Morgan County Dog Pound 2008
April 7, 2008 Press
statement from the Ohio SPCA regarding the Morgan County Dog Pound Morgan County Commissioners
At the Morgan County Commissioner's meeting today, a vote was taken to
remove the dog warden, Jeff Driggs. In a 2-1 vote, the commissioners
approved the removal of Driggs. Driggs had until the end of the day to
resign or be fired.
He resigned.
April 2, 2008
Ohio SPCA
Executive Director, Teresa Landon, and Ohio SPCA President, Ed Sisler,
acting on a tip, made a gruesome discovery behind the Morgan County, Ohio dog
shelter on Saturday, March 29, 2008. When they arrived at the run-down shelter, they
noticed it was eerily quiet - there were no dogs being housed in the old
barn the county uses to keep stray and unwanted dogs. When Landon and
Sisler inspected the rear of the facility, they found mounds of fur, bones, and
dog collars protruding from the ground. As they moved the dirt aside on a
freshly dug trench, they uncovered the bodies of adult dogs and puppies just
inches below the surface. On March 31, Sisler returned to the site and
recovered the skulls of two dogs that had been shot. The skulls are being
examined at the Ohio State University in the Forensic Anthropology Department in
order to determine when those dogs were shot.
The Ohio SPCA has requested all public records pertaining to the Morgan
County Dog Shelter, and will conduct a thorough investigation of those records.
Morgan County Dog Warden, Jeff Driggs, has been placed on unpaid
administrative leave pending further investigation by the Morgan County
Commissioners. Today, the EPA conducted their own investigation of the
mass burial sites in order to determine the extent of any violations. They have
determined that the county is in violation and will be cited for open dumping.
The Board of Directors of the Humane Society Serving Clark County has
agreed to assist the Ohio SPCA by housing dogs from Morgan County while
this situation is being addressed. The Ohio SPCA will be working with the
Clark County Humane Society to place these dogs into new forever homes. Some of
these dogs may need medical treatment, so donations will be needed to assist
with their care and medical needs. Individuals wanting to adopt a Morgan
County dog should contact the Clark County Humane Society at 937-399-2917.
Rescues interested in helping place dogs should contact Teresa Landon at
740-420-2984 or Krissi at 937-399-2917.
The Ohio SPCA has offered to assist in the training of a new dog warden and the
proper operation of a county dog shelter.
The public can help by voicing their outrage (politely) and
request for dog shelter reform by contacting the Morgan County
Commissioners.
19 East Main Street
County Courthouse
McConnelsville,OH 43756-1100
Phone: (740)962-3183
http://www.wbns10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2008/03/31/dogs.html?sid=102
http://www.nbc4i.com/midwest/cmh/news.apx.-content-articles-CMH-2008-03-31-0021.html
http://www.nbc4i.com/midwest/cmh/news.apx.-content-articles-CMH-2008-03-30-0017.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23885680/
We have another victory for the animals!
In Morgan County, dogs and puppies impounded by Dog Warden, Jeff Driggs, die
by gunshots to the head. The dogs are taken across the street from the pound
and up a hillside (on county owned property) where they are shot and their
bodies buried in trenches. Some dogs may not be dead when buried. In addition
to being the dog warden, Jeff Driggs is a full time county highway employee.
On Monday, April 8, 2002, a litter of puppies were dropped in the "drop box"
these puppies were dead 24 hours later. The pictures are of their bodies
uncovered on April 9, 2002.
filthy dog pound as well dogs buried in the hillside trenches. After Mr.
Taylor's visit, Teresa Turner, OHEA Director, called and spoke to Commissioner
Ron Moore. Mr. Moore stated that to his knowledge shooting is legal and
whether or not it's inhumane is debatable. When asked to stop the shooting
immediately, Commissioner Moore said that they would have to do research first
and inquire with local vets about expense. More than once, offers of help by
a local resident trained and certified to use lethal injection were turned
down by Moore.
Incidentally, Mr. Taylor said that this was the worst facility he has ever
seen. The conditions at the dog pound were deplorable. The stench was
unbearable. Four dogs were inside the dilapidated barn, the next victims to
die by gunshots to the head.
Ron Moore told Scott Taylor that Jeff Driggs had admitted to him that he had shot at least 600 dogs during 2001. From January 1 to April 28 of this year, 103 dogs have been shot and only 6 adopted or reclaimed.