Mary Pickford (1893-1979))

After almost a year of hard work, months of debates and hours of discussions, the long awaited public safety and welfare issues of the over-population of stray animals and animal control in the community will be on the Board of County Commissions’ planning session agenda on December 13th, to begin the next meaningful discussion, and the regular meeting agenda on December 17th for action, on a solution to the problems associated with animal control, stray animals and irresponsible pet ownership in Hardin County.

This is no longer just a problem, it is a dilemma and headed for being a tragedy. To our local government, I would say, you now have the opportunity to do something, either lead or follow!!!!! To the pet owners of Hardin County, I would say, if you are going to have pets, your going to have to be responsible pet owners!!!!

To the non-pet owners, I would say, be responsible citizens and show your support for immediate action on this public safety and welfare issue. The next person to have a problem with, or be bitten by, that at-large or stray animal, could be you or yours!!!

For all of you folks who have needed, wanted or demanded something be done about this issue over the last several years, I would say to you, now is the time to get off of your couches, show up at 6:30 pm on Thursday, December 13th and Monday December 17th, to show your individual support, and our collective community support, for immediate, if not sooner, action on this dilemma.

I look forward to a standing room only group of concerned citizens on both nights. As most of you may know, I can and have stood up for my family for some time now, but we really need, want and gotta have you show up and stand up for yourselves, for us and to demonstrate broad community support.

I know we are all busy this time of year but this is a very important step for our collective futures. Hope to see you there.

Respectfully submitted for your consideration,

Ted G. Cook
Savannah, TN

Ya Gotta Love Forced Reasoning or Why The County Mayor Didn't Respond To City Offer

In The Courier this week Mayor Davis attempted to answer the question, Why Didn't the County Respond to the City Offer about the One-Cent Sales Tax?

Let me see if I have this right.

Background

In January the City Manager, in a letter in his official capacity on city letterhead, Welch offered to give the county for school construction one-third of the city’s share of the one-cent sales tax increase for a decade.

The county never did respond, although the city invited a response several times. Mayor Davis told the Courier he did not formally respond, (whatever formally means), because he "did not think it was their best offer."

The Mayor then went on to say that because the letter came from the city manager without an official endorsement, (whatever official endorsement means), by the city commission, "to me, it wasn’t a legitimate offer."

Although Mayor Davis says he believes the city is on firm legal footing in deciding to keep their half of the one-cent sales tax for the municipality’s own use , ‘that’s not the way [he] understood it when [he] voted as a citizen’ and went on to say ‘what was being said back then is not being met today.’

City Mayor Shutt points out that the city never did get an answer, they couldn’t get anyone to talk to them and they asked more than once.

Conclusions

Mayor Davis has no concept of negotiating. It appears as if his version is, you just keep making offers to me until I think your offer is the best your going to make. Well, Duh!!

Mayor Davis not only did not ‘formally’ respond, in fact, he didn’t respond at all.

Mayor Davis insults the City of Savannah and the City Manager when he questions the legitimize of the written offer on City letterhead.

Mayor Davis cost the county $300,000.00 in free money, this fiscal year, and at least $3,000,000.00 over the next 10 years, by not having the skill set to pick up the phone and say, ok, let’s see what it look like in writing or can we get together and talk about it.

The bottom line is - To follow the logic of Mayor Davis, he didn’t think it was ‘their’ best offer and didn’t think ‘they’ made it.

Respectfully submitted for your consideration.

Ted

City, County and the One-Cent Sales Tax- Readers Write - Courier 9/13

Although I have written about the issue several times over the last few years, I can’t pass up the opportunity to comment on the story in last week’s Courier about the City of Savannah, Hardin County government, the Board of Education and the one-cent sales tax issue.

I think The Courier framed the question just about right.

Should the citizens of Savannah pay more than required by state law to cover the county’s obligation and responsibility to fund our public education infrastructure? The unasked question is, how are we supposed to pay for our county buildings, including our public education infrastructure?

Remember that the citizens of Savannah, in addition to paying a city property tax, pay their part of the county property taxes, the primary funding source for our county government, just like the other citizens of Hardin County.

There is misconception in the article that the city "agreed to give up half of Savannah’s share of the increase to the county to pay for the high school project." The fact is that Savannah agreed to give up all of their share of the one-cent increase to pay for the high school project.

By law, half of all local option sales taxes collected must go to fund public education operations. The municipality where the sales taxes are generated gets the other half. The county general fund gets half of the sales taxes generated in the unincorporated areas of the county.

Mayor Davis, in his written statement, like many others, rhetorically states that "I believe we must provide for our children’s education today and tomorrow."
It is one thing to "believe," but it is a totally different thing when you compare those beliefs with past actions.

The Mayor’s belief that "this issue was resolved 10 years ago" would depend on which of the three different scenarios that were put forth at that time by the then County Executive, the Board of Education and the then county commission, to get the voters’ support for the referendum.

Consider that the tax increase was approved by the voters 10 years ago is based on a county commission-approved resolution for the one-cent increase that clearly states that it was necessary "in order to raise additional funds . . . and to minimize or reduce the necessary increase in the property tax rate . . ."

It is one thing to minimize or reduce a necessary increase in the property tax rate, but it is another matter to make it a holy grail and take it completely off the table for two decades.

Instead, the attempt is made to put us on a guilt trip about not supporting the education of our children and ask the citizens of Savannah to waive their statutory right to their half of the one-cent sales tax increase to cover about half of the long term debt service for the construction and repair of schools for Hardin County.

Since 1989, until this fiscal year, our county government and the Hardin County Board of Education have refused to consider or request raising additional funds for the repairs and maintenance of our existing schools for Hardin County.

Instead, these officials have allowed our existing school buildings, to the detriment of our children’s education––past, present and future––to deteriorate. The decay has reached the point they need either complete replacement or major upgrading. Hardly a good sign of providing for our children’s education.

And then one should consider that we have some of the lowest paid teachers, bus drivers and staff in the State of Tennessee. It seems our elected officials "believe" we must provide for our children’s education, but not if we have to pay for it with property taxes.

