CLAY COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL IS OUT OF CONTROL

I couldn't agree more!

Dan Nolan

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Now I have some information that I think the good people of Clay County should know it is also a matter of public record. The nice guy who calls himself Spot AKA Don who's only concern is the animals at Clay County Animal Control well it turns out that is not his only concern.He is suing the director, someone above the director and some poor kennel worker at Clay County Animal Control. Yes, for money turns out his feelings were hurt when they put him out. You the good people of Clay County will be paying for his law suit, because the people he is suing are protected by the county, so he is really suing the county. Now I could see his law suit had he gotten injured while there, or if they were doing to him what he has been doing to them slandering him all over the Internet and in the news, but they are not. So I guess this mean all of the people of Clay County will be paying for his law suit in the long run. Because even if he loses you are still paying your county attorneys to fight the law suit.One more thing to all of you that posted here and any where else you'll need to think twice because you may find yourself in court verifying your emails and post.I wonder how he thinks wasting county money on a law suit is helping the animals?  Seems to me that is just more money spent on something that it shouldn't be spent on.

Mary,

    Thank you for the interesting information about the lawsuit that was filed against the folks at Animal Control.

    Your absolutely correct in your statement that the county taxpayer will foot the bill in the long run. The employees cannot personally be sued. So I as a taxpayer will be helping to pay for the craziness of this whole thing.

    The documents are public record. I have in my possession the accusations being made by a Don Rammon who abviously is trying to profit from my tax dollars.

     Who is this guy? Why does he hate Animal Control and the Director so much? Hmm. After reading all of the blogs about Animal Control it appears that maybe they have  been set up for the law suit from the beginning. Hmm.

     I think we have discussed Animal Control enough. Maybe we could discuss other issues of importance such as the upcoming presidental elections or who's running for Commissioner or Sheriff.

I have done some investigating again, and to me it looks like CCAC employees are putting alot of info out on this blog, when you rattle someone's cage they are going to bite back.

Here's the truth.  There was a rescuer who was told he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.  CCAC thought he was part of the investigation on the 52 farms animals that were given to CCAC employees, so they went about trying to discredit him by filing a false 911 report and false charges against him.  A law abiding citizen who was just trying to help animals. Of course he is going to protect himself, wouldn't you.  CCAC has done this to other people, filed false charges and made false accusations and it is documented.  Right now CCAC is under a criminal investigation and an investigation by the Ethics Commission.  There is so much wrong going on out there it's impossible to tell it all.  Everyone I believe is entitled to their opinion, but it is pretty clear to me that CCAC employees are putting names out there of citizens just to discredit them.  It even looks like they are blogging themselves. I hope the citizens of clay county see through all your lies.  At some point these lies will catch up to you. 

If this rescuer has decided to sue, good for him, he is standing up for his good name. I know many of you at CCAC can not say the same.  You have in the past falsely accused others and they have gone away with their tails tucked.  Hurrah!!!! for someone who finally has stood up to you. This rescuer has every right to protect himself from you CCAC.  It appears that CCAC thinks they are above the law.  Why don't you direct some of your efforts towards doing your jobs. 

We have only started dealing with CLAY CO ANIMAL CONTROL.There is more thing to do with a animal control to make it better.The Biggest part is the Animal Control Director needs to be replaced,The truth will hurt ,but there are sometiings that  the citizens of Clay Co has to find  out. CITIZENS FOR A BETTER CLAY CO ANIMAL CONTROL wiill do that. See you at animal control.

I am not and never have worked for Animal Control, and Don knows this. I am a real rescuer I work with a group that has a 501c and listed with the state of fl. Animals In Need USA. Don however is not a rescuer he does not have a 501c. He did not go down there and get in the middle of an investigation. He was asked to leave because he was yelling at people who work the front desk, there were people down there that day that saw this happen. So your either Don or one of his group.As far as suing the county for a few hundres thousand yes I think that is wrong. why should the tax payers pay for this. Ruin his good name he does done nothing but call them names and make allegations about them. I wish you would show where they have done the same. I sure would like to see anything that shows this.As far the remark "we are just begining" Don no one profits from this law suit but you, unless the people in that group of yours are going to get some of that tax payer money. Again how are you helping anyone but yourself. I have a feeling you had this planned all along.

