Documents

(Click on links to download PDF files)


Animal Services Task Force Report and Recommendations February 24, 2012
    Task Force Report lowlights
  • “The DeKalb County shelter facility is a chamber of horrors.”
  • “While the administrative areas can be described as an embarrassment at the very least, the kennel areas, especially the areas housing dogs, are an abomination.”
  • “During the summer, the kennel area is filled with fruit flies to the extent that some of the dog run walls appear black with the thick layer of insects.”
  • “While the SOP Manual dictates otherwise, dogs are frequently kept in their kennels while the kennels are hosed down, keeping the animals dripping wet.”
  • "According to staff, cats are restrained with the use of a “rabies pole” or “catch pole”...then immobilized by an officer stepping on the animal’s back or legs while the euthanasia drug is administered. This method is wholly inconsistent with the ASV Guidelines.”
  • "The dog runs and cages are rusted out"


DeKalb Animal Services Task Force Presentation, October 18, 2011
    Task Force lowlights
  • "Standing water – promotes spread of disease as well as growth of bacteria and mold"
  • "No hot or pressurized water for cleaning"
  • "Drains constantly clogged"
  • "Odor is overwhelming"
  • "Animal cages often filthy -- urine and feces in food/water bowls"
  • "Insufficient staffing and poor communications occasionally lead to animals left without food/water and untreated for injuries/illness"


DeKalb County Grand Jury Presentments
Pages 6-7 address the deplorable state of the DeKalb County Animal Services facility.
    Grand Jury lowlights
  • "the building is disgraceful"
  • "non-police staff work hard and are grossly underpaid....most cannot afford the county health insurance"
  • "floors were wet throughout"
  • "odor was almost unbearable"
  • "Our overall impression is that a new animal control facility is badly needed."
  • "The existing staff can handle neither the call volume nor the volume of complaints requiring an officer in the field to respond."