One of the more interesting facts that was not in the article is that the county has been on notice for about the last year that this issue needed to be addressed and that city officials would be available to sit down and discuss it, but for whatever reason, or excuse, the County Mayor was never available to even set down and discuss the issue with city officials.

But then again, the County Mayor, as one of his first official functions as Mayor, didn’t find it necessary to discuss the unilateral refinancing of the bond issue back in late 2002 with the City officials, even though they were contractually obligated to underwrite about half of the debt. It’s almost like the county’s attitude was, it’s our debt and we can do whatever we want to.

For whatever reason the county sacrificed the ability to pay off the debt early with excess collections and earned interest over debt service requirements, without penalty, for a little lower interest rate but with a prepayment restriction.

It’s both disappointing and enlightening to look at the way the proceeds of the one-cent sales tax have been administered over the last decade by the county and the Board of Education.

Recall that the rhetoric at the time was that all proceeds generated by the one-cent sales tax increase would go for the construction and repairs of schools for Hardin County. Well, a review of the county and city archives reveals it didn’t happen that way.

As noted in The Courier article, for the first five years, the county diverted the interest earned on the accumulation of excess funds to the General Fund instead of the school construction debt service account. When asked for an accounting by the city, back in 2003, the county made the argument that it would be too much work to do the accounting because the county Trustee’s records were not computerized and the records were in the basement of the courthouse.

Instead they would just start putting the earned interest in the debt service account starting in 2003 and forget about the first five years. To date there has never been an accounting of the first five years of interest earned on the idle funds, that at times amounted to millions of dollars.

The other incorporated municipalities chose not to contribute to the construction program and the funds that were generated for education went for school operating expenses instead of the debt service fund. These cities kept 50 percent of the proceeds from the one cent for themselves.

Among other things, the county General fund also ended up with the trustee’s commission for handling the proceeds of the one-cent sales tax increase.

These actions clearly establish that all proceeds of the voter approved tax increase referendum did not go to construction and repair of schools for Hardin County and cloud the claim that education is a true priority.

We need to see actions, not rhetoric. We need our governments to be honest with the people.

I would say again it is not a responsibility of the citizens of the City of Savannah to cover the county’s legal obligation to fund and maintain school facilities and buildings for all our children’s education. City residents pay county property taxes too.

Respectfully submitted for your consideration

Ted

Charge Filed Over Puppy Thrown From Pickup

Front Page article in The Courier - 8/23/2007 - Reprinted without permission

Three month SPCA investigation results in felony prosecution for animal cruelty

A Hardin County man has been arrested on a felony animal cruelty charge for allegedly hurling a puppy from a speeding vehicle in front of the Savannah Animal Shelter in May.

The dog sustained mortal injuries and was later euthanized by a veterinarian.

Jimmy Vance Hill, 32, of 60 Pinson Way, was arrested by sheriff’’s deputies and jailed Aug. 18 on a charge of aggravated animal cruelty. He was subsequently released on $5,000 bond.

Contacted by the Courier on Tuesday, Hill maintained he is innocent and threatened to sue his accusers for defamation.

"I’’m angry that my name has been brought up in this. I can prove where I was that day," said Hill. "I’’m looking forward to getting this over with and getting my name cleared."

The alleged crime is a Class E felony punishable by one to six years imprisonment and a fine of up to $3,000.

Hill’’s arrest followed a three-month investigation by the Hardin-Metro Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (HMSPCA).

The animal protection organization said evidence in the case includes sworn statements by several witnesses including individuals close to the suspect.

Evidence was collected by HMSPCA investigators Jerrilove Crockett and Peter Westrick and turned over to the district attorney.

Less than a week after the incident, Horse Creek Wildlife Refuge and Animal Sanctuary offered a $5,000 reward leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators. Rapid Print of Savannah donated hundreds of posters——advertising the reward——which were distributed throughout the county by HMSPCA members and volunteers.

The case began May 21.

Four witnesses, including a 4-year-old child standing in front of the Savannah Animal Shelter on Airport Road said they saw a white puppy thrown from a red, late-model Ford pickup truck speeding by the facility.

Mary Davis, who operates Tennessee River Rescues, said the puppy bounced off the pavement and began "screaming."

Davis speculated at the time that the occupants of the truck lived outside the city and planned to leave the dog on shelter property. When they saw people outside the facility, she surmised, they tossed the puppy out the window and sped off.

"The only thing that links me to this scene is I have an F-150 pickup. I never drive it," Hill contends.

He said also that he believes witness descriptions have changed during the course of the investigation, and that the Savannah Animal Shelter even allowed him to adopt a dog after the incident.

"It kind of upsets me that someone would do that to a puppy," Hill said. "I love animals. I’’ve got more than I know what to do with, and they get good care."

Hardin County government ceased funding its portion of animal control costs shared with the city of Savannah in 2005.

One fiscal crisis facing commissioners then was a federal court case which ultimately forced the county to build a new jail. Some elected officials have also mentioned a "personality conflict" between a former city manager and county officials.

Citing the lost funding, the city Animal Control Department and Animal Shelter now turn away county residents with animal welfare problems.

A city worker at the shelter said this has resulted in people dumping unwanted pets at the facility after hours and sometimes tossing them over the fence, often causing injury.

Ted Cook estimates the county’’s population of unwanted dogs and cats has grown to "at least 10,000 animals" in the last two years based on city animal control data. He calls the problem a "public health crisis" that poses dangers of rabies and animal attacks on humans, pets and livestock.

Cook is executive director of Hardin-Metro SPCA, which was formed earlier this year by local residents to promote animal welfare issues. Stanley Shaw is president of the group whose board of directors includes a veterinarian, a banker, an attorney and animal welfare advocates.

Crockett and Westrick, the organization’’s animal control investigators and members of the board, are both retired San Diego, Calif., police officers with extensive law enforcement experience.

