Bartow residents, animal lovers urged to demand county fix failed system at Jan. 17 rally

Bartow County residents are urged to come out Saturday, Jan. 17 and tell the county to do better...to fix its failed system that is killing more and more healthy dogs and cats, despite an increasing chunk of Bartow County’s taxpayers’ dollars being poured into "animal welfare." Some $1.7 million in taxpayers’ money last year alone.

With this $1.7 million dollar budget, Bartow taxpayers and the animals are getting a lot of “NO!!”… NO direct adoptions from Bartow County Animal Control (BCAC)! NO doors open to the public to adopt at Etowah Valley Humane Society (EVHS)...only lengthy, complicated restrictions! NO free or low-cost spay/neuter program! NO volunteer access to people who want to help care for and support the animals in the shelter! And a decade-old restrictive contract between BCAC and EVHS that has prohibited BCAC from progressing into its own entity with direct adoptions and a volunteer program.

Our message is simple: Start supporting all of Bartow residents' needs. Demand that Bartow County Animal Control move from the antiquated animal CONTROL to animal SERVICES.

Take this easy step WITH us! Attend the Bartow Animals Deserve Better Rally Saturday, Jan. 17 from 10 am - noon at 135 W Cherokee Ave, Cartersville, GA 30120

Rally details:

• MEET at 9:45 am, with rally starting at 10 am
• WEAR a blue shirt or Bartow Animals Deserve Better T-shirt if you have one
• Bring a sign. Bring a friend. Or just bring your voice. (see photo for sign examples)

WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR:

• Allow direct adoptions from Bartow County Animal Control
• Invest in FREE and/or low-cost SPAY and NEUTER available for ALL Bartow County residents
• Allow volunteers to come in and care for the animals in Bartow County Animal Control
• Ensure more dogs and cats are saved ...restore open communication with all animal advocates and dog/cat rescue groups — end prohibitive gatekeeping and blocking
• Establish a trap-neuter-return program for community (unhomed) cats
• End the restrictive contract between BCAC and EVHS
• Hire a qualified, experienced veterinarian
• Install indoor cameras at Bartow County Animal Control for accountability

For more information, contact the Bartow Animals Deserve Better team, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578215011255 and Www.bartowanimalsdeservebetter.com