GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Gwinnett County officials are speaking out against complaints of poor management and wrongdoing at the police-run animal shelter.
County leaders are emphatically denying they are rushing to euthanize animals at the Gwinnett County Animal Shelter run by the police department, in fact, officials say the number of animals killed is way down.
Still, the county confirms police internal affairs is investigating shelter operations after complaints from animal welfare groups.
After shelter volunteers and workers made sometimes tearful pleas to the Gwinnett County commission recently, commissioner John Heard told Channel 2 Action News that he asked the police chief and county administrator to investigate the claims of mismanagement and the way animals and volunteers are treated.
“I am hurt by the unfair treatment,” said volunteer Mona Stephens.
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County administrators call the allegations unfounded and insist the shelter is run much better than years ago. They say the number of visitors is up 37 percent over last year, adoptions are up 33 percent and rescues have increased 22 percent. Records show number of animals killed has dropped from more than 5,800 in 2010 to only 275 through June.
“We are not euthanizing because of space, our euthanasia rates have gone down dramatically in the last several years and we are proud of that,” said Gwinnett County Cpl. Michel Pihera.
Managers say the only thing that's changed at the shelter is the fact that rescue groups have to wait two days longer before being able to take animals away.
County leaders say they believe the discord is a power struggle between long-time volunteers and new managers.
“We are at a spot right now we don't feel we have anywhere else to turn with these concerns,” said animal welfare advocate Jen Wagner.
Welfare groups want another department to take over the shelter. Heard said depending on the results of the investigation, that could be a possibility.