In the wake of of HMSPCA lobbying and perhaps growing public concern, the Hardin County Commission earmarked $50,000 of the 2007-2008 budget for animal control. Commissioners have also appointed an animal control committee whose task is to develop a new animal control program.

Cook and HMSPCA members envision a program that includes a county animal control department with enforcement officers and a shelter. He said the program could be modeled after successes in other counties which use pet and breeder licensing and registration fees, along with public and private grants, for funding.

Respectfully submitted for your consideration

Ted

Hardin County Animal Control Committee

Phase I of motivating Hardin County government to return to animal control is now complete, thanks to the efforts of all the folks who have helped keep the animal situation here in the county front and center in the minds of the people and in The Courier for the last 6 months.

A special thanks is in order for the folks at The Courier for providing the continued exposure for the issue by putting out stories and article virtually every week and to Brad Silliman for his contributions of both paid ads and editorial articles. But we’re not done yet, by a long shot.

Now that the County Commission has approved the appointment of a Hardin County Animal Control Committee that has been charged to expedite the conceptual plans for the local governments role in moving forward with a comprehensive plan for animal management in the county we should see some significant progress over the next few months.

The members of the Animal Control Committee are as follows:

Representing the County - Commissioners White, McFalls and Coleman.
Representing the City of Savannah - Mayor Shutt, Mr. Lerry Arendall and a yet to be designated City Commissioner.
Representing Horse CreekWildlife Sanctuary and Animal Refuge - Mr. Ron Pickard.
Representing Hardin Metro SPCA - Mr. Chris Jerrolds
Representing the County Health Department/Veterinarians - Dr. Don Edwards, D.V.N.

Let's wish these folks God's speed and provide them with any assistance they may ask for or need.

Respectfully submitted for your consideration,


Ted

A Spell Worthy of Harry Potter

This is one of those, 'I couldn’t have said it better myself,' things.

From page 1 of the Courier July 19, 2007 by Ron Schaming, Jr.
(Reprinted without permission)

"Only in a reappraisal year can the illusion of raising taxes be lowering the property tax rate be performed.

If the Hardin County Commission approves a proposal from its budget committee to increase the property tax rate by 30 cents this month, that’s exactly what will happen.

Every six years, a county-wide reappraisal takes place to determine what changes have occurred in property values, based on comparable sales.

According to the Hardin County Assessor of Property’ office, the county experienced an average increase of 37 percent.

But state law says such a reappraisal cannot be used to generate more revenue for ta county. So, the tax rate has to be adjusted downward to a point where it is ‘revenue neutral’ for the county as a whole.

The current property tax in Hardin County is $1.82.

The revenue neutral rate, or ‘certified tax rate" in Hardin County is to be set at $1.37, or 45 cents less than it is now.

Raising the property rate by 30 cents would bring the new rate to $1.67, or 15 cents less than it is today.

And Presto Chango, by a wave of the magical wand of government accounting, a 22 percent tax increase can be disguised as a tax reduction."

Good Job, Ron.

Respectfully,

Ted

Mr. Maytag Is Alive and Well

A good friend of my tagged me with the nickname of Mr. Maytag some time ago, because he thought that I was an agitator that just didn’t quit and never need servicing. Ya, thanks Paul.

As some of you might have noticed, the Tablet has been silent for the last couple of months. Some folks think that was a good thing and others think otherwise.

There are several factors that have contributed to the silence, but, the major factor was that since Blogger.com switched to this new and improved Google thing, I have had a lot of trouble logging in to post anything. Got that fixed.

One of the other factor is that standing up Hardin Metro SPCA to be a professional organization that could give legitimacy to a shifting paradigm in animal control has been pretty much a full time thing. Ya know what I mean?

You might be surprised to learn that trying to shift the dominant paradigm in Hardin County Government, and the citizens, as it relates to animal management and control, is not the easiest thing to get your arms around and doesn’t happen overnight. More on that in future posts.

It seem that more folks follow my ranting than I thought, so, for both of them, we’ll get back to work and try to catch of the happenings in the community and our local governments like the proposed property tax increase, the County budget, animal control's future and inter-governmental relations to name a few.

Respectfully,
Ted

Animal Control - The COURIER - May 31, 2007

Puppy thrown from speeding pickup was one man’s solution
Ron Schaming - New Editor - The COURIER - May 31, 2007 pg-1

Standing in front of the Savannah Animal Shelter, Roy Franks and Mary Davis watched in horror as the puppy was tossed from the passenger window of the speeding red pickup truck.

"We had to put it down. We think it broke its back," said Franks, a worker at the city facility which serves Savannah residents exclusively. "I didn’t want to see him suffer no longer."

The puppy "just bounced off that pavement" and "looked like it was broke all to pieces," said Davis, who runs Tennessee River Rescues in Crump, a small private animal welfare operation.
"When it hit the ground," she said, "it just started screaming."

Davis said that if she "had a gun, I would have shot the truck. I’ve never had anything make me so mad in my life."

Davis said she suspects the perpetrators live outside Savannah and know the shelter would not take the dog so they just flung it to its death when they saw the group of people outside the door.

"That’s why we get so many thrown in the Wal-Mart parking lot. It’s in the city limits," she said.
Over the past several years, Hardin County scaled its animal control budget down to the point where there is now effectively no animal control service outside Savannah.

Franks agrees that many––perhaps most––of the dogs he sees at the shelter are from county residents.

"We don’t do nothing in the county because they have no animal control whatsoever," he said. So during the night, "people throw them over the fence and everything else. That’s inhumane."

"All that’s connected. Every bit of it," Davis declares. "I hope and pray that this will open someone’s eyes."

Franks said when he has to refuse to accept unwanted animals from someone who is not a citizen of Savannah, he advises they "take them to a vet and be put down."

He wants to see whoever cruelly threw the puppy from the truck prosecuted, but said he didn’t report the May 21 crime to local law enforcement.

"It wouldn’t have done no good," Franks believes. "They never would have found them."

