Bell Says Animal Control Ordinance To Be Looked At

Stephens County Commissioner Dennis Bell said local officials are going to be meeting next week about the animal control ordinance.

Bell made the comments at the conclusion of Tuesday’s Stephens County Commission meeting.

He said he feels there are issues with the animal control ordinance that need to be straightened out now.

“Some of our ordinances are not up to par,” said Bell. “We are going to re-visit these codes, make sure they are legal and make sure the people enforcing our codes are legal.”

The issue of swearing in the animal control officer has come up following the citations issued to Stephens County High School agriculture teacher Daniel Hebert for misdemeanor animal cruelty last month.

They say Hebert castrated two cats in an Animal Science class a number of weeks ago.

Supporters of Hebert have previously questioned the authority of the animal control officer to issue the summons, saying he was not sworn in.

Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter Director Jeff Roberts said that courts have accepted animal control cases brought forward for the last six months and have not raised that question.

Bell said his concerns are greater than one case.

Also, he said it is not about going after the animal shelter in any way.

“I do not want the humane shelter to go away,” said Bell. “We have had people work very hard to make sure this thing is a go.”

The meeting will include city, county, and humane shelter representatives.