The leader of an animal rescue group in Walker County, Georgia, is pushing local lawmakers to introduce a bill that would boost criminal charges for animal rights crimes in the state.
Janice Williams is the director of Perry’s Promise, a nonprofit organization in Walker County that specializes in animal rescue work. Williams has met with lawmakers and hopes they will soon introduce a bill that would allow law enforcement to hold perpetrators accountable for egregious crimes involving so-called puppy mills, animal cruelty and other matters.
As it stands now, mandatory inspections are conducted at puppy mills by the state’s Department of Agriculture through its Companion Animal Division. The state agency is in charge of regulating puppy mills and handling any disciplinary action needed once an investigation is finished.
It’s Williams belief that local law enforcement should have more authority as such an investigation is opened by the Department of Agriculture.
Last year, seven Georgia kennels were mentioned in an annual report by the Humane Society of the United States, and the national organization said it was troubled because of the lack of inspections being done due to the coronavirus pandemic.