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Food Bank needs help
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Gearing up for an extra-busy Christmas this year are dedicated Warren County Emergency Food Bank volunteers, from left, Food Bank Director Helen Owens, Secretary/Treasurer Anna Griffin and Board Vice-President Barbara Walts. - photo by JL Jacobs

It’s that time of year again and the Warren County Emergency Food Bank needs help. The food bank located at 314 West Morford Street is a county institution that relies on volunteers to staff it and provide food for those in dire need.

Director Helen Owens and her husband Bud have been volunteering for four years. While the bulk of the operation is purely by donation and volunteer-based, they are occasionally given money by the city and county governments. This year the city gave them $1,000, but the county contributed nothing. The bank also applies endlessly for grants.

“We spend a monthly average of $3,400 just on supplies. We sometimes get government grants to help run the food bank, but this year we have had some hang-ups due to numbers. We may not receive government grants at all,” says Owens. This is a worry.

“The number of households needing assistance has tripled in the last two or three years,” said Owens. In October alone, the total number of households needing emergency food was 116. In August the number was 87. It has greatly increased just in the past few months.

Owens also sees a disturbing trend developing.

“The number of homeless is increasing in the county, especially the number of homeless children,” said Owens. “Unfortunately we’re seeing more children along with their parents or parent.”

While this food bank is the only one in the county currently, there are churches who provide food assistance, though not nearly enough.

“There are three or four churches that offer food - the Gathering, the Methodist Church in Centertown and Freedom Life, for example,” Owens continued. “And while there is no regular soup kitchen in the county, Helping Hands does meals, the Home Ministry, there are a handful that do.”

Owens urges those who are able, financially or otherwise, to help out. “We would love monetary donations this year. Food-wise we accept canned goods that have not been expired over a year and all other food items are always welcome.”

For those in need of food, the food bank prefers that members fill out an application through Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency (UCHRA). This is not to prove need, but to allow the food bank to keep accurate records that in turn allow them to successfully apply for grants. They may also prepare in advance food bundles based on household members. They do accept walk-ins, but ask they show up well within the 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. framework on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Other desirable items include baby formula, diapers, wipes, hygiene items and laundry detergent. They also stock paper goods, soft drinks and snacks. Fresh veggies, fruit, frozen products, juices and coffee are also popular. 

Regular volunteers are welcomed as well. The hours of operation are 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The Viola Opry, organized by Gary Renales, recently helped raise money in November for the food bank. These gestures of generosity are great bonuses.

Current board members include President Brent Nunley, Secretary/Treasurer Anna Griffin, Vice-president Barbara Walts, Lester Cowell (since 1982), Judy Toney, Carrie Baker, Shawn Shelleman, James Hughes and Owens herself.

To donate food, volunteer your time and energy or for more information about the food bank, you may call the bank at (931) 474-3663 or email customframes1956@gmail.com. Look for them on Facebook at Warren County Emergency Food Bank.

WCACAC talks about euthanasia
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During the regularly scheduled Warren County Health and Welfare Committee meeting on Tuesday, the topic of behavioral euthanasia at Warren County Animal Control and Adoption Center was one of the primary points of discussion.

Although WCACAC does not euthanize animals to create space in its facility, there are some situations, according to staff and the committee, when animals’ wellbeing or quality of life come into question due to factors outside the shelter’s control.

The employee chosen to receive certification to perform euthanasia will be required to submit their TBI background check and an application with a passport photo to begin the process for certification. Their background check and application then go to the Tennessee Veterinary Board and once approved, the employee will be set up for their first day of online classes before having to attend an in-person course which is typically held in Nashville or Murfreesboro.

Previously, behavior euthanasia was performed by vets, but they have largely refused to conduct them in recent years due to the emotional toll it bears. This leaves the shelter with the onus, if the county is to continue euthanizing animals who display extreme aggression.

Health and Welfare Committee Chair Blaine Wilcher asked how many dogs have currently been marked for aggression and the employees indicated there was a handful, all of which had been at the shelter for over two years and were aggressive enough to have bitten employees and trusty inmates during routine procedures such as cleaning cages. Due to liability concerns, these dogs are unadoptable.

According to staff, it is believed the extended stay in the cages has caused the dogs’ mental health to decline, leading them to become aggressive.

“It’s a shame, but they’re basically in prison at this point, without parole,” Blaine said.

Jeff Tubb, who is the Document Controller for WCACAC, indicated he had done hours of his own research trying to find answers or cures for the dogs.

“When you’ve got animals that have been in there for two years, it’s like putting somebody in solitary confinement,” Tubb said. “Even a human will go crazy. The same thing has happened to these animals.”

Beyond the matter of becoming certified to perform euthanasia in extreme situations like this one, the committee discussed baseline criteria to guide the facility on when behavioral euthanasia is necessary and whose call was final word.

“I just want to know who’s picking and choosing the criteria of when an animal needs to be euthanized. Would that be Brandi?” County Commissioner Kasey Owens asked.

Wilcher replied, “I would say she would probably have the main say because she would know more about it than anyone as far as how long the animal has been there, if they are aggressive and other details. I would think she would be the final stamp, wouldn’t she?”

County Commissioner Terry Bell admitted it was something they were still trying to determine and suggested perhaps the committee be the ones to discuss and decide on an animal-by-animal basis.

“No, I don’t agree with that, and I’m going to tell you why,” Owens said. “We don’t have the experience, and it is not our area of expertise to be doing that.”

Bell expressed reluctance to place it squarely on the employees of the shelter, as the task is a difficult one, especially for those who may have forged bonds with the animals while caring for them.

“I don’t want to put that on Brandi or anyone else down there,” Bell said. “It’s not right for anyone to have to step up and say ‘Oh, this dog right here’ — I don’t want to put anyone in that position. No one wants it on them, but that is the uncomfortable situation that we’re faced with. People can’t take care of their animals and that has landed us here.”

The committee suggested keeping track of details such as animals who have been there the longest and whose behavior had been affected grievously by captivity and were no longer candidates for adoption. Due to the limitations on the shelter’s capacity and the effect long-term captivity in a shelter setting has on animals, the committee felt it was neither realistic nor ethical to keep such pets indefinitely.

“In the past, we’ve had directors that actually euthanized,” Wilcher said. “And then we’ve had them take them to be euthanized. They made the call based on the history and all that, we weren’t involved.”

Ultimately, the committee was unable to decide on criteria and opted to table it for a future meeting where WCACAC Manager Brandi Harville could be in attendance to discuss the matter as well.

WCACAC has no plans to euthanize animals for space and maintains its qualification as a no-kill shelter, which means it has at least a 90% placement rate for the animals in its care. For the month of February, 19 animals were adopted into new homes and a free adoption event is currently taking place.