THOMASVILLE – On Monday night at Imagine Thomasville, citizens packed the room as the Thomasville Humane Society hosted the first of a series of sessions called “Donuts with the Director” meant to help people better understand the different aspects of animal care. There were many people in attendance, including Thomasville locals, veterinarians, and Thomasville Humane Society board members.
“We want this to be a public forum,” said Thomasville Humane Executive Director Chandler Giddes. “We are here as resources. This panel will change, we may incorporate some other resources in this town, because we want you guys to be educated and understand the lay of the land when it comes to animal services. I want you guys to get a legitimate, honest, objective answer from some of the animal professionals in this community that live here and work here and play here just like you guys do.”
The panel consisted of three animal service groups in the Thomasville area. In attendance, along with the hosts, Thomasville Humane Society, were All Saints TNR, Miss Kitty’s Feline Sanctuary, and South GA Low-Cost Spay & Neuter Clinic.
This first session’s focus was on stray dogs and cats, which has become a hot-button issue in Thomasville as several neighborhoods have reported feeling unsafe as multiple packs of stray dogs roam their neighborhoods. When Giddes, who also led the session, asked the crowd who was there because they had concerns over stray animals, nearly every hand went up.
Much of the conversation at the meeting revolved around state and local laws surrounding stray animals. Giddes talked about the proper steps to take when taking in a stray and how pet ownership works according the Georgia state law. The session’s goal of being a public forum certainly came to fruition as questions were abundant, many of which focused on law enforcement and clarification of who can issue citations and pick up stray animals.
These are issues that have been brought up in County Commissioners’ meetings multiple times, which has led many citizens to become frustrated with the lack of action being taken to secure these stray animals. Giddes spent time answering questions and explaining the Thomasville Humane Society’s role in dealing with stray animals, including when they are and are not allowed to take animals. He also expounded on the ways that the Thomasville Humane Society helps people take care of their pets, giving out dog food and helping families keep their pets when falling on hard times. Giddes also talked about the importance of microchipping.
This was the first session in an ongoing series held by the Thomasville Humane Society to help build better animal service systems in Thomasville and Thomas County. The date of the second session has not been announced.