The covering on the fence has been taken down. Animal rescue groups and other members of the public can once again go into the kennel area.

It has been less than two weeks since Whitfield County Animal Control director Don Allen Garrett's last day at the shelter and some of the controversial policies implemented in his final months have been reversed or significantly modified.

Former Murray County Animal Shelter director Diane Franklin, who also worked for several years at the Whitfield shelter, was brought in as interim director and has made a number of changes. For one, the public can now go back into the kennel area.

"I want to do what we can do to get these animals adopted in a positive way, and I think letting the rescue groups get back in there and see the dogs will help us do that," said Franklin.

In May, the shelter barred the animal rescue groups, and the public, from going back into the kennels. Previously, dog owners and members of rescue groups could go back into the kennel area to look at the animals. County officials said that move was prompted by safety and liability concerns about having people so close to the dogs.

Franklin says there are still some safety concerns.

"That's why we will require anyone going into the back to be accompanied by a staff member," she said. "And we are working on some liability waivers they will have to sign."

Board of Commissioners Chairman Lynn Laughter describes the new policy as a "modification" of the policy of not allowing people into the back, not a reversal.

"They can go in the back, but they have to be accompanied by a staff member. Previously, we were allowing them to go into the back unescorted. This strikes a good balance," she said.

Jan Eaton of Tri State Pet Rescue in Blue Ridge had criticized the policy of not allowing rescue groups into the back, saying it made their work more difficult. She said she welcomed the new policy.

"I can only speak for myself. But I would prefer to have a staff member with me when I go into the back, so I can ask questions about the dogs," she said.

The new policy seems to be similar to those in surrounding counties. Officials with animal shelters in Gordon County, Murray County and Walker County say they do allow members of rescue groups and pet owners back into the kennel areas but only when supervised by staff.

"I do have some concerns about people other than the staff being in the back," said Commissioner Roger Crossen. "There is the possibility they can be bit. But I feel better that they are escorted by a staff member. I'm one of those people who thinks we should let our department heads do their jobs, and if she thinks this is a workable policy, I think we should let her implement it."

Franklin has also taken down the covering that was placed on the shelter fence in July.

"I moved that to a pen that I am using," she said. "If you want to come out here and adopt a dog you need to be able to interact with that dog. By putting the screen around that pen, we let the dog devote his attention to the person thinking about adopting it. But it is no longer blocking public view."

Earlier this month, because of questions about training, the Georgia Department of Agriculture blocked shelter staff from euthanizing animals. County Administrator Mark Gibson says he expects the department to certify a staff member to perform euthanasia soon.

Gibson says that going forward the staff will only euthanize animals by giving them an intravenous (IV) injection. State law permits three methods to euthanize animals, in order of preference: IV, intraperitoneal injection (into the body cavity) and intercardial injection. In the past, animal welfare groups have criticized the shelter for over-reliance on intercardial injections, sometimes called the heart stick, the least preferred method.

"I am so glad to hear they are only going to use IV," said Eaton. "We don't want to see any animal euthanized. But if it has to be done, we want them to use the preferred method."

Laughter says the shelter did not violate the law by using intercardial injections and it was done humanely.

"I have witnessed them doing it. The animal was asleep when it was done. It did not suffer," she said.

But she added that if IV is what the state prefers that is what the shelter will use going forward.

Garrett retired earlier this month after some 25 years as animal control director. His last official day is Sept. 30, but officials say his last day actually at the shelter was Aug. 14. Gibson says Garrett is using unused paid time off until his official separation date. His retirement came less than two weeks after the state pulled the shelter's ability to euthanize. But officials say he was not forced out.

Garrett could not be reached for comment, and he did not file a resignation letter. His personnel file shows he routinely received solid performance reviews from county administrators over the years. But it also shows that in 2014, Garrett was suspended for five days without pay after a dog at the shelter was mistakenly euthanized before the 10-day hold on the animal was up. And in May 2015, Garrett received a formal reprimand from Gibson for failing on several occasions to make weekly deposits of all funds received at the animal shelter as he had been instructed to do the previous August.

"In addition, although not reprimanded for this particular aspect of your job, you should post either animals eligible for adoption or animals that have been adopted on social media, namely Facebook, as well as on a section of our county website which is conspicuous as possible as determined by IT with my approval," the reprimand states.

In the file, there is an August 2014 memo from Gibson to Garrett directing him to charge the same amount to everyone who picks up an animal at the shelter, develop a uniform fee schedule for services, to record all payments and to bring all receipts to the county finance department each week. There is also an April 2015 memo from Assistant Finance Director Melva Andrews to Finance Director Alicia Vaughn showing the dates that Garrett actually did make such deposits. It shows that he would sometimes go up to five weeks without delivering receipts.

Gibson says Franklin will serve as interim director until a permanent director is hired but says he does not know when that will be.

"As to a search for a permanent director, the board (of commissioners) will take up that issue as soon as we are able, but the immediate plan is to stabilize operations to provide the best service for taxpayers. When the board decides when the search begins, I don't believe a time limit may be put on it at this time because we don't want to limit ourselves by time in order to find just anyone able to perform the requirements of the position," he said.

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Whitfield animal shelter allowing public into kennel area, changing method of euthanasia - The Daily Citizen