Terry Watts Searches for Answers

Last week, I introduced you to Hope Master, today, I introduce you to Terry Watts from the Panama City, Florida area. I post this not out of design, but out of necessity because Terry has asked for our help. Who is Terry Watts? Here is the short list of dogs that she has either pulled, fostered, transported, or asked me to take into our rescue: Tater, Boscoe, Gisele the Collie Girl, and Jaffe. Impressive, list isn’t it?

Late Wednesday night I received an email from Terry, which was a bit confusing, so I called her immediately. She explained that a Director of an Animal Control, will no longer allow her to pull, help transport or coordinate saving dogs from his shelter after she made a comment on facebook about a horrendous, horrible murder of a Pet Pot Belly Pig that was picked up by an Animal Control Officer. The pet pig was in their possession for stray hold. The Officer took the poor baby home, butchered it and ate it! He was not fired for this behavior.

Terry explained to me if she can not pull or help transport dogs from this pound, less dogs will get to rescue, and more will be euthanized. While on the phone with Terry, she elaborated that the pet pig’s family had returned to Animal Control looking for their lost pet, but it was too late. The pig had been allegedly murdered prior to the mandatory 5-day hold that this agency places on lost strays.

In a Blink:
So in one split second, Terry Watts, a long time animal rescue volunteer is being prevented from doing what she does… saving animals. This afternoon, Terry provided me with three email address that we can use to asks that someone steps up to uncover this mystery. Did it really happen? We simply do not know. If this is all a joke, then why not say so?

ggainer@baycountyfl.gov
devernham@baycountyfl.gov

My last update from Terry was just a few moments ago. She reports in a text message that a news station is coming to do an interview! I’m so proud of her! I’m not sure what I can do to help Terry find the truth, and the closure that she needs, or what I can do to help her continue to rescue from this shelter.

My greatest concern is the cavalier attitude with which a government employee terminated an effective relationship with a private citizen. If this behavior is allowed, if pound administrators are permitted to control the speech of the rescue community through bullying tactics, who will be the voice of the animals? Are rescues just supposed to be quiet yes-men to these people? Who works for who? Where is the accountability?

Hopefully we will learn the truth of the allegations in this specific case, but let us not lose sight of the bigger picture. Rescues and volunteers should do more than just pull individual animals out of kill shelters. There should be a partnership with them, one that encourages and enables them both to be more effective in saving lives and raising awareness of responsible pet ownership.

Gisele

Update: One clarification is that a family was coming to adopt the pig before his demise, not the original family that lost the pig! Terry has been interviewed and will be aired this evening. I will provide a link if it’s available.

News story available http://www.wjhg.com/home/headlines/100660434.html

Well, today is Terry’s birthday. The director of the shelter has resigned. She has been given her rescue rights by a Commissioner. Details to Follow. Thanks to everyone who believes in the right way to rescue! Love you Terry! Now… let’s get back to work!

Terry Watts Vindicated!