[End of Article]

Tennessee Moves To Allow Guns In Public Buildings

By News Sentinel staff April 18, 2007

NASHVILLE — In a surprise move, a House panel voted today to repeal a state law that forbids the carrying of handguns on property and buildings owned by state, county and city governments — including parks and playgrounds.

"I think the recent Virginia disaster — or catastrophe or nightmare or whatever you want to call it — has woken up a lot of people to the need for having guns available to law-abiding citizens," said Rep. Frank Niceley, R-Strawberry Plains. "I hope that is what this vote reflects."

Read the full story in Thursday’s News Sentinel.
http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/state/article/0,1406,KNS_348_5491437,00.html

Copyright 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.

Organization Will Push For Animal Control

From page 1 of THE COURIER - 4/19/07

"A new Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals organization has formed in Hardin County.

"I believe there needs to be animal control in Hardin County," said Hardin Metro SPCA Inc. President Stanley Shaw.

Currently, the county has no organized animal control program. Previously, the county partnered with the city of Savannah to provide the service to county residents.

Disagreements regarding how much of the total cost each local government should carry prompted the county to effectively eliminate animal control services outside the city of Savannah.

The Hardin County Commission did budget $2,500 to dispatch "vicious" dogs, but according to county Budget Director Linda Franks, not a penny of that money has been spent more than 10 months into the fiscal year.

Officials for the fledgling effort say they hope to encourage the county commission to reinstitute animal control service for county residents.

"They promised this in the last election," said Shaw, who ran for county mayor. The city has "beared the brunt of this for years."

He said Hardin Metro SPCA does not intend to be "this self-appointed group to tell the county what to do. I want the county to have an opportunity to do what they’re going to do, and hopefully they’ll do a good job of it."

Savannah attorney Vance Dennis, a member of the organization’s board of directors and its legal counsel, said the message to be sent is, "We’re here to help."

Officers were elected at the April 2 organizational meeting held at Central Bank on Wayne Road.
Susan Brown, who has been active in animal protection issues for many years, was elected vice president. The treasurer is banker and former Savannah city commissioner Chris Jerrolds.

Brad Silliman, a former prison inmate counselor and past news reporter at The Courier, was elected secretary. Silliman was previously married to the late local prominent animal rights activist Patricia Tretheway.

Local veterinarian Don Edwards is also a member of the board.

The board named Ted Cook, who chartered the public benefit, nonprofit corporation, interim executive director."

Submitted for your consideration and comments.

Uncle Ted

In Re: Hardin County Commissioner - BUSTED

Mayor Kevin Davis Picks Dave Davis, CPA

You ain't gonna believe this, but this guy is up for an appointment to the Mayor's new Advisory Committee on the River Resort District. When ask, the Mayor responded, he's a very smart guy and he did a lot while he was a Commissioner. Yeah, your right about that!!

This guy had to resign from the County Commission in what has to be discribed as disgrace. He smart, alright, he thought he was smart enough to get by with Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor by provided alcohol and marijuana, but, after year of rumors, he finally got caught.

There has got to be others who could serve the County besides this guy, Mr. Mayor. Principles do count.

Respectfully

Ted


--- In May 2002 TheNewSavannahJournal@yahoogroups.com, "themaverickentrepreneur" wrote: Hardin County Commissioner - BUSTED

The County Commissioner who lead the drive to eliminate the State Office of Constable in Hardin County was arrested Monday, May 20, 2002 on two counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor and is released on bond.

County Commissioner David H. Davis, CPA is to appear in General Sessions Court on Friday, May 24, 2002 to answer these charges.

The arrest is the results of an ongoing investigation that resulted from two families filing complaints with the Savannah Police Department. The Complains generally allege that Davis provided alcohol and marijuana to their sons, one of whom was a minor.

Could it be that Commissioner Davis had his own reasons for not wanting Constables in Hardin County?

Submitted for your consideration
Ted G. Cook
The Maverick Entrepreneur

Who Can Do Something About Animal Control In Hardin County Tennessee?

These are the folks that have the statutory authority to develop, fund and implement a comprehensive plan to comply with the Tennessee Anti-Rabies Law that is tied to the recommendations of the Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, 2007, published by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV).

The recommendations in the compendium serve as the basis for animal rabies prevention and control programs throughout the United States and facilitate standardization of procedures among jurisdictions, thereby contributing to an effective national rabies-control program.

One of the essential elements, as defined by the compendium, is the removal of stray animals from the community. We need this in Hardin County.

Board of Commissioners by Voting District
(Check your voters registration card for your district)

District 1
(Armory/Olivet)
Mr. Gary Combs, 147 Somerset Loop, Savannah, TN 38382 - 731-925-8855
Mr. Fred McFalls, Jr., 380 English Road, Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-7092

District 2
(Nixon/Walkers)
Mr. Adam Coleman, 8645 Hwy 128, Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-2639
Mr. Charles Howard, 170 Parker Way, Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-8611

District 3
(Counce/Southside)
Mr. David Childers, 1425 Mayhall Road, Counce, TN 38326 - 731-689-5107
Mr. Roger L. Jenkins, 980 Preacher Dr., Counce, TN 38326 - 731- 689-3829

District 4
(Shiloh/Crump)
Mr. Tracey Grisham, 70 Pauline Rd., Adamsville, TN 38326 - 731-632-0288
Mr. James Whitehorn, St., 300 Hardy Road, Adamsville, TN 38310 - 731-682-4828

District 5
(Saltillo/Morris Chapel)
Mr. Jimmy G. Grisham, 405 C.W. White Dr., Morris Chapel, TN 38361 - 731-687-0154
Ms. Kathy Smith, 215 Ashley Rd., Saltillo, TN 38370 - 731-687-3625

District 6
(Cerro Gordo/Mt. Hermon/Olive Hill)
Mr. Ernie Bigbie, 22068 Hwy 64, Olive Hill, TN 38475 - 731-925-8209
Mr. Nickie L. Cagle, 10155 Clifton Road, Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-8022

District 7
(Whites/Walnut Grove)
Mr. Gene Bryant, 2420 Fox Hollow Lp., Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-2092
Mr. Mike Jerrolds, 120 Burnt Church Road, Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-2747

District 8
North (Fairgrounds)
Mr. Wally Hamilton, 3055 Cravens Road, Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-5708
Mr. Stacey Stricklin, 136 J. H. Winborn Ln., Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-3544

District 9
(Courthouse/Library)
Mr. Tom Haggard, 125 Riverside Dr., Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-5720
Mr. Emery White, 455 S. Pickwick St., Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-6240

District 10
(Fairground)
Mr. James S. Berry, Jr., 175 Patterson Rd., Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-4389
Mr. Mike Fowler, 185 Cagle Circle, Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-9117

Please call your commissioner and tell them you want the issue on the agenda as soon as possible. Hopefully the March 2007 agenda.

