Animal Control is one of the first agencies that is getting a hard look. Director Jason Broome has already provided the board with information about the department’s role and how it’s being accomplished.
“Our strategic commitment is to public safety by controlling the stray population,” Broome said. “We also try to provide comfortable temporary shelter for those animals and use our resources to place them through adoption or rescue.”
Three officers answer an average of 494 calls a month, he said, and — along with an administrative assistant — staff the shelter on Mathis Road from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. There’s also someone on call 24 hours a day to handle injured or vicious animals after hours.
“We couldn’t do everything we do without our volunteers,” he said.
The Rome-Floyd County Humane Society pays for the strays’ first round of vaccinations and worming, and ARF, the Animal Rescue Foundation of Rome-Floyd County, also helps out with medical bills.
Paws for a Cause also raises money for improvements, such as an electrical upgrade that finally allowed for air conditioning in the wing that houses cats.
A storage room also was recently converted to 12 quarantine cages via a $6,000 award from the County Commission. Using inmate labor and keeping close tabs on expenses, the department kept the cost down to $4,200.
“The old quarantine area was acceptable to the (Georgia) Department of Agriculture, but it was a constant source of complaints from rescue groups and it wasn’t really sufficient for the animals,” County Manager Blaine Williams said.
Still, the 25-year-old facility is in dire need of replacement, possibly through a special purpose, local option sales tax, Broome said. It handles far more animals than originally envisioned, and the addition of rescue activities to the old catch-and-dispose model also has strained resources.
Rats infesting the building keep chewing up the insulation, Broome said, and cleaning the cat cages is difficult because they’re so old that they’ve fused together.
Assistant County Manager Noah Simon said many communities are putting their shelters in more visible areas, often in conjunction with dog parks, to shift the focus toward adoptions.
“The old school thinking was to keep them out of sight,” Broome agreed. “The new school thinking is to bring them to the front. But it depends on how proud the community is of its shelter.”
County Commissioner John Mayes said it’s time to start thinking about modernizing local animal control operations, although it may not happen in the coming year.
“I know the economy isn’t good right now, but it’s something we need to put on our radar,” Mayes said.
There are 30 dog cages and 36 cat cages in addition to the quarantine units.
Broome said an average of 57 dogs are impounded each week and 45 are adopted. Cats have a worse fate, with a weekly average of 49 impoundments and 13 adoptions.
The department’s new adoption policy, however, could have a small positive effect over time. Broome said people who adopt an animal are automatically issued a citation for failing to neuter and vaccinate their pet. Once they bring in the certificates from a veterinarian, the citations are shredded.
“We’ve had no complaints and 100 percent compliance. It’s the most efficient way,” he told the board.
"Voter's idea is the preferred method. It would require two trips to the shelter, one to pick out and pay, then one to return to pick up the animal after surgery."
Yes that would be dreamlike - but it is not realistic at this time. :-( Floyd AC is bursting at the seams every week (have you ever been there?), where do you put the pets waiting for their adopter after surgery?
Voter, can you explain to us, how it could be realized to spay and neuter the pets before release?
E.g. a dog comes in on friday. It will be available for adoption Tuesday and God help, should leave Tuesday, because its not the only dog coming in on Friday (Saturday, Sunday, Monday....). So, when do you take this dog to the vet to get it fixed and who pays the expenses, when you don't even know if this dogs gets adopted or rescued?
This was a great idea instituted because of people adopting pets they had no means or intention of having fixed. Then they would glare at Animal Control with a "what now" attitude.
This is what's now.
By the way, a ONE HUNDRED PERCENT compliance rate.
If you have a better idea that leads to a 100% compliance rate, let's hear it. If you don't, then every percentage below that is more animals the shelter will end up euthanizing.
You have a real problem. You and your like think it is okay to suspend the constitution when it suits you. Your traitorous attitudes are what is wrong with this country today. People are not guilty until proven innocent except in your world. I hope that your husband does not have your attitude since he is in law enforcement but sadly he probably does or you would not be so cocky with your attitude.
Besides the fact that there is so much that can go wrong with this with records being lost and people being wrongly prosecuted,it is ILLEGAL. You, of all people should know that
Stew on that one for a while.
Voter's idea is the preferred method. It would require two trips to the shelter, one to pick out and pay, then one to return to pick up the animal after surgery. That would be fine with me.
I just can't get past this comment and the fact that he is allowed to illegally issue citations to citizens trying to help these animals
Cope749, it is apparent that you are the one that is suffering....we all are in this economy, it is very hard times for everyone. I am the first one to agree that people need help as well, I mainly focus on helping those who cannot help themselves first.... for example: children, elderly, and YES domesticated animals. We have become a Country of what can YOU do for ME, RATHER than what can I do to help those suffering. Jason works hard at that shelter to provide clean, safe care for those animals and tries to find homes for them, along with wonderful charities like ARF (Animal Rescue Foundation of Rome/Floyd Cty). SOW,INC a non profit shelter that houses and rehabilitates homeless families and single mothers located at 404 South Broad St. in Rome announced Nov. 1st they were having to close due to lack of funding. If you choose to put your help to PEOPLE that need it, then I suggest you find more out about this and possibly donate to them, otherwise do your homework before talking about roads that need to be repaired. My heart aches for you, if you have never known the happiness it gives your heart and soul to help those who cannot help themselves. You learn to give, not because you have too much, but because you know the feeling of NOT HAVING! God Bless YOU cope749.
Read more: RN-T.com - County budget focus turns to Animal Control
I understand that we are in TERRIBLE economic times. With that being said, I know from experience that going to volunteer at FCAC or coming home to my rescues after a long bad day at work, my furbabies put me in such a great mood & take all worries off my mind. Why cast them aside just because you think there are more important things to spend money on??? Put yourself in the animals paws-could you imagine trying to survive in such a cruel world with no shelter or food?? Being picked up by some stranger & taken to a smelly old building full of barking dogs & mice??
Animals help to bring the best out in people & they will love you more than they love themselves...I think that is what is wrong with so many people; they don't have pets to help them understand what life is all about. I have learned over the past few years that I would rather be around animals than people because when you give an animal a little attention, they will show you gratitude, whereas when you help another person, you get their hand begging for more with no appreciation.
Jason Broome & the entire staff of FCAC have always been nothing but nice when I am there & you can see how much they care for the animals. Jason has had so many great ideas for the facility for so many years but has never been given the opportunity or chance to prove they could work. I hope & pray that everyone really looks this over & gives the FCAC the chance to show what they can really be!
cope749, my dogs and cats are better people than you'll ever hope to be.
Unbelievable.
Does this idiot really think this encourages adoption.
We do need new facilities but I think that the only way anyone will vote for a splost is if everyone at animal control is fired and a new staff is hired or a new organization takes over this operation.
So many in Floyd County have had bad experiences with this horrible bunch of people that run this shelter.