Cookie and Mary62955;

I have read all these comments about CCAC from both sides of the fence. My guess is that somewhere in the middle is the real truth. I think that both sides have been, to be polite shall we say, telling a few sea stories?

I don't doubt that SPOT can be a little irritating at times but he has made some good points. You two on the other hand are way too over the top with the pie in the sky in the sweet by and by for me.

Things do not seem to be all OK at CCAC. It may not be as bad as SPOT has made it sound but there is just too much coming out to ignore the situation and try to gloss over the accusations.

Two people that have over 36 years experience between them should not have this hard of a time running CCAC.

As for the law suit? You know some people just have to be hit with a 2x4 before they will listen. If this is what it takes to get a real investigation going instead of some BS CYA platitudes from a lot of county employees that sound like they are more interested in protecting another fine county employee than finding the truth, then so be it.

You must have a lot of confidence in SPOT's intelligence. To think that he could plan for CCAC to mishandle 52 animals, kill the wrong dog, have dead cats in cages with live ones and to file some false reports is truly a feat worthy of the best screen writers.

Perhaps I should ask to borrow his crystal ball. Maybe I could pick the winning Lotto numbers. 

MikeH

I know Attorneys don't take civil suits they don't believe they can win most of the time.  They especially won't take them if they don't believe they can win unless they're being paid a whole lot of money up front.  I am not up to snuff on people who rescue animals but what little I know tells me they're not rolling in money. 

If the CCAC has done nothing wrong then it's very likely they can recover Attorneys fees.  If wrong doing has been committed and the person bringing the suit wins then it's not that persons fault for the cost to the taxpayers.  That will be the responsibility of those who have done something wrong. 

If lies are being spread about people here then it seems to be the privacy agreement you have to agree to in order to join could be enforced and those who come here to spread lies may have their days numbered here, whomever they may be.

Well Mike since I have gone to many animal controls and pulled many animals, I can say that the job they do isn't easy. A lot of times it is made harder by the people coming in there with foul mouths or they are just plain nasty. As someone who is waiting behind some of these people I want to scream at them. No one has still shown me CCAC "sea stories"  everyone keeps talking about them where are they. But some facts behind this. What good points has Spot or Don as the rest of us know him by made? Enlighten us also enlighten us to the mishandling of 52 animals. Because it is my understanding the animal control has been cleared of all the allegations put out there. With the exception of the ones Don posted on Craigslist about their fat asses. Also Mike it is not just Animal Control being hit by a 2x4 it is the tax payers dollars being wasted on his law suit. But I am sure am glad you don't mind the money being wasted like that. Maybe you don't live in Clay County.Again please tell me where I can find the facts where CCAC mishandled 52 animals, have dead cats in cages with live ones?  Thats another point that you people keep bringing up and I have not seen any proof to back it up, not even a real news story on it. Also unfortunately they are not the first shelter to kill the wrong animal. Just go through the Archives of the Times Union or any news paper and you will see where this happens all the time.I have no idea what "over the top with the pie in the sky in the sweet by and by for me" means. But I guess it means that you don't care what anyone else thinks, and that is fine. However don't get the idea I am sweet.

Marsha I agree with you 100%. Accept I already have checked. Because these people are county employees, and this is job related, they are protected by law from being personally sued. the county attorney represents them and if they lose the county pays. This doesn't seem fair but apparently this is the way it is.