Respectfully requested,

Uncle Ted

County Commissioners by Voting District

Hardin CountyBoard of Commissioners

By Voting District

(Check your voters registration card for your district)

District 1
Mr. Gary Combs, 147 Somerset Loop, Savannah, TN 38382 - 731-925-8855
Mr. Fred McFalls, Jr., 380 English Road, Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-7092

District 2
Mr. Adam Coleman, 8645 Hwy 128, Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-2639
Mr. Charles Howard, 170 Parker Way, Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-8611

District 3
Mr. David Childers, 1425 Mayhall Road, Counce, TN 38326 - 731-689-5107
Mr. Roger L. Jenkins, 980 Preacher Dr., Counce, TN 38326 - 731- 689-3829

District 4
Mr. Tracey Grisham, 70 Pauline Rd., Adamsville, TN 38326 - 731-632-0288
Mr. James Whitehorn, St., 300 Hardy Road, Adamsville, TN 38310 - 731-682-4828

District 5
Mr. Jimmy G. Grisham, 405 C.W. White Dr., Morris Chapel, TN 38361 - 731-687-0154
Ms. Kathy Smith, 215 Ashley Rd., Saltillo, TN 38370 - 731-687-3625

District 6
Mr. Ernie Bigbie, 22068 Hwy 64, Olive Hill, TN 38475 - 731-925-8209
Mr. Nickie L. Cagle, 10155 Clifton Road, Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-8022

District 7
Mr. Gene Bryant, 2420 Fox Hollow Lp., Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-2092
Mr. Mike Jerrolds, 120 Burnt Church Road, Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-2747

District 8
Mr. Wally Hamilton, 3055 Cravens Road, Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-5708
Mr. Stacey Stricklin, 136 J. H. Winborn Ln., Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-3544

District 9
Mr. Tom Haggard, 125 Riverside Dr., Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-5720
Mr. Emery White, 455 S. Pickwick St., Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-6240

District 10
Mr. James S. Berry, Jr., 175 Patterson Rd., Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-4389
Mr. Mike Fowler, 185 Cagle Circle, Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-9117

These could be used for the citizens to contact their Commissioner and inquire about their solution for the stray animals problems.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,


Ted

The Hardin County Budget Committee
vs
The Hardin County Board of Commissioners

In re: Rabies Prevention in Hardin County, or The Lack of It.

I had the occasion recently to ask our Mayor/Chairman of the County Board of Commissioners when the long awaited public safety and welfare issue of stray animals in the community would be put on the County Commissions’ agenda to begin the discussion of a possible solution to the problem associated with stray animals. Like he had promised during the elections.

The Mayor/Chairman advised me that the issue would only be addressed by the Budget Committee and probably around the end of April or the first part of May.

Say, what? As I understand it, the explaination was that since there are 1 Commissioner from each district on the Budget Committee, it is just as good as the whole Board of Commissioners. Not! And Double NOT!!!

That would be the tail wagging the dog, if I have ever seen it.

How does a budget committee end up with the future of the Rabies Prevention Act, and whether any or all of the county’s responsibility are going to be met.

While the Budget Committee has a role to play, they don’t come on stage until the Legislative Body has developed a comprehensive plan to address the issues.

The Budget Committee funds the comprehensive plan, they don’t have the authority or responsibility to originate the comprehensive plan.

What 'budget' is the committee going to consider and how, by whom, and when will that budget be prepared? Or! Are they going to say, sorry, we can't find any money for our part of the Rabie Prevention programs. End of discussion? Don't think so.

To be continued, oh, yah!

Ted

Jail Project 2007 Update

When the Mayor and County Commissioners start patting themselves on the back for their dedication to resolving a critical problem and for their outstanding work on the "Jail Project", don’t you think it’s time to take a serious look at the results of this "outstanding work," by looking at the results?

The results can be determined by the collective answers to the following questions:

How much of the County’s treasury has been spent or committed, to date, on the "Jail Project?" (Land costs; development cost - studies, analysis reports, architects, engineers, etc.; site prep.)

What other costs are there going to be, in addition to the "Jail Project’s" $10,500,000.00 Bond debt.

How much of the $36.00 Wheel Tax is required for Debt Service on the $10,500,000.00 Bonds?

Are the Mayor and/or the County Commission sure that Hardin County’s new "facility" will work well in every way?

Can they assure the taxpayers of Hardin County that this new "Facility" meets the basic requirements of A Correction & Detention Facility as defined by the National Institution of Corrections? If not, why not?

Does the new Hardin County’s Correction & Detention Facility:

a.) Meet Hardin County’s Current and Future Needs - Well, no. Still not enough capacity. At least 100 beds short for current needs and nowhere close for future needs, with the County’s current attitude about correction and detention.

b.) Support Hardin County’s Philosophies and Objectives Regarding Detention and Corrections. - Well, no. Philosophies do not include ending up in the same place we are today, with an overcrowded correction and detention facility, with its related problems even if it is brand new. The only beneficiary of that outcome is the Sheriff, because the Sheriff ends up with a new office facility for his department and a huge increase in the department’s budget, even if the jail is overcrowded, again.

c.) Help Hardin County’s Employees and Staff Do Their Best at Their Jobs. - Well, no. They are going to still have to deal with overcrowding, and its related problems, while they become amiliar with the new facility, themselves.

d.) Work Well for Our Current and Future Staff and Inmates. -Well, no. Overcrowding is overcrowding.

e.) Fit Within Hardin County’s Budget for Construction and Annual Operational Cost? Well, Yes, more than enough. The $36.00 wheel tax should have generated about a Million Dollars in 2006. That Million Dollars would finance a lot more than $10,500,000.00 at 4 ½ % fixed rate over a Thirty Years period with tax-exempt bonds.

