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.”

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. (WJBF) — Augusta is stepping up to transform the Turpin Hill neighborhood, right by the medical district and Laney Walker area. With help from the state and the University of Georgia, the city has mapped out a solid plan for change in that historic part of town.

The effort is a part of the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing (GICH). The initiative offers specific resources and support for residents and the community, starting with the creation of a comprehensive housing plan. “It also starts with the fundamentals of looking at the assets that’s available in the community,” Housing & Community Development Department Deputy Director Shauntia Lewis said.

Augusta was handpicked from 18 cities across Georgia for this initiative. The action will kick off in Turpin Hill, a spot strategically chosen for its development potential. “It was recommended by UGA for us to select a small neighborhood near areas that had development,” Lewis said. This is our blueprint, our bedrock for us to be able to have some type of starting point that we can use this particular tool to move throughout Augusta.”

Similar efforts in places like Laney Walker and Bethlehem have paid off, shaping Augusta’s approach.

A community meeting is set for Thursday, June 20 at 6 p.m. at the Carrie J. Mays Center to get input and share ideas. “We need to hear about what they think their needs are, what they know they want in their community because it’s their neighborhood,” Lewis said. “They live in these neighborhoods, their history is in within these neighborhoods.”

The goal is a housing plan that meets every corner of Augusta’s needs and sparks economic growth.

The Housing & Community Development Department will stay in close touch through regular community meetings, keeping everyone in the loop.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Richmond County Coroner’s Office has identified the deceased male found in a Dollar General parking lot in Augusta Saturday morning.

The Richmond County Coroner’s Office said 28-year-old Elias Jkhael Delk appeared to have died from multiple blunt-force trauma and an autopsy is scheduled.

It was one of two deaths being investigated within about 12 hours in Augusta. On Friday evening, a homeless man was found dead near Interstate 520 and Windsor Spring Road. The death is considered suspicious.

In the Dollar General incident, officials say the deputies responded to the 1700 block of Martin Luther King Jr around 4:45 a.m. to investigate a suspicious situation.

When deputies arrived, they found a deceased male with blunt-force trauma, according to deputies.

Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen said the victim was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:45 a.m.

The investigation is ongoing, and Bowen and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office are calling it a homicide.

Suspicious death

In the Windsor Spring incident, authorities say they responded to the Interstate 520 eastbound ramp at Windsor Spring Road to investigate a report of a deceased person.

According to Bowen, the man was pronounced dead at the scene around 5 p.m. Friday.

The death is considered suspicious, according to officials.

Crime across the region

The incidents come amid a more than two-year outbreak of violent crime that’s claimed more than 150 lives across the CSRA.

Communities large and small have been affected on both sides of the Savannah River, but as the largest city in the region, Augusta has been hit especially hard.

The deaths came a week after a shooting in downtown Augusta left three people wounded – including the gunmen, who was shot by deputies – and led the mayor to ask for extra law enforcement help from the state.

But both of these latest incidents happened far from downtown, which has been the focus of much attention in the past week.

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