Commissioner Michael Martin wants to consider shutting down Warren County Animal Control and Adoption Center.

During Tuesday’s meeting of the county Health and Welfare Committee, Martin said Animal Control employees are not performing their job responsibilities and the county should consider saving money by shutting down the facility.

“Monday, 911 called a deputy to come pick up a dog,” said Martin, who chairs the committee. “The deputy went out there. He didn’t have no truck. I guess the girls finally got the truck and went to pick up the dog. The deputy called back and said he didn’t have no way to transport the dog.”

Animal Control director Kim Pettrey is on medical leave and had to surrender her county cellphone. Part-time employees Brandi Bouldin and Deitra Kester have been instructed by committee members to care for the animals and do the best they can to keep the facility running in her absence.
“She (Bouldin) has been down there five or six years,” said Martin. “She should be able to go get a dog.”

Martin continued, “If they can’t go pick up a dog, we’ve got to make a decision. She’s been there about six years. She should be able to go get a dog.”

Commissioner Tommy Savage stated, “I guess it depends on the situation.”

“There’s not too many people beating on the doors to work on animal control,” said Commissioner Blaine Wilcher.
Martin stated, “We’ve closed it before. We might have to close it.”

“I don’t think not being able to pick up a dangerous dog would warrant closing the shelter,” said Wilcher.
 
Martin stated his belief this isn’t the first occurrence and that he would be contacting E-911 director Chuck Haston to pull prior calls to see how many times Animal Control has failed to respond in the last 4-5 months.

Savage stated, “There’s always two sides to every story.”

Wilcher spoke in defense of Pettrey.

“We can look at that information,” he said. “I know the majority of this committee isn’t going to be willing to get rid of Kim. It’s just information for us to look at, I guess.”

Martin threated to take the measure before the full Warren County Commission.

“If they can’t do no better, I’ll bring it up to the full court and get a full court decision,” said Martin.

Wilcher stated, “It would probably be overwhelmingly in her favor.”

Martin said shutting down the facility would free up over $100,000 in the county’s general fund, to which Wilcher stated, “Having a bunch of stray dogs running around and getting into people’s stuff and people having to go out in shoot them like we’re in the old west isn’t where we want to go.”

The meeting ended without resolution.

When contacted by the Southern Standard on Wednesday, E-911 operations coordinator Valerie Womack confirmed Animal Control did respond when called Monday.

“We did dispatch a deputy,” said Womack, “but Animal Control was notified within six minutes of the call so the deputy did not continue on. He went back in service and said to let him know if Animal Control were to need him at the scene. We never heard back from Animal Control on it.”
According to Bouldin, the call was one reporting animal abuse and Kester went.

“The dogs had food, water and shelter,” said Bouldin. “One dog was a little thin, but it was an old dog. There were no signs of abuse or neglect. All the dogs seemed to be in good health.”

The next meeting of county Health and Welfare Committee is May 8 at 5 p.m.