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Residents press Rutherford County commissioners to overhaul animal control after multiple complaints
Summary
More than a dozen residents and animal-welfare volunteers told the board they have repeatedly reported neglect and cruelty with little response; speakers urged new leadership, enforcement of existing statutes and use of volunteer cruelty investigators.
Dozens of Rutherford County residents and animal-welfare volunteers used the county’s public comment period on Feb. 3 to press the Board of Commissioners for immediate changes in animal-control enforcement and shelter operations.
Speakers representing multiple rescue groups and individuals described repeated reports of neglected, injured and dead animals that they said went unanswered. Debbie Anderson, vice president of a local Humane Society, and Debbie McLawhorn, founder of Southern Paws Animal Rescue and a retired lieutenant with 29 years of police experience, told commissioners they believe state law gives localities authority to appoint cruelty…
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