Home

Press Release 02/01/2007 #3

Contact: Public Affairs (404) 656-3689

Statement from Tommy Irvin Regarding Pike County Animal Abuse Case

Today I am declaring a state of emergency within the Department of Agriculture and taking action necessary to save the lives of the horses and dogs on the premises in Pike County. 

We have given the owners of these animals ample instructions and time to rectify the problems found on their property.  I am exercising my authority under the Humane Care for Equines Act, the Georgia Animal Protection Act and Emergency Support Function 11 of the Georgia Emergency Operation Plan, and am impounding all the horses and dogs from the property.

This is not a decision made hastily or lightly.  We have worked with our partners to secure an impound facility to handle the large number of animals involved because our two equine impound facilities are full.  I am taking aggressive action to assure that these animals receive the quality of care that Georgia citizens expect.
 
This will take a lot of coordination and assistance from our private partners to make sure resources are readily available.  The department will be establishing an area command center to coordinate the efforts. 

I want to remind Georgians that our Equine Impound Program receives no state funds.  Anyone wishing to make a contribution to the care and feeding of horses in the program may send a check to:

Equine Impound Program
Office of Equine Health, Room 143
19 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Atlanta, GA  30334

Please make the check payable to “Georgia Department of Agriculture” and write “Equine Impound Program” in the check’s memo line.

The Department will establish a mechanism to facilitate additional volunteers and supplies.  A call center will be available beginning next week.  More information will be forthcoming.

###