Courtesy of an email from Susan Catton
Greetings,
I apologize if you are getting this twice. I’m not sure how many people Valerie sent her original email to.
Neighbors, if you care about animals, PAR needs your active support now more than ever. It is not right & it is nearly impossible for this city & county to continue to expect that a non-profit all volunteer rescue group be 100% responsible for the abandoned, abused or neglected animals that reside in this county.
Go to www.pickensanimalrescue.org and look at our stats of the animals that we’ve helped. This is no doubt less that 1/3rd of the animals that need our help. As I wrote in an article earlier this year, IF THEY COULD SAVE THEMSELVES, THEY WOULD! Is it too much to ask for the VOTERS in the county to act humanely and demand a way to help the hundreds of pets that are suffering as I am writing this? (I personally live in Dawson County; I know my tax dollars are being spent on resources for the animals here).
I personally have been working with a man who lives just off Old Burnt Mountain Rd…across from “Holy Ghost Fire” church, or whatever it is. According to him there are about 12+ dogs living wild just behind him that are starving. Tuesday, one of them was hit by a car that did not stop. It lived enough to crawl it’s way back up into the woods, he has not seen it since. There’s also a pregnant dog running loose…now there will be 6-10 more. I have been bringing food for him to at least feed them until they can be captured and treated humanely. This is a situation for an Animal Control Officer, not a volunteer grandmother!
If the county somehow found a way to take the initial financial responsibility for the 36 dogs that were taken from an animal hoarder-neglectful-abuser in the amount of $30,000 plus donate $16,000 to PAR, why can’t they continue to provide that same amount in 2009? $16,000 lasts PAR about 3 1/2 weeks.
I understand that not everyone has the same level of passion about this problem like others of us do. You may not have the time or financial resources but I do believe you have an opinion. Please voice your opinion in a letter to the Editor. Show up at this initial hearing tomorrow night (Monday) at 5:30pm at City Hall. If you haven’t met any of the other PAR Volunteers, this may be a good first step in getting more involved. For me personally, doing nothing is not an option. I think I am hooked for life, all because I love my own dogs sooooo much!
Thanks for reading this. (The above mentioned article, IF THEY COULD SAVE THEMSELVES, THEY WOULD, is in the post prior to this article )
Susan
770-894-7037
TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR THE 2ND ANNUAL FURBALL UNTIL THE END OF THE DAY ON MONDAY, OCT 27TH. CALL ME! I’LL HAVE YOURS WAITING AT WILL CALL !
Come to the FUR BALL Sat., Nov 1st, 2008
www.pickensfurball.org
For Our Community-For Our Pets-For YOU
— On Sun, 10/26/08, Valerie thebateszoo@yahoo.com; wrote:
From: Valerie thebateszoo@yahoo.com;
Subject: Speak out for Animals in Pickens County
Date: Sunday, October 26, 2008, 2:56 PM
I wanted to update you each on a few outstanding “issues” with our city of Jasper and also the Pickens County government so that you can take a little time out of your busy schedule to speak out for the animals of our county.
1st item:
One of our board members and long time foster home provider, Brian Watt, has been issued a citation from the city of Jasper for “running a dog kennel without a license”. The city court date is TOMORROW at 5:30 at City Hall in Jasper. Brian, of course, will be pleading not guilty as he does not operate a kennel but fosters 2 or 3 dogs for Pickens Animal Rescue; thus falling under our kennel/rescue group license with the State of Ga. We want to show our support for Brian and to show the Mayor of Jasper that we do not agree with his citation in this situation; Please show up and wear anything Pickens Animal Rescue! Spread the word! Marger and Assoc. law firm will be representing Brian in court.
2nd item:
If all of you have not taken the time to read the County commissioners budget for 2009 printed in last week’s Progress, i hope you will review it to see what has been allocated for animal control and Pickens Animal Rescue. Robert Jones has not increased the amount designated for PAR as it remains at $16,000.00 for the entire year! There has also been no monies set aside for animal control as he promised in his campaign. I have spoken to someone at the sheriff’s office to confirm and there has been no money put in the 2009 budget for officers, equipment, training or any contract services for animal control. I don’t see how the new Sheriff Donnie Craig can make any progress if there is no money in the budget.
It’s not too late to be heard before the election! PLEASE take time this week to call the Mayor and the Commissioner to find out what they are going to do about the lack of animal control officers or contracting the service out to a reliable company to provide this critical service to our county residents. You will see all other areas of our county being cared for but the animal control problem never gets attention on the budget. This is because ANIMALS DON’T VOTE. Well,,, the animal owners do vote and it’s time to be heard!
I personally do not see how PAR will be able to continue to offer services in 2009 as they have in recent years without more public support both through donations and also service hours through volunteer time. The demands are greatly increasing weekly and with the financial situation we are all struggling with, i don’t see it changing in the near future. PAR’s requests for intake of animals is higher than ever and we are not able to serve everyone needing help with their animal situation.
This election is critical to our county’s future and we need to pull together to get something done for the good of all of us.
Valerie Bates
thebateszoo@yahoo.com
http://www.pickensanimalrescue.org
http://www.vbates.igniteinc.biz
http://www.freekibble.com
