If you are signing locally, we have an update! There has been an Emergency Meeting for Dec 3rd at 5pm CST. Please come out and support!!!! 

Our petition affects the entirety of Lawrence County, IL and every animal that receives — or urgently needs — care through our Animal Control facility. Currently, there is a major lack of leadership, consistency, and accountability. As a result, animals are going without essential care when the Animal Control Officer is not physically present at the shelter. Residents who rely on the ACO for critical tasks — such as picking up stray animals, responding to urgent calls, and performing the daily duties outlined in their county contract — are often left without help.

Change is necessary, because animals’ lives may be at risk. When calls go unanswered and stray animals are not picked up, the chances of them being injured, causing accidents, or harming other animals or people increase. The role of the ACO is to reduce these risks, yet when the work phone is routinely ignored — even during scheduled work hours — communication breaks down entirely between residents in need and the officer.

There are also additional concerns regarding conduct and misuse of authority. Reports indicate the ACO has performed neuter procedures without proper authorization, volunteered at another county’s rescue organization while on their own county’s paid work hours, and allowed non-county personnel to drive the county-owned vehicle for personal use. These actions raise significant legal, ethical, and safety issues. 

Furthermore, there have been instances where employees’ negligence was overlooked, creating an unsafe and unprofessional environment within the facility. Perhaps most troubling, the ACO has refused to allow a licensed rescue to save animals from a kill shelter due to personal issues, directly risking the lives of animals that could have been saved.

These behaviors demonstrate a pattern of misconduct, mismanagement, and disregard for the wellbeing of the animals and the community. Our county deserves an Animal Control system that is transparent, reliable, and centered on animal welfare — not personal convenience or personal conflicts. Meaningful change is needed to ensure that animals receive proper care, taxpayers receive honest service, and our community can trust the system meant to protect its most vulnerable creatures.