New Hart County Animal Control Officer Now in Training
Hart County’s new animal control officer is expected to be on the job in next couple of weeks.
Audrey Segars was hired recently is currently in training with animal control in Albany, GA.
Last fall, the County and the City of Hartwell joined forces to pay for an animal control officer. Hart County also instituted its first ever animal control ordinance specifically to deal with the problem of stray and abandoned dogs and puppies.
According to Hart County Sheriff Mike Cleveland, once Segars is on the job, citizens can expect the new ordinance to be enforced.
“The new county ordinance is very clear, you’re required to have ID on your dog or face it being picked up,” Cleveland said. “We’ve needed some type of animal control. Every property owner has a right to their property and not having to put up with a neighbor’s dog coming on it and getting into the trash or being vicious and running them back into their own homes, and the basic animal control ordinance we have now will cover those incidents.”
Cleveland said while he’s hesitant to chart new legal territory, he believes the new animal control ordinance is necessary for the safety of the citizens of the county.
“We had to answer a call New Year’s Day where a vicious dog was in a yard trying to tear into someone’s fence to get at their small dogs,” he said. “I answered that call myself. When we arrived, the dog turned and started barking at me. He didn’t have a collar and that’s a prime example. So, folks need to know that they have got to get an ID on their dog’s collars or they’re going to lose the pet.”
Cleveland said under the new ordinance dog owners will first be given warnings to bring their dog in compliance with the new law.
After that, if they do have proper identification on their dog or take steps to control a vicious animal, they will face fines and in the case of a vicious animal, the animal could be impounded.