Multiple Fannin County residents made their voices heard at a Board of Commissioners’ meeting Tuesday, March 9, when they called for Animal Control Manager John Drullinger’s employment termination.
“There are so many different things that have happened,” resident and owner of Waddle On Inn Rescue Julie Wootten said. “When you ask me to be patient, my patience left when I laid on the ground holding my boy (endangered goose) as he’s gushing blood out and blood taking his last breath. He was one of only 17 in the entire world. He is irreplaceable.”
Wootten has suffered multiple attacks from roaming dogs on her property, which has resulted in the loss of animal life and thousands of dollars.
“I called the Animal Control facility, and I called two times during open hours, but Mr. Drullinger never bothered to call me back,” she said. “Mr. Hensley (Jamie, Chairman), you called me that evening, and I’m extremely appreciative of that. You told me you’d have him call me. My question is, why does he have to be instructed to call somebody? That should have been on his own. He’s been at this job for 15 years.
“The next day, I heard nothing from John Drullinger. I did speak to you, Mr. Patterson (Glenn, Post Two Commissioner), and it was a great conversation, and I thank you for it. But you asked me to be patient. I’m now two months post attack. I do not have the name of the owner of the dog that attacked my place.”
Wootten explained that while Drullinger knew the name of the dog’s owner because he has taken the dog back to his home and suggested that she may not be getting information “out of spite” because she has been outspoken about the issues at Animal Control.
Wootten said, “What Mr. Drullinger told me at my home that day, when I asked him why he hadn’t cited anybody for it when he had picked the dogs up before, he said, ‘It’s just like drunk drivers. There’s people that have been arrested three times, and they had consequences and nothing happened.’ So, he didn’t feel the need. Would we expect that from one of our police officers?”
Through an Open Record Request, Wootten was able to identify that while the county saw 11 dog attacks, three of which required medical care, no citations were issued. Four of the dogs were also not held for the ten day required hold following their attacks.
Wootten also addressed Drullinger’s lack of knowledge when it comes to the dogs in the facility, specifically citing an instance when Drullinger was unable to answer questions regarding a sickly dog that needed medical attention.
Resident and Animal Control volunteer Debi Holcomb echoed Wootten’s comments and described multiple incidents she’s experienced while volunteering. She and Wootten also pointed out discrepancies from times they’ve gone to the shelter to adopt an animal and been denied as opposed to times when Drullinger has easily allowed someone to adopt.
The two pointed out that while the facility is in need of funds, many are unwilling to donate because they do not trust that they’ll be put to good use by Drullinger.
After the meeting, Hensley spoke to the issues at Animal Control, stating that their remarks were “duly noted.”
He said, “We’re trying to make as many positive changes as we possibly can.”