Date: Sat, 26 Jun 2004 13:46:05 -0400
Subject: [GeorgiaAnimalWelfare] Re: [spotsociety] Henry Co. MISTAKE--
URGENT
PLS. HELP

You can go to http://www.co.henry.ga.us/BOC/BOCMain.htm and email
the
commissioners.

Louise




To: All Rescue Groups Re: Henry Co. Fatal Mistake, PLEASE Help

My name is Connie Delinski. I am the founder and President of Collie Rescue  of Metro, Inc. I am also the founder and Board Member of Collie  Rescue of  the South and East. Member of American Working Collie Association,  the  Collie Club of America, the Collie Club of Georgia, the Atlanta  Kennel Club and these rescue groups.

Collie Rescue is a state licensed animal  shelter  and a nonprofit incorporation. Since our inception eighteen years  ago, we  have rescued over 1,000 collies. I offer these facts only to establish credibility  with those  of you who are not familiar with me or with Collie Rescue. 

We had a very bad experience with Henry Co. Animal Control this  week. I  hope all of you who feel moved to do so after reading this post will  help  by calling or mailing the commisioners in Henry Co.  Collie Rescue was contacted by Henry Co. AC on Thursday afternoon  (June  24), that there was an owner turn in collie in need of rescue.  Collie  Rescue committed to pick this collie up early Saturday morning (June  26).  The collie was euthanized Friday morning (June 25). Even though a  licensed  rescue that has rescued approximately fifty collies from this  shelter had  committed to rescuing this dog at a specific and AGREED upon time,  and  there was a HOLD placed on this dog for rescue, the dog was PTS.

The  reason  given was that the shelter was too full. I do understand that owner  turn  ins generally are allowed no time at shelters and that strays are  given  priority. BUT, we were contacted and had committed to come and get  this dog.  I was told by a shelter employee on Friday (June 25) that  an employee named Kathy Hewitt made the decision to put  this dog  to sleep. We were NOT contacted prior to this animal's death to be  asked to  pick the dog up earlier--we could have done this. The dog was never  given a  chance and we weren't either. I believe several lines was crossed  here that  should not have been. 

A state animal shelter (CROMA) had committed to come and take a dog,  and  even though promises had been made, they were ignored by Henry  County. As a  result, of course the animal paid the ultimate price.  Please help me not let the death of this dog be in vain. This could  happen  to any of us and to any dog. If you could, please call the Henry Co.  Board  of Commissioners and protest that a dog died that DID NOT HAVE TO  DIE. With  all of the animals that are PTS daily in the Atlanta area, wouldn't  you  think any animal control would want to save an animal when they  could? An  animal that had a licensed, responsible, committed rescue group  coming to  get it?

Henry Co. Board of Commissioners:   770-954-2400  Please take a moment out of the busy lives that you all lead to help  make a  difference. If we don't complain, this policy will not change. As  Bassett  Rescue so appropriately states "the life of one Bassett may not make  a  difference to anyone, but it makes an enormous difference to the  Bassett".  Thank you very much, Connie Delinski Collie Rescue Atlanta