Augusta, GA

Augusta animal shelter leads the state in killing dogs

Published

2 years ago

June 17, 2024

Augusta animal shelter leads the state in killing dogs

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – New data shows Augusta has the highest animal euthanasia rates in the state.

A group wanted to come in and help change that, but Augusta Commission members turned down a plan from Best Friends Animal Society on Tuesday.

The group would have provided the animal services agency with a veterinarian.

Commissioners turned it down to its all-or-nothing policy.

The interim city administrator said there could be challenges and legal concerns when it came to who would be responsible for the animals.

“The main reason is that it was presented as all or nothing, which would require Augusta to participate in every one of the services they’re promoting, one of which is staff-embedded program, which simply means Best Friends would have representatives,” said Interim Administrator Takiyah Douse.

Best Friends issued a statement Wednesday saying its offer was valued at close to $1 million.

Best Friends said the offer was devised to provide a holistic path to a 90% save rate for the shelter, vs. the current 53%.

The group says there’s still a chance for the offer to be approved at next week’s Augusta Commission meeting.

“The Augusta Commission now has an incredible opportunity to save the lives of dogs and cats and bring much-needed resources to the community at no cost to Augusta taxpayers,” said Gina Burrows with Best Friends Animal Society. “We just need the full commission to vote in our favor next week so we can begin to bring this much-needed help to the people and animals of Augusta.”

Larry and his mate show of their three babies

She encouraged the community to speak up and reach out to Augusta Commission members.

Best Friends Animal Society has come to Augusta on two occasions — once in 2018 and again in March, lobbying for a meeting with the shelter.

Data published on the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s website shows Augusta euthanized more dogs in April than any other shelter in the state.

The data also shows Augusta Animal Services constantly ranks the highest in the state in euthanizations.

SEE THE DATA:

Now, local groups want commissioners to take a second look.

Last year, Augusta Animal Services euthanized almost 1,500 dogs, ranking the worst in the state.

One local rescue group says those numbers should serve as a wake-up call to a community problem.

“When we have a well-renowned group that has money and funding and people that can help, you know, it’s like, why do we want to be recognized as the worst in the nation or the state or wherever, you know, why do we want to keep down that path when we could get some things in place?” said Kathy Ellis with Hands to Paws Rescue.

Best Friends was looking to put things in order. Augusta Animal Services says they were a responsibility problem.

From May 1, 2023, to the start of the new year, Augusta Animal Services put down on average 134 dogs a month.

And those numbers haven’t dipped.

In March, there were 133, and 143 in April.

Augusta Animal Services Director James Hill said: “We’re not going to put out animals for adoption to have behavior issues. Um, so that’s why we have to euthanize.”

Those numbers, rescues say are a reflection of everyone.

Ellis said: “We could increase space at the shelter, but the problem is still there. And that’s getting people to understand, they need to spay and neuter. And to understand, you know, that there’s help out there.”

Augusta Animal Services is still out of a veterinarian.

“The fact that animal control doesn’t have a vet that can provide their needs, you know, on a staff basis, like they used to have before is huge. I mean, that’s going to impact, you know, thoroughly checking out animals when they come in to determine if they’re, you know, medically able to be adopted out into the public,” said Ellis.

Ellis says drawing vets to Augusta is becoming harder to do over the years.

One of Best Friend’s stipulations was that they would provide a veterinarian.

The denial of their services will go to a full vote next week.

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Augusta, GA

Finding Solutions: Augusta Juvenile Court receives grant for gang prevention

Published

38 minutes ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Finding Solutions: Augusta Juvenile Court receives grant for gang prevention

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Juvenile Court received a grant of more than $1 million to prevent youth from joining gangs by addressing underlying factors that lead to criminal behavior.

The grant from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council will allow the court to expand services beyond its current programs and serve a broader population of at-risk youth.

“This allows us to build on the work we are currently doing. It also allows us to serve a different population of youth that we have not been able to serve on such an extended level, so we have additional funds that will serve even more kids and to hopefully assist the sheriff and district attorney in not having youthful offenders become adult offenders that they have to obtain and prosecute,” said Chief Judge Tianna Bias.

Addressing root causes

The funding will target factors that make youth vulnerable to gang recruitment, including poor school attendance and reading difficulties.

“Whether it’s that they have poor school attendance, not reading on grade level. One thing we’ve seen is that when you are not reading on grade level that has an impact on many other areas of your life. It’s really just an opportunity to offer wrap-around support for these kids so we can prevent them from getting into unfortunate situations that they may not end up in front of a juvenile court judge later,” Bias said.

Dr. Audrey Armistad, chief intake officer for the juvenile court, said the court’s goal is rehabilitation rather than detention.

“We put them in programs and services that help them to be able to develop mentally, socially and physically when it comes to kids involved with the juvenile court,” Armistad said.

Expanding services

The juvenile court currently serves at-risk youth through the THRIVE program. The court is also expanding services with a new computer lab set to open next month.

“It helps us to be able to provide instruction to kids getting GEDs, parents wanting GEDs, as well as we provide learning loss instruction to kids enrolled in Richmond County who may need remediation in math and reading,” Armistad said.

A gang prevention expert will meet with the juvenile court team to provide recommendations on how the grant money should be spent.

Bias said success will be measured by fewer teens in courtrooms and more in classrooms.

“We are meant to rehabilitate not to punish and we want to help these parents get kids on track so we can see a better Augusta for everyone,” Bias said.

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Augusta, GA

AU to cut ribbon on new Student Health Services building

Published

13 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

AU to cut ribbon on new Student Health Services building

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta University is set to cut the ribbon on a new Student Health Services building on Friday.

The ribbon cutting will be held at 2:30 p.m. at 1465 Laney Walker Boulevard in Augusta.

The event will showcase the field of college health and the role the services have on students’ personal development and academic success.

The clinic relocated to the new space last month to make way for AU’s advanced research and clinical innovation, according to officials.

At the event, there will also be snacks, interactive games and clinic tours.

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Augusta, GA

Law enforcement converges on home in west Augusta

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Law enforcement converges on home in west Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – There was a large law enforcement presence Thursday morning at a home in west Augusta near Fort Gordon.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force were in the area attempting to find a suspect, according to deputies.

Witnesses said around 11:25 a.m. that officers had been surrounding a home at Harper-Franklin Avenue and Covington Court.

That’s in a neighborhood of mostly two-story brick-fronted homes built in the past three or four years just east of Jimmie Dyess Parkway and a couple of blocks north of Gordon Highway.

As noon approached, law enforcement had left.

But a Facebook post from earlier did show a large presence,including marked and unmarked cars, and officers all around the house. A witness said police dogs were on the scene, as well.

News 12 has reached out to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office for information.

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