A surprise inspection of the Chattooga County Animal Control on April 7th by the Georgia Department of Agriculture revealed troubling conditions, but a follow-up visit just four days later showed significant improvement.

Senior Inspector Lisa Gowens with the Georgia Department of Agriculture conducted the initial inspection, documenting a range of issues including inadequate shelter for puppies left in outdoor play yards during cold, rainy weather, and a widespread accumulation of waste throughout the facility. The report also cited instances of animals, including nursing mothers and puppies housed in the “cat room,” being without access to clean, fresh water. The article detailed the violations issued, which included failure to provide sanitary conditions, inadequate access to water, improper waste disposal, and insufficient disease prevention practices. The inspector noted a “gross over-accumulation of feces, urine, food wastes and soiled bedding” in nearly all areas of the facility. However, the situation appears to have been swiftly addressed. Inspector Gowens returned on April 11th and found that eight of the ten initial violations had been rectified. The remaining two violations, related to flooring issues, are expected to be resolved soon.

Plans are in place to provide further training and outreach to shelter staff. In addition, outside support is being brought in to develop and implement a more effective cleaning and maintenance routine until the floor repairs are completed