Savannah Chief of Police Believes Animal Welfare "is Not a Priority"

I just left a Buy Local Savannah lunch where Chief Berkow was the speaker. I asked him in front of everyone what changes were in store to increase animal control's ability to respond to animal cruelty, neglect and dog fighting cases. His exact words in front of the entire audience were, "it's not a priority to this community." So basically, we're fighting a losing battle. He also doesn't believe they should have a shelter or be dealing with adoptions. He specifically said he attempted to work with the Humane Society here but they would not cooperate. I'm sick of this. No matter how much media, how many times we go before city council or county commission, the people who have the power to make change don't care to.

Needless to say, my blood has been boiling. A group of concerned citizens met with Chief Berkow late last year about their concerns and promises were made about changes to come. I haven't noticed any changes. Three years ago, the county allocated funds to build a new animal control shelter that would accommodate for the increasing intakes as well as reduce the spread of disease. I was working at animal control last spring when the architects came by and had been to see shelters in other areas of Georgia. But I still don't see even a hint of construction.

Chief Berkow was very proud to talk about the three new trucks they bought for the officers. Wouldn't that money have been better spent to increase training for the current officers and hire more to handle the number of calls? He claims he doesn't know anything about any dog fighting calls that haven't been responded to. Funny, because I helped someone late last year compile lots of documentation of the number of times the police department and animal control were called about pit puppies and suspected fighting. No one ever came, so we went to the GBI and Georgia Sheriff's Association, and the other person documenting made calls to the ABC national news outlet. The next day, two members of city council, animal control officers, and a few police officers finally showed up. The dogs were impounded. The owner had just gotten out of jail for murder. The house was actually abandoned and had been condemned. Weapons were found inside the house along with other items. So what happened? The guy was issued community service through animal control, and was told he could have his dogs back. On the last day of the community service, he was arrested for manslaughter. The puppies were not allowed to be released until the owner signed them over, so they sat for several months growing up in the small cages in the puppy side of animal control. By the time they were released, the rescues that offered to take them initially no longer had the room available for them. So yes, I could see how dogfighting is not a concern of our community. We're more than happy to have murderers live among us without them being bothered by police.

I'm absolutely frustrated with animal control in Savannah right now. I will be more than happy to give kudos to Lt. Bouleware for hiring an excellent shelter director who has made so many positive changes with the very little he was given, and I'll extend the kudos to the ladies at the shelter who give their all to try and keep the animals comfortable and as healthy as best they can. But when will there be more officers on the street? How many times does a person have to call about illegal tethering or neglectful conditions before anything is ever done? When will someone be able to call on the weekends and not be told there is nothing that can be done until Monday? What about an actual animal cruelty investigator as other counties in Georgia have? Or even an actual prosecution team that can get jail time for violators instead of just community service hours at the animal control shelter?

Just what is it going to take to get our city's leadership to give a damn about animal welfare in our community???