BJC ANIMAL CRUELTY

WE'VE MOVED! CLICK HERE! 

if you have reached this page, you probably reached it through a search engine. which means it was accidental or you are curious for one reason or another, about BJC Animal Control in Birmingham, Alabama. We need your help if you know of, or have feelings about, disturbing situations that continue to go on at this facility.  If there is any hope of changing things, then we need your support, your support in the form of your comments or experiences. As we collect these we will at some point take them to the newly elected officials who have committed to help change the conditions in shelters across the state. We strongly support AVRAL, Alabama Voters for Responsible Animal Legislation, a grass roots organization dedicated to the passing and enforcing new laws that will lead to better conditions statewide for all the animals that end up in any shelter in Alabama.

This is simply a numbers game. F0r us to get the desperately needed changes we want for these animals we each need to speak up. Joining AVRAL is the most effective way to speak up because when they have large numbers of members, supporters, this gives them the power to influence the legislative body of a district, then the elected officials of that district will sit up and pay notice. After all, they want to keep their voters happy, they want to maximize their chances of staying in office. We have several places on this still under construction revision of this site for anyone to make a comment. You can do so anonymously, you can submit your identity anonymously, but know this - for your opinion to have an impact, your comments will carry much more weight if you give proof that you are real. We have a way for you to submit your identity in confidence and if you wish this, then we will keep your identity secret.  If the situation arises and we need for you to identify yourself, we will write you for permission to do so.  There are places all over the internet you can set up an email address that will allow you to remain anonymous. Yahoo. GMail, etc.  But it does come down to this. We need everyone who cares to submit their concerns because we must be able to show the officials that you care.  You can submit your comments here or at our new site, http://bjcanimalcontroloranimalcruelty.com

If you really want to help, please pass this link along to others that live in Jefferson County.

Please, don't walk away from these innocent animals who cannot speak up for themselves. If you have ever loved an animal then do this for them, because for your one love, there are thousands who are abandoned, abused, neglected, or subjected to other forms of animal cruelty. We must end this. We must all contribute to end this.

WHY WE ARE HERE: I am visiting Jefferson County, My residence is in Tennessee. While visiting, I came across the information presented in the links below through a friend of mine. I was shocked and appalled at what I saw, at how huge efforts to make "the powers that be" aware, and how these efforts to achieve better quality of care for these animals was so overwhelmingly ignored. I could only conclude that the general public remained uninformed because surely if they kenw, they would be speaking up. I admit, I was naive coming into this as my experience with the "animal welfare arena" was quite limited. I continue to broaden my knowledge base and I see that there are major problems with shelters all over the country. BJC does not stand alone, I am very saddened to say. We are going to use this website to focus specifically on Jefferson County Alabama, to continue to work towards promoting awareness of the citizens of this county, not just of problems at their animal control, but the desperate and overwhelming numbers of disenfranchised animals in this area We are striving to encourage citizen involvement in standing up for legislative efforts that can and will improve and encourage their involvement in supporting legislative changes that will bring Alabama into the 21st century regarding animal welfare issues. Education is the key. We ask anyone who has anything to contribute to these efforts, or suggestions that will enhance the effectiveness of the website, to let us know by visiting our "contact us" page. Thank you, God bless you.

Barbara Harbert

safetyzonek9@aol.com

Click here: Phoenix: From Neglect to Neglect « Higher Ground for Animals  

Below is the video associated with the link above and has come from the website "Higher Ground for Animals" by kindredspiritus. You should read the story first, check out the blog and see to what great efforts people have gone to get something done about this. If you visit that website please take time to thank her for she has done, with great effort , the major legwork involved in trying to get something done about the problems  with Birmingham Jefferson County Animal Control.  Read the blog at the bottom of the documentation to see how many peope, and what they all have done to find help for the animals in BJC's care, or lack thereof. 

IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, WE BELIEVE, THAT TO BE EFFECTIVE, WE NEED AS MANY COMMENTS OR STORIES WE CAN COLLECT ABOUT BJC.  WE ALSO NEED PEOPLE TO SIGN A PETITION. TO DO THIS PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM ON THE "CONTACT US" PAGE INDICATING YOUR DESIRE TO SIGN THE PETITION (WHICH WILL BE CIRCULATED TO YOU), OR RELATE  YOUR COMMENTS OR STORIES. THESE WILL BE SUBMITTED, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, ALONG WITH THE PETITION. THANK YOU.