Our rescue isn't rolling in money,all of our money is spent on the animals. We depend on doanations and when they are slow it is even worse.  But the guy sueing them is not a rescue, so maybe he does have that kind of money I don't know

Mary and Cookie, there is nothing you can say at this point that would convince me you are not CCAC employees, all you want to do is lie.  Just because you blog it or I blog it or anyone blogs it, it does not make it so. Your comments are usually just mean and vendictive, THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME I REPLY TO EITHER ONE OF YOU. say what you will.

Clay County Citizens all I am asking is maybe instead of just blogging, do a little research like I have get the facts, this rescuer helped out other resuers who are 501C rescuers, he volunteered his services, from what I am told ,by a currently forming committee of volunteers and has been persecuted by CCAC.  He has to protect himself from them they have put him in that position, he did not choose it, what would he have to gain from it,  I am sure he does not want to spend he hard earned money on attorney's fees but sometimes you just have to DO THE RIGHT THING. 

Well Don that is good, because I wouldn't want to say the wrong thing to you and have my rescue sued, like you are doing to CCAC. I have already stated which rescue I am with, so I really don't care that you pretend  not to believe me. Haul me into court as a CCAC employee Don or better just ask your attorney to check me out.

 Or I could just sue you falsely putting out there that I work for CCAC when you know full and well I don't.

I guess for the record the allegations you made are false since this will be the third time I have asked for some proof of them even a news article. Unless you think as a citizen I should just take your word for it, I think not since my tax dollars are paying for this.

Once again Don you are not a rescuer and you did help out rescues in the past. Some of them are no longer using you because of all of the problems you have caused.

Now that I am thinking about most of those law suit attorneys don't take the persons money they take a percentage of what the person wins. there are a lot of ads for them.

I'm getting a little bored with everyones answer to everything is to tell the bloggers to do something else besides blog.  I DO NOT have enough time in my life to take on all causes and run for Public Office while running a business, raising kids and making a home for my family. 

I have my own causes that I support, just because they're not one of YOUR causes doesn't mean I contribute any less to mankind.  Unless you are an intimate part of my life you have no idea what I do and what I don't do and you have no solid basis of information from which to make any claims, challenges or criticisms 

If you bring an issue to the blogs that you want people to respond to then bring something other then "It's that way because I say it is so go summon the chariot and lets ride"  It don't work that way. 

My activities in life are my business, and if you disagree with something I say that is your right and your choice.

But please....."do something other then blog" is getting old, and it's lame, and it doesn't make me pack my bags for a guilt trip.   If you want to motivate me to get involved give me something other then "I said so" or "do something other then blog", otherwise I make up my own mind and say what I want.   

Newcomer.....you're new and you come here trying to state your case and gain some support and then tell us in a matter of a couple of days that we should all do something other then blog.   That is not the way to win support and make friends, if you're not looking for support then why are you here, just to rant because it's easy and free? 

If CCAC has done nothing wrong then they will not lose.  If they lose it means something was done wrong and that falls in the lap of the CACC, not a civilian who brings suit.  If the deck is stacked anyway at all it is stacked in favor of CCAC. 

Even if the County Attorney defends, if the plantiff does not win and especially if the Judge believes the suit to be frivilous he has the discretion to order Attorneys fees paid, in this case it's the taxpayers footing the bill so I believe it's highly likely that could happen.     

I don't care what the ads say.  An Attorney will not take a case on contingency if they don't believe there is alot of money to be had and if they don't already know the answers to all the questions which in essence is a bet that they'll win. 

My sources tell me that one of the bloggers currently bashing animal control is a self proclaimed rescuer (“SPOT” ) that has been taken to task for inappropriate behavior while on county property at a time when they were closed to the public. He was asked to leave and he refused. This was why 911 was called on this self-righteous bully that weights about 400 lbs. Scaring the ladies that worked there must have made him feel bigger then his girth. No court in the world can ever prove that fear did not exist in the mind of a person. The mere fact that the police were called along with the several witnesses demonstrates that fear existed. The law suit is about as reasonable as assuming that “Spot” will order a salad the next time he goes to dinner.

