Pet Things Donates 925 Pounds of Cat, Dog Food to Shelter

Pet Things owner Terry Brlecic and his family recently donated 925 pounds of cat and dog food to the Douglas County Animal Shelter.

Because helping animals is “in my heart,” Pet Things owner Terry Brlecic and his family recently donated 925 pounds of cat and dog food to the Douglas County Animal Shelter. The Brlecic family - Terry, wife Cathy, and son Brandon - own five dogs of their own and have been very active in the placing animals with forever families, including hosting adoption clinics at their store almost every Saturday. Pet Things also takes animal adoption requests and posts them in the store in an effort to match animal and owner. The Brlecic family has also been involved in the reorganization of the Douglas County Animal Shelter by attending every Animal Control Advisory Board meeting since its inception, and offering volunteer services and equipment - as …

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Animal Shelter Hires New Kennel Supervisor

Stacey Worsham has been employed as the new Kennel Supervisor at the Douglas County Animal Shelter.

As part of the continuing improvements in the operations of the Douglas County Animal Shelter, Stacey Worsham has been employed as Kennel Supervisor, according to a press release from the County. Worsham brings 15 years of veterinary experience to the position, including work as a veterinary surgical technician, private veterinary practice manager, and emergency veterinary technician - expertise needed to be a Kennel Supervisor with a high volume of animal traffic. Worsham began work at the Douglas County Animal Shelter on May 1, and her office is inside the shelter itself so she can be “hands on” with the animals. She stated that she desired this position because she thought she could make a difference in the lives of the Shelter animals…

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Animal Control Hires New Field Supervisor

Douglas County Animal Control has employed Frances McMillan as its new field supervisor.

Douglas County Animal Control has employed Frances McMillan as its new field supervisor. As field supervisor, McMillan will oversee the training and management of the five field officers who respond to calls from the public concerning animals in distress or other situations with animals in Douglas County. McMillan brings a lifetime of experience to the position. As a child and teen, she “rescued chickens and cats” from her friends, neighbors and nearby residents, and developed a love for all animals. She followed that up by working with the Douglas County Humane Society when it was in responsible charge of and operating the Douglas County Animal Shelter in the late 1990s. She left the Humane Society to help her husband run the family …

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County Announces Animal Shelter Improvements

The improvements were instituted after Douglas County received recommendations from an independent evaluation conducted in 2012 by LifeLine Animal Project.

Improvements are continuing at the Douglas County Animal Shelter, according to a press release sent out by Wes Tallon, the County's communication director and the County Commissioners. The improvements were instituted after Douglas County received recommendations from an independent evaluation conducted in 2012 by LifeLine Animal Project. More are planned within the coming months. Recent improvements include the following items. Office operations have also changed. Regular staff meetings are now being held. Policies and procedures for staff have been established, including that response to citizen complaints being the top priority. (LifeLine Evaluation recommendation) A new two-way radio system has been purchased for more timely dispatch …

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Just Found This on YouTube

Worthan Addresses Shelter, Patch During 'Chat with the Chairman'

In this YouTube audio file, Douglas County Commission Chairman Tom Worthan addresses concerns from residents in his monthly 'Chat with the Chairman.'

In this YouTube audio file, Douglas County Commission Chairman Tom Worthan addresses concerns from residents in his monthly 'Chat with the Chairman,' including concerns over recent changes at the Douglas County Animal Shelter. This YouTube recording was published on Feb 19, by Fur Babies. This is a recording of a public meeting, "Chat with the Chairman" between Douglas County Commission Chairman Tom Worthan and the community. The meeting was held at Fire station #2 Winston Georgia, 6 to 7 p.m., Feb. 18. During the chat, (at approximately the 31-minute mark) a resident suggests the County get more information out through the use of media and social media, including Douglasville Patch. "Patch will print anything," Worthan comments. "...And I…

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Controversy Rages Over New Animal Shelter Director

The shelter’s field supervisor and the shelter supervisor have resigned and an Animal Control Advisory Board member has been removed.

