Calhoun County, AL – Mark Tyner, County Administrator, and Gloria Floyd, County Attorney, sat down with the Calhoun Journal to discuss the current state of the Animal Shelter and the long and short term plans for the facility. They both stated, as reported earlier, that the shelter is closed to the intake of animals except for emergency situations. They stressed this is due to staffing concerns because of the recent resignations of Chris Westmoreland and Alicia Woods. Both parties have subsequently been arrested along with a third former employee of the shelter. All three face aggravated cruelty to animals charges along with other charges. These resignations followed a whistleblower letter that was sent to the Commission and various state agencies.
Mrs. Floyd confirmed that the shelter does not currently have an active registered animal euthanasia facility (RAEF) license. This was to be expected as they don’t have a certified Euthanasia Tech (CET) employed. They also confirmed they voluntarily relinquished their DEA license to the state board. This means they cannot controlled substances on the premises and they also are not able to perform any medical procedures. Mrs. Floyd stressed this was expected. They are still able to to take in animals and the only limitations are due to staffing. They currently have two employees and one has been named the interim animal control director. They hope to have three staff members within a weeks time. Once staffing is full they are not restricted in pursuing their licensing. They were revoked due to not having a CET employed.
Both Mr. Tyner and Mrs. Floyd stressed they are focusing on the animal control services and are not interested in pursing euthanasia licenses at this time. While that could change in the future, it is not an immediate goal. Mr. Tyner stated that his goal would be to have all euthanasias to be performed by a vet, but he doesn’t know if that is realistic and it is really too early to make a firm statement on that subject. It is a fact that the facility is not, and will not, be performing any euthanasia in the immediate future. The goal is to get the shelter staffed and get an agreement in place with a local vet to provide medical care as needed. They cannot open to full capacity without a vet agreement to treat any issues that may arise.
When asked about the capacity of the facility they have 38 kennels which are all indoors and they have a cat/kitten room. Currently they have 18 dogs housed at the shelter, which includes a few puppies. There is NOT a parvo outbreak as reported though various social media platforms. They also stressed they are open to any rescues that are interested in pulling the dogs. Mrs. Floyd stated “if a certified approved rescue wanted to pull all 18 we would love that and any report that we are refusing those rescues is 100% untrue.”
Mr. Tyner and Mrs. Floyd both stated that the priority at this point is to safeguard the animals and to ensure that all animals that come through the shelter doors are treated humanely. They acknowledged this is a process and they do not have all the answers yet. They are working with the commissioners, with various professionals in the industries, as well as law enforcement on laying out a plan to ensure this happens. They are not rushing into reopening fully until proper staffing and training can be achieved. They are also not planning on pursing a RAEF license until a firm procedural plan is in place. Without a RAEF license they currently considered a no kill facility.
If any rescues are interested in pulling the dogs they currently have please contact the shelter at 256-241-2929.
