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Officials approve 2 early fall hunts aimed at thinning deer population
County bolsters animal cruelty code By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Changes to a county ordinance aim to give animal control officers the teeth they need to stop pet hoarding and neglect. The Forsyth County Commission unanimously approved animal code amendments, which add a legal definition of hoarding and dog permit requirements, at their Aug. 15 meeting. “Often times there are hindrances to them being able to properly build their case to get
the situation resolved the way it needs to,” Commissioner Laura Semanson said. The new definition for hoarding describes the act as collecting multiple animals and failing to provide them with adequate and humane standards of nutrition, sanitation, shelter or veterinary care; collecting and failing to dispose of dead animals; or housing animals in “filthy, unsanitary” conditions. The ordinance also now makes hoarding illegal and allows county Animal Services staff to
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Samantha Shelton, CEO and founder of the Furkids animal rescue, speaks to commissioners just before their vote to approve animal code amendments on Aug. 15.
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PHOTOS BY: JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
Sue Bova, center, Forsyth County resident and animal advocate, pets Rose, a dog she said was rescued with 40 others from hoarding, on Aug. 15. The Forsyth County Commission approved animal code changes that define hoarding and require owners to apply for permits if they repeatedly violate the law.
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — County residents are invited to participate in two hunts during the fall to help control local deer populations. The Forsyth County Commission approved the hunts during their Aug. 6 work session to minimize damage caused by deer to landscaping as well as the natural habitat, improve herd health and reduce an increase in vehicle collisions. “Having received a number of complaints from residents in the south Forsyth area about deer destroying their landscaping and deer -related vehicle accidents, we reached out the Department of Natural Resources to discuss options that have been successful not only in Georgia but also across the United States,” said Assistant County Manager Tony Tarnacki. The hunts are the result of a cooperative endeavor between Forsyth County and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Urban Deer Management Program. The assistant county manager worked with county staff and the state department to develop the deer management program. Two free hunts are scheduled between dawn and dusk Sept. 2122 and Oct. 26-27 on 287 acres