The CSRA Humane Society staff is under the gun to reduce the number of pets held at the former stockade following a finding that two dogs were neglected at the shelter and other animals appeared to be ill.
Last month, two volunteers at the CSRA Humane Society pleaded no contest to charges of animal cruelty after a pair of dogs at the shelter lost significant weight, one nearly half of his weight. A follow-up inspection by Augusta Animal Services on Friday, Feb. 25, revealed there are still some problems with care at the shelter.
Augusta Animal Services began an investigation last month after an anonymous tip led staff to a veterinarian’s office where Hagrid and Hegwig were being treated. The pair had been surrendered by their owner who moved out of state Sept. 2, 2021.
[adrotate banner=”51″]
By Jan. 5, Hagrid weight dropped 22.6 pounds, and he was suffering from open wounds, two of which were deep and bleeding and oozing discharge. Hegwig lost 13.8 pounds. Both were stained on their feet, stomachs, and rear/tail areas with dog waste.
The Augusta Press obtained a copy of the Animal Services’ investigative reports after two volunteers of the CSRA Humane Society pleaded no contest to the city ordinance violations of cruelty to animals. Each was sentenced to six months on probation. The judge ordered that Hagrid and Hegwig be surrendered to Animal Services and that the shelter would submit to reinspection by Animal Services as the agency determined it was necessary.
The most impactful part of the judge’s order for CSRA Humane Society is to reduce the number of animals at the shelter from approximately 125 to 40.
The Animal Services staff took Hagrid and Hegwig into custody Jan. 10. An employee tried to visit CSRA Humane Society on Wood Street that day but the facility was closed. The investigator took pictures of the outside dog run areas covered with feces. He reported also seeing broken crates. Both dogs are doing well now, according to Animal Services Director James Hill.
During a Jan. 18 inspection of the CSRA Humane Society facility, the inspectors noted the facility had been cleaned and most of the animals seemed healthy, although there were too many animals for too few untrained volunteers to take proper care of, according to the report. The facility had 45 cats and 80 dogs.
Reducing the number of pets at the shelter is a serious challenge, but the shelter volunteers are working on it, said Christine Collins, vice president who has volunteered at the shelter for more than 20 years.
[adrotate banner=”71″]
They have reduced the number at the shelter by about 20, she said. “We’ve been lucky that the right people have come along (for adoption).”
Collins said she has also contacted groups that arrange to transport animals from local shelters in the South to northern cities where there is a greater demand for pet adoption.
The volunteers have a disadvantage in that some of the dogs need heart worm treatment, Collins said. They are also considering a foster program to help reduce the numbers at the facility, she said.
“I don’t want any healthy pets euthanized because of the mistake we made,” Collins said.
She has no explanation for what happened with Hagrid and Hegwig, Collins said.
“I’m embarrassed and mad and sick to my stomach,” she said. But volunteers are working to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
The problem is that the main volunteers all have full-time jobs, and it is difficult to find employees for the wages the shelter can pay, Collins said. They need animal lovers who can work part time without benefits. And volunteers are always needed to help with pet care, grooming, and dog walking and training.
And people willing to provide good homes are very much in need.
To volunteer, apply for a job and to adopt a pet, the best way to reach the staff at the CSRA Humane Society is by email, info@csra-hs.com.
Sandy Hodson is a staff reporter covering courts for The Augusta Press. Reach her at sandy@theaugustapress.com.
