International Effort Underway to Save No-Kill Animal Rescue and Sanctuary, "Canine Angels" Near Athens, Georgia, from Department of Ag Closure

Georgia Department of Agriculture's threat to shutdown a well-known animal rescue and sanctuary near Athens draws international protest from animal advocates who call for a boycott of Georgia and Elbert County. Hundreds sign petition to send to Governor.

Athens, GA (PRWEB) May 28, 2006 -- One of the most published animal advocates in the world is calling for Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue to intervene and save a well-known no-kill animal sanctuary, Canine Angels in Dewy Rose near Athens from being shut down. Author Jim Willis whose essay “How Could You?” has been published in over 40 languages and whose best-selling book “Pieces of My Heart” has been published in seven countries says the State’s treatment of Canine Angels and its founders Sue Wells and Lynette Rowe is “criminal.”

Wells and Rowe ran into legal difficulties with Georgia’s Department of Agriculture and were charged with animal cruelty. All charges were later dropped but in the plea bargaining Canine Angels will be forced to give up about 90 dogs and over a dozen cats by June 3 and faces fines of $15,000. Local animal welfare advocates say a former county animal control officer who was fired was instrumental in causing difficulty for Canine Angels. They have documented animal control abuses in the county that include shooting animals in remote locations and burying their bodies in pits. Animal advocates from as far away as Europe and Australia are gearing up for a protest action that could include asking animal-lovers everywhere to boycott the State of Georgia and Elbert County.

“The charges were totally unfounded and caused them to lose donors and volunteers and adopters,” Willis said and stated he was flooded with information that included eyewitness accounts and photographs about the sanctuary and the excellent condition of the animals as well as suspicious actions of the authorities, especially the former animal control officer.

An independent investigation and audit of Canine Angels was conducted this week by the former director of a Best Friends satellite sanctuary and former animal control officer, Don Hill of Augusta, GA. His report states that the sanctuary is well above acceptable standards in the care and housing of animals. Hill said he can see no valid reason for the Dept. of Ag's persecution of Wells and Rowe or the treatment they have experienced in "an ungrateful community."

“I think they have a real basis to sue for damages,” Willis said. “Sue and Lynette have driven themselves to exhaustion and the poorhouse saving those animals, restoring them to health, and basically taking over the responsibilities of the community and local government for animal care. Instead of being praised for their efforts and assisted, they’ve been persecuted. Worse, the authorities plan to seize the animals and banish them to kill shelters where their fate is certain. The State browbeat them into submission and forced them to accept a bad deal that Sue agreed to as the only chance to save her animals’ lives. Meanwhile, there is illegal dogfighting going on down the road from Canine Angels and the authorities are ignoring that situation!”

Willis further said that the lifestyle orientation of some of the principals may have more to do with lack of cooperation from State officials than animal welfare issues. Animal advocates say if the State does not intervene and grant the sanctuary more time to reduce its animal population by adopting out animals and allow it to continue operating as a no-kill facility, and drop the fines imposed on Wells and Rowe, they will call for an economic boycott.

“Americans keep more pets and spend more money on their pets than any country in the world,” Willis said. “We pour over $38 billion per year into the national economy. We vote our conscience and we have economic might. We've already heard from the political opponent of the Dept. of Ag commissioner. Canine Angels has been spending money locally, struggling for existence, and has been basically ignored, including by the media. The allegations about the improprieties committed by some officials, the lies and concerted effort to bring down such a fine animal rescue and placement effort are out there and should be investigated.”

“It is nothing short of scandalous what the authorities in Georgia have done to these two women. And in the process they have put their animals in jeopardy. We know from reputable sources that the animals at Canine Angels are healthy and live in sanitary conditions. They are getting proper care, exercise, love, and are able to live without the threat of a premature death,” wrote Mary Alice Pollard in Cornwall, England, to the international animal welfare community. Pollard represents the International Organization for Animal Protection, affiliated with the United Nations Department of Public Information, and founded Cornwall’s Voice for Animals.

Willis, Pollard and other animal advocates are circulating contact information for county and state departments and the media and asking animal lovers worldwide to join the protest. He is confident the Governor will respond. An on-line petition in support of Canine Angels is gathering hundreds of signatures per day:
http://www.petitiononline.com/neGAngel/petition.html

“We’re asking everybody to call Gov. Perdue at his office –404-656-1776 – Dept. of Ag. Commissioner Tommy Irvin at 404-656-3600 or 800-282-5852, the Animal Protection Division at 404-656-4914, and the Elbert County Commissioners at 706-283-2000,” Willis said.

He added, “Georgia has a governor who is also a veterinarian, he is the father of a minister, he and the First Lady have been foster parents of children and she has volunteered for a children’s youth ministry. These are compassionate, educated, sensible people of faith. Surely they can see that what Georgia’s Dept. of Agriculture and Elbert County are trying to do to Canine Angels is criminal. Their actions are definitely sending a wrong message about Georgia.”

In her appeal for support for Canine Angels, Mary Alice Pollard stated “Recently I’ve read increasingly more about animal shelters in the USA where the animals are abused by their ‘caretakers’ and killed in the most horrific ways – and this in public funded facilities. I think it is time the media demand that the authorities start cleaning up the real problems over there!”

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