More than 1,300 people have signed an online petition to remove the Douglas County Animal Shelter's new director, Rick Smith. 11Alive news is reporting tonight that at least one more such petition exists, also with more than 1,000 signatures. "New Douglas County animal shelter director Rick Smith is making numerous changes at Douglas County Animal Control, all of which will result in more animals being killed," reads the online petition, posted by Douglas Animal Advocates Network. "Rick’s proposed new animal ordinance updates will make him judge, jury and executioner and will give him even more power to kill animals." Carl Pyrdum, an outspoken critic of Smith, was removed from the county's Animal Control Advisory Board this week by the …

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Improvements Being Made at Shelter

A clerk position has been added to the Douglas County Animal Shelter's administrative office, to take telephone complaints and dispatch them to the animal control officers in the field.

Chances are you don’t call the animal shelter every day, but when you do it may be an emergency and you expect someone to answer your call for help immediately. Rick Smith, the new director of Animal Services promises to make that happen. A clerk position has been added to the administrative office, to take telephone complaints and dispatch them to the animal control officers in the field. “This will allow the public to actual speak with a live person who will not only take complaints, but will also answer questions and address the caller’s concerns,” Smith said in a press release. As the shelter works to meet the challenges of fulfilling residents needs this also means offering adequate space for those wishing to visit the shelter. …

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Letter to the Editor

Hungry Bowl Pet Drive Nets 3,143 Pounds of Food

Organizer Debra Y. Milton thanks the community for donating 3,143 pounds of pet food to the Douglas County Animal Shelter and other pet-friendly organizations in this letter to the editor.

Letter to the Editor – On behalf of the annual Hungry Bowl Pet Food Drive, I would like to this opportunity to thank members of our local community for donating to this year’s drive. I also want to thank the sites that served as drop off sites for donations. Those sites were: Mr. Wes Talon, Director, Douglas County Communications & Community Relations, Douglas County Courthouse, Dr. Justin Verner, Sweetwater Creek Animal Hospital, Dr. Rosemarie Russo, D.C., Douglasville Wellness & Chiropractic, Janice Thompson’s State Farm Agency and Westside Animal Emergency Clinic. I am also thankful to our local media for publicizing the event and for businesses that posted flyers.  With your donations, this year we were able to donate 3,143 pounds of …

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Shelter Has New Hours in New Year

The Douglas County Animal Shelter is revising its operating hours for 2013.

To better serve the public, the Douglas County Animal Shelter is revising its operating hours for 2013. The new hours will be effective Wednesday, Jan. 2.  The new hours are as follows:                         Sunday             1 to 5 p.m.                         Monday             Closed                         Tuesday            1 to 6:30 p.m.                         Wednesday       1 to 5:30 p.m.                         Thursday          1 to 6:30 p.m.                         Friday               1 to 5:30 p.m.                         Saturday           1 to 5 p.m. The Douglas County Animal Shelter is located at 1755 County Services Boulevard off Cedar Mountain Road adjacent to the Landfill. The Animal Shelter is a department of the …

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Adopt a Pet for Christmas

The Douglas County Animal Shelter is open on Christmas Eve.

The Douglas County Animal Shelter will be open for pet adoptions on Christmas Eve, Monday, Dec. 24, from noon to 4 p.m. for choosing unconditional love as a Christmas gift. There are many kittens, cats, puppies and dogs available for adoption at the Shelter, located at 1755 County Services Boulevard off Cedar Mountain Road adjacent to the Landfill. Photographs and descriptions of available pets can be found by visiting the Douglas County web site at www.CelebrateDouglasCounty.com and then clicking on Departments and Animal Control. The adoption fee for all dogs and cats is $35 cash or check. Although pets make a wonderful Christmas present, the Douglas County Animal Shelter encourages families to come together to the Shelter to select an …

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