BARROW COUNTY, Ga. — A newly appointed animal control director was voted out of his position due to inappropriate pictures he posted online.
Danyal Harper was appointed to be director on March 25, but the Barrow County Commission voted to reverse that decision Wednesday night.
The move comes days after commissioners received an anonymous tip that the incoming director previously posted questionable pictures and a video clips.
One picture shows a dead animal under a sign that reads "free cat."
He also posted a video clip that joked about euthanasia.
"They're extremely inappropriate on any level, especially for someone who's responsible for animal welfare," said County Commission Chairman Pat Graham.
Harper claims he made the posts 10 years ago on a website named Photobucket.
He says he hasn't interacted with it in years.
"I have no ill heart in myself towards an animal," Harper told Channel 2's Carl Willis.
He defended himself pointing to the work he's done to reduce the euthanasia rates over the years.
Still, he didn't deny posting the questionable material.
"Unfortunately, this is something from years, years, years ago," he said. "Ten years ago I found it funny."
Harper claims that the pictures were a way for him to cope with job stress.
"I do have to find some lightheartedness in the job, because we deal with death of animals, injured animals and people as well," Harper said.
While Harper will be demoted, his future and employment status with the county is still unclear.
"I have no comment on that," said Graham. "There is an ongoing investigation going on by the human resources director and the county manager."
"If it's a blemish on our department, I'm a bigger person to say, 'Look past me and know that our department has a good heart,'" said Harper. "We have a bunch of good people that need to continue on the road that they're on."
WSBTV
