Animal Cruelty/Neglect Task Force (ACT)
Our Mission
- To speak for the animal victims of abuse, cruelty, and neglect through education, community outreach, and advocacy.
- To improve the lives of animals in our community by making pet owners aware of their responsibility to properly care for their pets.
- To increase awareness of animal cruelty/neglect laws in Georgia and to strengthen these laws at the state and local level.
How ACT Works
- ACT has no authority to take legal action against perpetrators of animal cruelty or neglect, nor to seize animals.
- ACT is the education and awareness program which will include efforts to strengthen animal ordinances that are weak.
- Volunteers are recruited for ACT to help with research, preparing presentations and preparing for awareness events. Volunteers with public speaking skills will be recruited for a speaker’s panel. The speaker’s panel will assist with program publicity and will speak on behalf of animals by providing education.
- Staff are trained to educate the people that report abuse/neglect cases, and to make the proper referrals. Reporters have to take responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of the animal victims that they are reporting. If the reporter insists on anonymity, their call is forwarded to the coordinator for follow-up. Information given is confidential.
Duncan was found with a VCR cord wrapped around his neck as a collar/tie-out.
Gracie was found abandoned in the woods after giving birth to 13 puppies.
Even though we have helped many animals of cruelty and neglect, there is still much to be done. Here is how you can help these animals in need:
- Funding - ACT needs money to function properly. Presently, several members of ACT are using their own money to purchase pet related items. Please consider donating money to this worthy cause. The more money we receive, the more animals we can help. ACT funds are used to care for abandoned animals that have been abused or neglected.
- Fencing - If you have fencing you can donate or if you would like to purchase fencing, please let me know. Fencing allows us to get dogs off of chains. This is something that ACT works very hard at. Chained dogs live miserable lives, often suffering mentally and physically, and can only watch as life passes them by.
- Crates and Kennels - We'll take those as donations also, "in good shape".
- Building Materials/Lumber - The ACT program is also in great need of building materials or scrap lumber. If you have lumber, building materials, or scrap lumber, please let me know. Also, if you are a contractor or if you know of a contractor that has scrap lumber left over from building jobs, please contact me, we can make arrangements to pick up the lumber. Donated lumber and building materials will allow us to build dog houses for the winter months and shelter for the summer months.
- Volunteers - The ACT program is also in need of volunteers to help with the above mentioned program goals.
If you are considering joining this program, I can promise you that it will be a very rewarding experience. Although ACT rarely has the ability to work hands-on with these animal victims, efforts through education and awareness often are successful in helping to make a difference. We work very hard at improving the lives of animals by promoting long-term, positive change. When we see an animal that was once in a bad situation now living a happier and healthier life, that’s when we know every bit of effort was worth it.
-Melissa Alderman
Cruelty/Neglect Coordinator
If you would like to join this program or would like more information, please contact Melissa Alderman at 247-3266 x 30 or by email at: malderman@lowndescounty.com
For information on puppy mills, visit this site: http://www.prisonersofgreed.org
For statistics on dog fighting, click here. (Humane Society of the United States Fact page)