CLAW - COALITION FOR LEGAL ANIMAL WELFARE
PO Box 6367
North Augusta, SC 29861
803-221-5421

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Unfortunately, Burke County, Georgia does not have any type of animal control. What this means is that if there is obvious cruelty or neglect happening, the police must shrug their shoulders and say there is nothing they can do except have the owner "get rid of" the animal. The sheriff's office states that commissioners will not allot money for animal control after repeated requests. I contacted the County Administrator, (Merv Waldrop), and he stated that the Sheriff's office never requested any money for animal control. I attended the November meeting with Commissioners and I asked hypothetically, (and to clarify their position), that if a dog was in the freezing cold with no shelter on a chain, would the police have to allow it? They said, "Yes, ma'am, that is correct". Mr. Dixon now claims he never said this but during the summer of 2007 an article in The True Citizen stated that two pit bulls were chained out with no food or water for ten days with their teeth filed down to the gum lines - and police did not respond to the call. Luckily, a local rescue stepped in and took the dogs. The Commissioners state that "Burke County citizens do not want to pay for animal control". I would like to find out if that is true or not. So far, we have over 1,000 signatures on our written petition that was placed in local Waynesboro businesses, (within a week). I know for a fact that the citizens know something needs to be done. The signatures were given to the Commissioners at the April, 2007 meeting. I was on the agenda to speak, but was not allowed. The commissioners stated that they had already voted "No" for animal control. This was very disheartening. It takes caring people to change the current situation. If it is a true democracy, your voices will be heard and money will be alloted perhaps in 2008. According to Georgia law, it is ILLEGAL to have a dog chained out in bad weather without a dog house, food or water. These laws need to be upheld. There needs to be a facility to house stray animals, and at the very least, afford them a humane death. Perhaps rescue groups could adopt some of them out. There is strength in numbers and if our voices are heard, I believe they would make upholding this law a priority. Please be a voice for those with no choice! You can make a difference!	The County Commissioners in Burke County were shown all the horrid pictures of Junior and Rosey and showed no compassion whatsoever. These dogs would have died if we had not intervened. It didn't affect their opinion at all.
This is where Junior lived. He had a metal barrel that he couldn't even get into for shelter. He had no food, water or even bowls out there that would indicate he had recently been fed. Commissioners were shown these pictures also.	Junior was emaciated, had open sores, dehydrated, and very close to death. Amazingly, he was very sweet and let us clean his wounds.
CLAW CLAW Our Adoptable Pet List Click here to see our Happy Tails! Our Featured Pet... News Who We Are Adopting a friend Come Visit Us! CLAW PO Box 6367 North Augusta, SC 29841 Phone: 803-221-5421 Email: csralifesaver@aol.com Click here for a list of pets at this shelter [Home] [Information] [Shelters] [Search]	These dogs were found in the "Bird Dog Capital of the World", a county that won't even rescue a starving, wounded, and dying dog. What irony.
This is Junior now. He has such a sweet soul. There is such a thankfulness in his demeanor. He has been a great companion and I know why they call dogs "Man's Best Friend". I have truly found a friend in him. The court hearing went well as Mr. Derwin Antonio Williams was found guilty of animal abuse. He was fined $500 and one year of probation. During that year, he is not to have any pets. I still may be fined for trespassing to take the pictures, but whatever the fine is, it is well worth saving him and Rosey.