Jones County Animal Control Asking Commission for Surrender Fees from Pet Owners

GRAY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — The shelter at Jones County Animal Control is clean, and the animals look happy and healthy.

Jennifer Giiddens, the officer manager for Jones County Animal Control, says the staff works hard to keep it that way.

“If they’re brought to the shelter, they’re cared for on a daily basis, and the ones that let us love on them, we do, so they have that for the time they’re here,” said Giddens.

Every week she says the shelter is filled to capacity which is about 30 animals, and every week at least 10 to 15 more come through the door, and rotate through the cages.

Giddens says about half of those are from owners surrendering their pets.

“In the past couple of years, we have seen the amount of owner surrenders drastically go up… it instituted people not being to care, feed, or take the animals to the veterinary on a regular basis,” said Giddens.

So Giddens wants the Jones County County Commission to allow her to impose a fee for owner surrenders.  She’s asking $25 per cat, $35 per dog, $40 for a litter, and $50 for a mother and her litter.

It’s money Giddens says will help animal control properly care for sick cats and pups when they come in. A trip to the vet could cost between $50 and $100.

“A lot of times they have skin conditions, various types of mange, more then likely they’re wormy, have internal parasites,” said Giddens.

She knows the fees might draw a negative response from some.

“That is always going to be there you know animal control is a hot topic, and you know we just have to lay out what’s best for the animals,” said Giddens.

But her focus is making sure cats and dogs, like her favorite Gun Smoke, get shelter, food, and the care they need.

The Jones County Commission Animal Control committee approved Giddens request for surrender. The full commission will vote on the fees at next Tuesday’s meeting.

Giddens wants to remind you that all dogs and cats at the shelter are adoptable. During the summer, cats are free on Friday’s.

She also has a “Scratch and Dent” program for special needs animals. They can be adopted for free all year long.

For more information call, Jones County Animal Control (478) 986-1427.