VISITOR UPDATE: It has come to our attention, although we still really need stories and signatures on petition, for this to be effective we all need to sign up with AVRAL, the Association of Voters for Responsible Animal Legislation.

http://www.alabamavotesforanimals.org/

This organization is dedicated to accomplishing much needed changes in the legislation governing our animals, our humane shelters and animal control facilities. To accomplish this they need large voting "blocs" from the areas, counties, etc. in which the problem facilities are located. For example, voters in Jefferson County would have power to change conditions at shelters in Jefferson County. This is our best and greatest hope of restoring decent care for the animals.

Click on the above link and click on "Join". It is simple quick and easy. Please, do it now. This way your one voice WILL be heard. This way your individual concern WILL MATTER, it WILL MAKE a DIFFERENCE!

 Below is a picture taken by representatives from Commissioner Carns'  during an impromptu (unannouced visit) to Birmingham Jefferson County Animal Control.  It is featured in the link above to the very astute article by Ed Reynolds of Black and White Newspaper, Birmingham, Alabama.

BJC Animal Control, or Animal Cruelty?

Hello citizens of Birmingham and Jefferson County.  The purpose of this website is to disseminate some very serious  and disturbing information about your local animal control facility, Birmingham Jefferson County Animal Control.  I know many, many of you are true animal lovers and are not aware of the gross negiligence and perhaps cruelty that is imposed upon many innocent cats and dogs housed at this facility.

We are going to begin by providing links that I believe give indisputable evidence of cruelty and neglect.  We have more to add as we grow.

There are many people, primariy rescue groups, and even  employees of the facility  who know horror story after horror story  but are so in fear of retaliation, they are afraid to speak up.  We hope to provide a secure virtual environment  where people can participate, anonymously if necessary, and share their stories and concerns about the poor conditions and poor quality of treatment of the animals while confined at the facility.  

This can be done by leaving comments on the blog (either go to our "LINK TO BLOG" page above and click on it, or simply click here:

http://www.bjcanimalcruelty.blogspot.com). Remember not to leave any information in your blog entries that you don't want others to see. Or, if you feel comfortable doing so, you can email us in confidence with their stories.

resqtzu@aol.com

Email addresses and identities will be kept confidential (we would appreciate permission to contact you regarding your input.) We consider such a trust as sacred and we will not do anything to put anyone at risk, and we will certainly hope not do anything to further jeopardize the care of these precious innocent animals.

So if you have a story, or know someone who does, we are  praying that you all will find the courage to speak up. There is safety in numbers and the more information we can pol together,  the stronger our "army for the animals" will grow and the greater our fight for the good will become.  However, we expect everyone to live by the honor code and tell the truth to their best ability.  We have no tolerance for unsubstantiated rumors, vindictive behavior, or any intentional misrepresentation of the facts.

Check out the links below for what appears to be indisputable evidence for severe neglect and cruelty to animals while in the care and responsibility of Birmingham Jefferson County Animal Control Services in Birmingham, Alabama.

The first is a well documented case of a heartbreaking tale of Phoenix, a dog that was seized by officials because of owner neglect, cruelty.  There are pages of documentation of the care, or lack of care, given to this dog in the hands of animal control.  Although local humane society took over the care of this dog, it was too late and he died. The Director of this organization attempted to get something done about this but ultimately no one did anything. 

The information, and a video, was given to city councilpeople and county commissioners.  Commissioner Cairns sent representatives to inspect the facility and reported some horrific observations. The second linktakes you to an article reported by a very talented writer at the Black and White Newspaper.  It is lengthy, excellent journalism, full of factual and disturbing information. It seems that this is the end of the trail, as there is no evidence tha any further actions were taken.

 BJC ANIMAL CONTROL is a "FOR PROFIT"" animal control facility, the ONLY one in the whole country.   All other animal control facilities are NONPROFIT.  Because of a clause that was written into the contract, the president does not have to reveal his financial accounting to anyone.  The city of Birmingham requested an "internal audit" several years ago, but it was refused  There was an email circulating a week or so ago, advertising  a monthly benefit to be given by a local restaurant.  We will not mention the author of that email or the restaurant because they may not have realized what has been going on. This raises  some legal as well as moral questions.  We feel that if they wish to receive donations from the community then we should have a right to full disclosure of this  organization's financial records as well as animal intake and disposition. We do not want to hinder any potential benefit for the animals but we should be allowed to make certain that this care is given to the animals.

(The site that provides the information on the first link below also has available updated lists of city council members and county commissioners.  Please feel free to use those lists to write any or all of them regarding this information. The site owner has okayed this and even though nothing has been done, if enough people speak up, it can't help but do some good.  We will have similar list here soon, and we will be sending one to all of them soon.  We will copy the letter onto this  site. We can also forward your comments and protect your identity for you)