Did we do it right, the first time? Well, no. That’s not the way we seem to do it here in Hardin County.

Some will say, Shut Up, Ted, it’s going to be a lot better than it is now!! Point taken. But at what costs?

My problem is that they will wake up in two to three years, at the grand opening, and say, we still have the same basic problems. We could have done a lot better by just looking past today. How soon will they have to make that 100 bed addition?

Next Issue - Can’t you just wait to see how these folk will propose to deal with the other critical public safety and welfare issue. The hazardous rabies/stray animal control problem, due to the lack of any programs, in Hardin County and the Region.

I just can’t wait, that’s a fact. They need to keep their campaign promises and resolve the stray animal problem in Hardin County or at least tell us when they plan on doing something to resolve the problem.

Respectfully submitted for your consideration,


Ted

How Many Are There?

Knowing how many animal are in our area can help plan for the future. Foundations, donors, and elected officials usually want see statistics and hard data supporting requests for funding.

One figure that often seem difficult to estimate, however, is the total number of owned animals in the community. The Humane Society of the United States’s recently published Disasters Planning Manual contains advise to help the animals in their area stand up and be counted.

They used the National Pet Owners Survey, conducted by The American Pet Products Manufactures Association - 2003 - 2004 as their source for the percentage of U.S. households owning a pet and the number of pets per household.

The formula by no means is exact; it is based on national averages and does not account for potential variables among regions, states and communities and does not attempt to account for stray animals.

According to the last census count there were an estimated 13,400 households in our community. For dogs, the formula is: 39% of the households own dogs and there are 1.6 dogs per households that have dogs. For cats, the formula is: 34% of the households own dogs and there are 2.2 cats per households that have cats.

When one does the math, one finds that there are an estimated 8,362 dogs and 10,023 cats that live in 13,700 households in Hardin County.

The really sad thing is, that of the 20,046 dogs and cats, that we can estimate, only 4,861 are legally vaccinated according to the Hardin County Health Department.

That would mean that only 24.2% of the estimated dogs and cats in Hardin County are legally vaccinated. That would mean that 75.8% are not. That would definitely be an "F" in responsible pet ownership.

One must remember that these figures do not account for animals that do not reside in a household environment, like stray dogs or feral cats.

Respectfully submitted for your consideration.

Ted

Community Planing?

We don’t need no stinking’ community planning!! Or do we?

Well, before you decide, let’s get a handle on what it is and how it can help our community work together to better address the root causes, as well as the symptoms, of the animal problems in Hardin County.

It’s fair to say that most people in the humane movement got involved through a personal encounter with a homeless animal and the sinking realization that their experience was just the tip of an enormous iceberg.

For many, that realization gave birth to the commitment to do something to help the animals; to take as many as possible from the pound and find homes for them; to promote or fund spay/neuter programs; to educate the public; and to build a more humane shelter or to some combination of these.

As they got more involved they got busier and busier. "The faster I go, the more behind I get!" seems to be the common cry of rescuers everywhere.

They are like a team of janitors attempting to deal with a flooding sink in a locked broom closet by mopping the floor in the corridor because we can’t find the key to the door and they can’t break it down! They are dealing with one crisis after another and have no apparent hope of getting to the source of the problem.

So how can they get further ahead when most of them are already working as hard as they can, running only on adrenaline much of the time.

The answer lies in working smarter, not harder. This is where a community assessment and plan comes in. An assessment will help to identify the gaps in efforts to end the stray animal/homeless pet problem. A plan can help set goals and stay focused on where we want to go.

The questions that stop so many before they even start are: "How do we begin? Do we need a paid staff and state-of-the-art facility? Do we need millions of dollars?" Staff, a shelter, and money help, of course, but you don’t necessarily need them to end the killing of healthy animals. What you need is the initiative to take the first step – A commitment to step outside the way things have always been done to develop and promote innovative and proactive programs to save animal lives.

Now that we’ve taken that step ... Welcome to the beginning of our journey on the path to creating a plan in our community.

What is the plan and what are the goals of the campaign?

Animal lovers have long dreamed of a time when there would be no more stray animal/homeless pets.

We are confident that the dream can become a reality, in Hardin County, within the next 10 years, by participating in a broad-based network of concerned citizens and animal lovers – animal organizations, rescue groups, shelters, businesses and individuals – who work cooperatively for reasonable, effective and humane rabies/animal control programs; to end the destruction of healthy animals in the U.S.; and who help find loving, permanent homes for unwanted animals.

Respected submitted for your consideration and support.


Ted

Local Governments Role in Animal Related Problems - Defined

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ROLE

Question: How Can City and County Administrators Most Effectively Respond to the Animal-related Problems in Their Communities?

Solution to such problems can range from basic animal control programs to progressive, integrated animal service programs built on comprehensive ordinances and programs that both create incentives for people to care for animals responsibly and penalize those who do not.

The best solutions modify general responses to take account of local needs, concerns, and resources. Each community, regardless of size, should have a program to handle animal-related complaints and problems.

Successful programs are often characterized by:

Local government support – both political and financial

A comprehensive, regularly updated animal control ordinance and the authority and ability to enforce it;

Policies to ensure that all animals adopted are sterilized Laws and programs that create incentives for citizens to have their pets sterilized, and adjunct programs to ensure that all pets owners have access to affordable sterilization services;

Adequate, well-maintained facilities and equipment;

Animal control officers and animal care staff professionally trained to quickly and humanely handle animals at minimum risk to personnel

Good working relationships with, and the general support of, local veterinarians, law enforcement, social services, and animal advocacy organizations; and

A proactive public education program

A good animal care and control program is a community responsibility and should be budgeted as any other program or service available to citizens.

