PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
FIRE THE CURRENT ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER FOR THE SHOOTING AND NEGLECT OF INNOCENT ANIMALS
  1. Signatures
    1,700 out of 2,000
    Petitioning
    1. Mayor Richard Long
  2. Created By
    Christine Kozanda
    Munster, IN

UPDATE********  THE MAYOR HAS STATED THAT HE HAS CONCLUDED HIS INVESTIGATION INTO THE SHOOTING OF THE CAGED DOG AND IT IS HIS OPINION THAT THE DOG WAS VISCIOUS AND NO LAW WAS BROKEN. IT IS THIS CONTINUED NARROW MINDED APPROACH THAT HAS MADE THE CITY THE PATHETIC PROBLEM IT IS IN REGARDS TO ANIMALS.  --- It has always been speculation that the Jackson Alabama animal control officer Terry Lee Hutto, whether to save the city money or for his own self-serving reasons, used cruel and inhumane methods to euthanize the dogs held at the pound. One of those methods was the accusation that dogs were being shot by Hutto. During a recent meeting with the mayor a supporter of making changes at the dog pound mentioned witnesses to such an event. Hutto was questioned by mayor last week and asked which city employee witnessed him shooting a dog. Hutto named the employee and the employee was then brought into the mayor's office and questioned. He spoke the truth. His account: Hutto called him to the pound for help. The dog was in a crate/live trap and Hutto couldn't get him out. They allegedly tried for 45 min and couldn't get the dog distressed dog out. The employee then said he had to leave and Hutto got a pistol and shot the dog in the crate. Both said the dog was aggressive but Hutto has stated in the past that many were aggressive or vicious and this turned out to not be the case. Furthermore any animal that is trapped or cornered in unfamiliar territory is not unlikely to exhibit aggressive behavior. Cherry, the dog pictured with cherry eyes on the "what's going on at the Jackson, AL pound" page was vicious according to Hutto and that is far from the truth as was the case with many other dogs pulled from the pound and adopted out by rescue. Even if the crated dog was aggressive, no one was in danger and he could have picked the crate up and took him to the vet. OR he could have tranquilized him in the crate. The mayor was given this information last Friday and Hutto still has a job. Under Alabama Code Section 3-7A-8 Destruction of impounded dogs, cats, and ferrets; when authorized; redemption by owner; adoption of animals. All dogs, cats, and ferrets which have been impounded in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, after notice is given to the owner as provided in Section 3-7A-7, may be humanely destroyed and disposed of when not redeemed by the owner within seven days. There is no justification that shooting this animal was in any way a humane act. 

Why People Are Signing
Recent Signatures

Fire the Current Animal Control Officer

Mr Mayor

I just signed the following petition addressed to: Mayor Richard Long.

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We the undersigned animals lovers across this great nation are asking you to once and for all stand up and do the right thing for the animals and people of Jackson. Incident after incident has been brought to light regarding the practices of your animal control officer and his treatment of animals in the past and to date. The most recent discovery of the shooting of an innocent animal in a cage is not only inhumane but is a direct violation of Alabama Code Section 3-7A-8 Destruction of impounded dogs, cats, and ferrets; when authorized; redemption by owner; adoption of animals. How much longer are you going to allow this abuse to continue before you say enough is enough? We know you were hoping this situation would simply go away but let me assure you that we are here to stay until action is taken. The time has come for you to stand up and fix the atrocity that is know as the Jackson Pound. Too many years have gone by that the animals have suffered and been neglected at the hands of the uncaring. How can you look at the faces in the photos of years gone by and tell us that 'everything is fine' when it is clear to even the most lay person that everything is not 'fine'. This situation has gone beyond just your city and we are not going to go away until a change is made. No amount of meetings, committees, lawyers and spin doctoring is going to work until actual ACTION is taken by you. If you want to be a true leader of the city then swallow your pride, stand up for the animals and do the right the thing.

Sincerely,
The Voices for the Voiceless

[Your name]