Topic of SCHS Cat Castration Case Comes Up at Shelter Board Meeting

Teachers, parents, students, and others supporting Stephens County High School Agriculture Teacher Daniel Hebert make their feelings known to the Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter Board.

The shelter board met Monday at Toccoa City Hall.

Hebert was summoned to appear in Stephens County Magistrate Court this month on two counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty for reportedly castrating two cats during an Animal Science class at the high school last month.

He was also suspended for about a week and has resigned his teaching position effective at the end of the current school year.

The Humane Shelter oversees animal control for Toccoa and Stephens County.

Resident and former Shelter Board Member Angie Garland said she personally does not feel the teacher should have to lose his job over what happened.

“He made a mistake,” said Garland. “He should not have castrated a cat in a classroom setting and I told him so. That is reserved for Mark Wilkinson’s farm, George Dean’s farm, where it would normally take place. If it had happened there, to my knowledge, animal control would not have been involved at all. But when you have rules and regulations, it is the shelter’s responsibility to enforce the laws.”

Garland also addressed comments apparently being made on social media.

“I think you all need to understand what you see on Facebook did not come from this board, I should not speak for them, it came from volunteers,” said Garland. “In all organizations, you have the center, you have the right, and you have the left. Please do not be judgmental in thinking all people associated with the shelter are in tune with what is being asked.”

Stephens County High School FFA Member Tyler Allen said they just want to show the board they support their teacher.

“We, by no means, have any hard feelings towards any member of the board,” said Allen, who added they do not feel the board is the source of any conflict.

“We are just here solely to show support for our Ag program and our teacher,” said Allen.

Meanwhile, Current Shelter Board Member and Stephens County Commissioner Michelle Grafton said she personally supports Hebert.

“I have personally met Mr. Hebert and think he is an outstanding teacher and an outstanding citizen,” said Grafton. “I think it is a shame that just a couple of people in the community can bring down the life of somebody. I am not speaking on behalf of the board. I am speaking on behalf of myself. I support him. I support your (agriculture) program and I think we need to whatever we can do now to get anything corrected now for anything that can happen in the future like this.”

Hebert’s animal cruelty summons is expected to be heard in Stephens County Magistrate Court on December 18.

Others 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 as far as he knows, there is no issues with the animal control officer’s ability to write citations, adding that courts have accepted animal control cases brought forward for the last six months.