It needs to go beyond the old-fashioned approach to animal control services, which consisted primarily of a dogcatcher and a pound. If the local government focuses only on operating a skeletal shelter program and catching and destroying dogs, animal problem will create constant headaches for local government officials.

Pet owners who resist animal control will oppose other pet owners, citizens without pets, parent-teachers associations, garden clubs, and other groups that want animal control.

Finally, poor animal control can become a local government liability it citizens seek redress for injury and damage caused by free-roaming animals.

The most common obstacle to establishing and effective animal care and control program – as it is to some degree for virtually all government programs – is the problem of funding. As a general rule, adequate funding of an animal care and control programs costs at least $5 to $6 per citizen annually. However, city and county officials are often tempted to strip down animal control programs to the point of ineffectiveness, or they insist that pet registration (licensing) and other fees pay for all or most of the program.

Local officials should recognize that this governmental responsibility is vital to public health and safety, and they should be proactive in their approach.

If the Commissioners says they don’t have the money, tell them that someday someone will sue for negligence as a result of an avoidable dangerous-dog attack or a rabies exposure. This could cost a whole lot more that a good animal control program that wold minimize such risks.

Dog and cat owners should shoulder much of the burden of animal control costs; furthermore, irresponsible dog and cat owners should be assessed the largest part of that burden.

Public officials, police departments, public health officers, and the citizens they serve in both urban and rural areas all benefit from a comprehensive animal care and control program that reduces costs while it eliminates many other problems.

General public funds need to be allotted to finance the program as necessary. The total program can be partially self-funded, however, if revenues from the following sources are set aside for this purpose:

Income from pet registration (license) and permit fees;
Impoundment fees charged to persons whose animals have been picked up;
Boarding and redemption fees charged to owners who recover their pets;
Citation fines;
Fees from the quarantine of animals;
Adoption fees; and
Private donations to the local government earmarked for the animal shelter.

As put forth in:
Animal Control Management
A GUIDE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
Published by:
International City/County Management Association
ICMA - 2002

Possible Partial Answer for Animals?

Coming to a neighborhood near you, soon. At least in my mind, that's the plan.

The Patricia Trethaway Memorial Charitable Trust
(A 501(c) 3 Non-Profit Corporation)
The Ultimate Goal of Elimination of the Need to Euphemize Healthy, Surplus and Unwanted Animals.

and

Savannah/Hardin County Metro Society for the Prevention of Cruelty To Animals, Inc.
(A 501(c) 3 Non-Profit Corporation)
A Full Service Regional Provider of Humane Animal Programs and Facility.

Now all we have to do is partner with the citizens and local government. If they won't do their part, it's going to make our part more difficult, but not impossible.

Ted

And The Winner Is

At the bid opening for the construction of the new Sheriffs Department/Jail the County received four (4) bids.

Worsham Brothers, Corinth, MS - $10,139,000
Inman construction Corp., Memphis TN - $10,086,000
Lashlee-Rich, Inc., Humboldt, TN - $9,391,000
Watlington Brothers, Jackson, TN - $9,298,000

The major sub-contractors are:

Electrical - Wade Electric, Trenton, TN
Plumbing - Advanced Plumbing Co., Inc. - Cordova,TN
Mechanical (HVAC) - Hardin-Darious Heating & Air, Savannah, TN

Based on the quality of the bidders that participated, it appears as if the bidding process went off without any major problems and was conducted in a very professional manner. My compliments and kudos to TLM and the Jail Committee.

Respectfully Submitted
Ted

Rabies/Animal Control - Hardin County

Rabies Is a Serious Public Health Problem!
Rabies Is Fatal!
Got It?

If you think we have a rabies/animal control program in Hardin County, you could be dead wrong. That’s a fact, Jack.

So, who is responsible, you say. Glad you ask.

The vast majority of the Citizens of Hardin County are not holding up their end or doing their part and you can bet that our county government, including the Hardin County Health Department, are not doing their part.

That’s just wrong, but then again there has been no one able to make either one of them understand what their respective part was. Thought I would give it a shot.

Less than 5,000 animals in Hardin County have current vaccinations and that can be tracked primarily to the efforts of the privately funded spade and neutering programs, primarily by the Horse Creek Wild Life folks. Thank you, very much.

We don’t have animal/rabies control and your local legislative body, that would be the Mayor/County Commission, of course, gives out lip service about we can’t afford it or we got something else to pay for first. That’s just wrong, too. One needs to cover the costs safety and welfare of the community, whatever that cost may be, before one spends a lot of our resources on inviting others to come visit us.

We (Hardin County) make no contribution to an effective local, state or national rabies-control program. We make no effort to prevent or eliminate exposures to rabid animals.

The standard of procedures among jurisdictions that contribute to an effect national rabies-control program states as a CRITICAL component, that local governments should initiate and maintain effective programs to ensure vaccination of all dogs, cats, and ferrets and to remove strays and unwanted animals from the community.

This latest version of the standard procedures is known as Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, 2007 and is published by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. (NASPHV). As a note, a compendium is a concise yet comprehensive compilation of a body of knowledge.

This compendium, the accepted authority on rabies prevention and animal control, also points out that such procedures in the United States have reduced laboratory-confirmed cases of rabies in dogs from about 7,000 in 1947 to 94 in 2004.

Rabies prevention activities at the state and local levels, although not in Hardin County, have been aimed at reducing exposure to rabies-infected animals and insuring proper treatment when exposure occurs.

There are six (6) designated critical components of these activities for human rabies prevention and they are as follows:

1.) Enhanced Public Health Education;

2.) Domestic Animal Vaccination;

3.) Responsible Pet Ownership;

4.) Rapid, Accurate Laboratory Testing;

5.) Modern Stray Animal Control; and

6.) Timely and Appropriate Prophylaxis.

