Justice for Bunny and Pippin: Close Barrow County Animal Control
- al: Andrea Weisberger
- destinatario: GA Dept of Agriculture inspector, County Commissioners of Barrow County
Please sign this petition to get justice for Bunny and Pippin. Please tell the inspector responsible for insuring a basic standard level of care for Georgia shelters that Barrow County Animal Control should be shut down.
Bunny purred. She purred when she was dropped at the shelter, a tiny kitten. She purred when she was petted. Bunny cried. She cried for help, to be taken from her cage with the giant padlock. She cried as her eyes filled up with mucus and oozed. She cried when she got sick with a URI. Bunny cried when the parvo got her, the feline parvo/panleukopenia/distemper rampant in the environment. Bunny cried as she became caked in her own feces from the constant bloody diarrhea as the parvo necrotized her internal organs. Bunny cried as she became severely dehydrated so that her skin stood straight up when pinched. Bunny cried as her body became emaciated from not being fed, syringe fed as she needed. She cried as day after day the shelter ignored her suffering and pain.
Bunny purred as she was rescued from the shelter. Bunny purred as was taken far, far away from that horrid place of people who neglected her and let her suffer in pain. But it was too late to save Bunny. The parvo -- the disease which lives at the unclean shelter due to lack of basic standard of care, lack of proper cleaning protocols, lack of basic veterinary oversight -- the terrible cruel disease destroyed her organs and left her with a constant flow of bloody diarrhea.
But Bunny still purred as kind hands held her and told her she was loved. Bunny purred as the needle entered her body and released her from her pain. Bunny purred until she was dead. Bunny was 3 months old and weighed 1 lb.
Pippin purred as his emaciated and dehydrated, parvo wracked body was rescued. Pippin is not yet ready to cross the Rainbow Bridge and is fighting for his life in intensive care. Pippin is 4 months old and weighs 2 lbs.
The vets who have treated these kittens were in disbelief that a government funded Animal Control did this. The state of these animals – severe dehydration, emaciated, dying slow, painful deaths from feline parvo (panleukopenia/distemper) is shocking. It is shocking that tax dollars fund this animal cruelty and the people who are charged with caring turn a blind eye to suffering of the worst order.
The Barrow County Animal Control is still open, still accepting animals and allowing them to contract this horrible disease. They are not providing veterinary care. They do not vaccinate animals on intake. They do not check for infectious disease yet house multiple animals to a cage. They have not quarantined the facility to disinfect according to standard sheltering protocols. They do not have a licensed veterinarian on staff, yet continue to euthanize animals. They do not provide paperwork for animals that are pulled by rescues – as if these animals never existed. They do not track animals through their system with proper identification.
And worst of all, they are adopting out sick animals to anyone who wants them, without regard for the safety of the adopter’s other pets if they have any – since any kitten or puppy who is not vaccinated and exposed to parvo is contagious to other animals.
Please tell the GA Dept of Agriculture and the Barrow County Commissioners what a travesty it is to torture and neglect animals day in and day out.
Please tell the state of Georgia officials to relocate the animals in Barrow County Animal Control to a proper facility where they will receive a basic standard of care.
Please ask for Barrow County Animal Control to be shut down until such time as they can uphold proper sheltering practices and cease the neglect and abuse of animals in their care.
Please let Bunny and Pippin’s suffering not be in vain.
Dear Dept of Agriculture Inspectors,
Please take steps to close down the Barrow County Animal Control facility and relocate the animals to a proper shelter where they can receive a basic standard of care in accordance with accepted sheltering protocols.
On Wednesday, August 13, two kittens were pulled by a rescue from Barrow County Animal Control. Both kittens were severely dehydrated, emaciated, and suffering from feline parvo (panleukopenia/distemper). They were in pain since as the disease progresses it causes severe and painful damage to internal organs. Both kittens were caked in their own feces. Both kittens had diarrhea. The younger kitten (Bunny) had a constant flow of bloody diarrhea.
The Barrow County Animal Control provided no paperwork to the rescue that pulled the animals. The shelter identification numbers for the animals was inconsistent (Pippin had two ID numbers), indicating accurate records are not kept and there is not adequate accountability. The sick kittens were transported to Florida where they were seen by licensed veterinarians. They were immediately given fluid to combat the severe dehydration. They were tested for infectious disease. It was determined the compassionate thing to do was to euthanize Bunny due the advanced progression of the disease and the intensity of her suffering. Bunny was 3 months old and weighed less than 2 lbs.
Pippin is in critical care and being treated. He may not survive. He is 4 months old and weighs a little over 2 lbs. Both animals tested positive for Feline Parvovirus (FPV, panleukopenia/distemper). Both kittens also had a URI. Both were caked in feces and full of fleas. Pippin is anemic from fleas. Pippin is emaciated and looks like a walking skeleton. Neither kitten received any veterinary care at Barrow County Animal Control. The visual sign of severe disease and emaciation would have been obvious to any casual observer.
There is no doubt that panleukopenia is in the Barrow County Animal Contol environment. The virus can live on surfaces for up to a year if not properly disinfected using the appropriate methods which are part of standard sheltering protocols.
- The Barrow County Animal Control has not closed for quarantine, and is still accepting animals which will be exposed to this disease.
- The Barrow County Animal Control houses multiple animals in a cage without testing for infectious disease
- The Barrow County Animal Control does not test for infectious disease on intake, does not vaccinate on intake, and does not provide veterinary care.
- The Barrow County Animal Control permits animals to suffer cruelly and painfully, to become dehydrated and emaciated, and caked in their own excrement
- The Barrow County Animal Control is continuing to adopt animals out which have been exposed to this disease by virtue of living in a facility which has not been closed for disinfection.
- Anyone who adopts an unvaccinated animal who has been exposed to this infectious disease is risking the safety of any other pets they own or any other animals that come into contact with the diseased and suffering animal.
Please take steps to isolate and treat, or relocate the animals to a proper shelter where they will receive testing, vaccinations and proper veterinary attention.
Please recommend closing the Barrow Animal Control until such time that they can provide evidence that they have eradicated FPV, instituted proper cleaning protocols and established a plan to provide the basic standard of care needed to avoid continued neglect and abuse of animals in their care.
Please let Bunny and Pippin’s suffering not be in vain.
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