Rescue group offers help as commissioners note shelter concerns and move to closed session
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
David Edwards of Bear Guard Animal Rescue urged Greene County commissioners to accept rescue assistance for the county animal shelter and flagged recent concerns; commissioners said some details will be discussed in closed session and stressed transparency where legally permissible.
David Edwards, co‑founder of Bear Guard Animal Rescue, spoke during public comment to offer the rescue’s assistance to Greene County Animal Services. Edwards said his group has a long relationship with the county shelter and has taken animals to veterinarians when county resources were limited.
"We are open. We wanna help," Edwards said, noting the rescue typically spends $20,000–$30,000 a month on veterinary bills funded by fundraising and that the group has maintained a 100% compliance record on state surveys since opening.
Edwards acknowledged there are recent concerns about conditions at the county shelter and said he understood some of those items would be discussed in closed session; he expressed support for transparency "whenever legally permissible." Commissioners subsequently discussed the shelter during their remarks and one commissioner asked that details be revisited in closed session and that the public be informed as allowed by law.
The board later voted to enter closed session for attorney‑client privilege, economic development and personnel matters; commissioners said some animal‑shelter issues would be part of that discussion.
What’s next: The commission entered closed session to discuss attorney‑client and personnel matters (including items referred to in public comment); the public comment and commissioners’ statements indicate the rescue group remains willing to partner with county animal services.