Well, let’s see, how does Hardin County compare? Glad you ask.

We have no stray animal control, let alone modern, for all practical purposes we have no effective domestic animal vaccination effort and enhanced would hardly describe the public health education efforts in Hardin County. Responsible pet ownership does not apply or even seem to be a concern to the majority, but then again, what is it? Glad you ask.

This accepted authority’s standards are that to be a responsible pet owner, one must do four basic things:

1.) Keep vaccinations up-to-date for all dogs, cats and ferrets. This requirement is important not only to keep your pets from getting rabies, but also to provide a barrier of protection to you, if your animal is bitten by a rabid wild animal.

2.) Keep your pets under direct supervision so they do not come in contact with wild animals.

3.) Call your local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood. They may be unvaccinated and could be infected by the disease.

4.) Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or regularly vaccinated.

Well, let’s see. With less than an estimated 15% - 20% of the known domestic animals legally vaccinated, that one is not working very well at all. It's the DUTY of pet owners and caretakers to have their animals vacinatted. That's the law in Tennessee, even in Hardin County.

You may not have known it, but, under direct supervision is another way of saying ‘leash law’ and yes we do have one of those in the State of Tennessee, which of course includes Hardin County. But then again, who knew?

Not being able to call your local animal control agency, because it’s not a secret that we don’t have one, probably shouldn’t be counted against the Hardin County citizens on this score card, but not standing up and demanding one, probable should be.

Respectfully submitted for your consideration.

Uncle Ted

Be Responsible Pet Owners, Yah, Right!!

LET THE PEOPLE HAVE THE TRUTH
AND THE FREEDOM TO DISCUSS IT
AND ALL WILL BE WELL

Rabies prevention activities at the state and local levels have been aimed at reducing exposure to rabies-infected animals and insuring proper treatment when exposure occurs. For example, in some states, like Tennessee, vaccination requirements for both dogs and cats have been statutorily mandated.

Health departments, in collaboration with veterinary associations and animal-control and animal-welfare groups, have provided educational materials to the public about wildlife rabies, pet vaccination, and recognition of exposures to potentially rabid animals. Education efforts have targeted veterinarians and physicians because they often are the first to be informed of possible rabies exposures.

State public health departments, state and local governments, CDC, and other federal agencies are collaborating to develop programs to control rabies outbreaks and the movement of the virus in the wild. Information about rabies is available from state and local health departments and from CDC’’s Viral and Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases; telephone (404) 639-1075.

Human Rabies Prevention: Critical Components

•Enhanced public health education
•Domestic animal vaccination
•Responsible pet ownership
•Rapid, accurate laboratory testing
•Modern stray animal control
•Timely and appropriate prophylaxis

Domestic Animals. Local governments should initiate and maintain effective programs to ensure vaccination of all dogs, cats, and ferrets and to remove strays and unwanted animals. Such procedures in the United States have reduced laboratory-confirmed cases of rabies in dogs from 6,949 in 1947 to 117 in 2003.

What the Citizens Are Told to Do to Help Prevent the Spread of Rabies? Be a Responsible Pet Owner:

Keep vaccinations up-to-date for all dogs, cats and ferrets. This requirement is important not only to keep your pets from getting rabies, but also to provide a barrier of protection to you, if your animal is
bitten by a rabid wild animal.

Keep your pets under direct supervision so they do not come in contact with wild animals. If your pet is bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately.

Call your local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood. They may be unvaccinated and could be infected by the disease.

Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or regularly vaccinated.

Note: [From the most recent Compendium of Animal Rabies Vaccines published by the Association of State Public Health Veterinarians that is used as the guideline, by public health officials. Compendium (2006)]

Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets. All dogs, cats, and ferrets should be [and shall be, in Tennessee] vaccinated against rabies and re-vaccinated in accordance with Part III of this compendium. If a previously vaccinated animal is overdue for a booster, it should be re-vaccinated. Immediately following the booster, the animal is considered currently vaccinated and should be placed on an annual or triennial schedule depending on the type of vaccine used.

Stray Animals. Stray dogs, cats, and ferrets should be removed from the community. Local health departments and animal control officials can enforce the removal of strays more effectively if owned animals have identification and are confined or kept on leash. Strays should be impounded for at least 3 business days to determine if human exposure has occurred and to give owners sufficient time to reclaim animals.

Adjunct Procedures. - Methods or procedures which enhance rabies control include the following:

a. Identification. Dogs, cats, and ferrets should be identified (e.g., metal or plastic tags or microchips) to allow for verification of rabies vaccination status.

b. Licensure. Registration or licensing of all dogs, cats, and ferrets may be used to aid in rabies control. A fee is frequently charged for such licensing, and revenues collected are used to
maintain rabies- or animal-control programs. Evidence of current vaccination is an essential prerequisite to licensing.

c. Canvassing. House-to-house canvassing by animal control officials facilitates enforcement of vaccination and licensing requirements.

d. Citations. Citations are legal summonses issued to owners for violations, including the failure to vaccinate or license their animals. The authority for officers to issue citations should be an integral part of each animal-control program.

e. Animal Control. All communities should incorporate stray animal control, leash laws, and training of personnel in their programs.

Post Exposure Management. Any animal potentially exposed to rabies virus by a wild, carnivorous mammal or a bat that is not available for testing should be regarded as having been exposed to rabies.

a. Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets. - Unvaccinated dogs, cats, and ferrets exposed to a rabid animal should be euthanized immediately.

Exposed to a Rabid Animal? - What are the odds or potential that some of the stray, mostly unvaccinated, dogs and cats in Hardin County have been exposed to a wild, carnivorous mammal or bat, that has, or has been exposed to, one of the several types of rabies viruses, known to be in the neighborhood?

Hardin County deserves the enhanced rabies control program, because of our geographical location relative to the movement of rabies in our wildlife around and in the region. This is not something that should be ignored, for any reason.

Respectfully submitted for your consideration.

Uncle Ted