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BJC ANIMAL CONTROL, OR ANIMAL CRUELTY? YOU DECIDE
The problems with Birmingham Jefferson County Animal Control are long-standing and for the most part unchanged, or worse. I came into the picture after substantial public outcry resulted in a week long evaluation of the facility by representatives from the National Animal Control Association (NACA) I will provide links to these publications as soon as I can locate them.
This evaluation was, I believe, paid for by the City of Birmingham; in others words WE AS TAXPAYERS paid for it. The reports are lengthy and highly critical.
Their evaluation resulted in a "scrambling" effort on the part of BJC to revamp the facility from top to bottom, at least on "paper". They hoped to accomplish as much as possible before the reports were released as public property. Many hours, and much labor was put into drawing up protocols outlining procedures for cleaning kennels, euthanizing animals, and much more. When I came on board, I was asked to draw up detailed protocols for animal care; from how to care for pregnant mothers, moms and their litters, litters of pups and kittens with no mother, the elderly, the infirm, and more humane protocols for euthanizing animals.
But to what avail? How long can you imagine these protocols were followed? As soon as the public settled down, believing all would be better, and the employees relaxed as complacency from the public settled in; employees began taking shortcuts. Going back to the older, simpler ways of doing their work. I was asked by Councilwoman Valerie Abbott, after I resigned, to write a letter about my experiences while working at BJC. Click below to read this letter.
LETTER TO COUNCILWOMAN ABBOTT, 2005
After reading this letter, you will understand why I continued to worry about the animals impounded at that facility. Because of my health problems, I moved to a quiet, isolated cabin on the Warrior River (west Jefferson County). I was so sick that I lost touch with everyone and everything. But my worst fears were realized when, as I was finally beginning to get better, someone showed me the following information found on the internet.
The pictures and stories on this page occurred in 2009, at Birmingham Jefferson County Animal Control (BJC, BJCACS). The first is the story of Phoenix (left), a dog that was taken from his owner who was charged with animal cruelty. This animal control facility houses animals seized in animal cruelty cases, and must remain at this facility until a judge makes a final disposition of the case. This is not a speedy process. These animals most often will stay confined there for months, sometimes up to a year. During his 11 month "incarceration" at BJC. Phoenix was basically slowly starved to death. He was ultimately taken into a loving, nurturing foster home, but his condition had deteriorated so badly that he did not recover. Please click on the link below to view documentation as he moved through "the system". It is more than sickening, more than cruel.
PHOENIX FROM NEGLECT TO NEGLECT
YOU TUBE VIDEO OF PHOENIX AFTER SPENDING 11 MONTHS AT BJC ANIMAL CONTROL