“SPOT” and some of his cronies have jumped on this band wagon making false statements about the people of animal and spinning hatred because they all think they are above the people at animal control. Just read the blogs and any thinking person will see who they are very fast.

The fact is animal control is a government agency with rules, regulations, and policies as does any governmental department. Where the problem lies is this handful of people think they are better then everyone else, and the rules should not apply to them. These people think they can come to the shelter and be given preferential treatment over all the other citizens of the county. If an employee has to spend 2 or 3 hours walking them around and opening doors for them and catering to there every whim it takes time away from the tasks at hand at the shelter. When you try to hurry them so you can help the next citizen waiting patiently to be attended to or get back to cleaning, they get angry.

They call the people at animal control killers, uncaring, neglectful, and inept. They claim that they have some kind of cushy job and making big bucks. Let them go to the shelter and be knee and elbow deep cleaning animal feces 7 days a week and see if that makes them feel cushy inside. When was the last time they were paged at 3 am because a dog was hit by a car and they had to rush out, pick up a 90 lb bleeding dog with his stomach hanging out, and then covered in blood rush that animal to the doctor. There is nothing cushy about the job that is done at animal control and no one is getting rich there, the salaries are meager.

These groups only deal with the pretty side. They come to the shelter and only pick pure breed dogs they know they can get a donation for (no taxes hmmm), and put blinders on as they walk by all the rest knowing full well their fate. Why don’t these self righteous animal lovers take them all? I’ll tell you why, it’s because they only take in the number of animals they can move. Animal control does not have that luxury, they must take in every animal that is brought in and picked up or trapped by citizens. On average animal control takes in approximately 30 to 80 animals a day and their space is very limited. When a safe shelter that holds bragging rights that they are a no kill shelter is full they can stop taking in animals. Animal control does not have that luxury. When a no kill safe animal shelter cant get an animal adopted and want to make room for more animals who do they call? Animal control, knowing full well the fate of that animal. When you walk by those animals you don’t pick and when you call animal control to pick up animals from your safe shelter you know what is going to happen, the same blood is on your hands. You just didn’t have the nerve or humane love to push that needle yourself so get down off that high horse. Lets call a spade a spade 80% of the animals received are euthanized because many people a terrible pet owners, and you don’t save them all. Animal control unfortunately is stuck in the middle.

My sources tell me that all the allegations in these resent blogs have no merit and are merely a pitiful attempt to discredit hard working dedicated people, because some people had their feelings hurt when they were brought back to planet earth when told they are no better then the next citizen of this county and must follow the same rules and laws.

All your lies, blogs, threats, and pin headed bloviating is sickening. Frankly speaking you people disgust me in the deepest sense. Grow up and get over yourself.

Truth hurts...you are a pontificating horses rear end. 

You  know, you might have had a blog audience.  Unlike SPOT, you don't have the CAPSLOCK on and you use really big words and made a pretty good case.  That is until you were so nasty with your weight comments.  The salad remark was a nice touch too, really classy.

My writing style isn't polished like One Mann, even tempered like Bax, research laden like Angela, astute (and entertainingly liberal ) like Uncle Rich or able to look beyond the obvious like Marsha but I want to give you some "coaching" anyway.  If these blogs/bloggers make you sick spend your time and energy elsewhere. 

Thank you for your advise, i was merely stating facts, after all is'nt that what we are doing here keeping it REAL.

The truth is that you need to know the differnce between keeping it REAL and making it MEAN.

Its like saying he said or she said or maybe something you read on the restroom wall.

The problems are at CLAY CO ANIMAL CONTROL and changes need to be made and they will be.There maybe a lot of job opening soon.

Maybe you could apply, think of it as an extreme fitness make over at least that what he said....or was that she.....oh it was the same source you get your information from

Did I miss your blog when the people at CCAC were having their good names denegraded or does the term "mean" only apply to some.

The Truth is you reap what you sow, thus truthhurts

Extreme make over.....I'm not into Botox or Hipsuction.And your right the truth hurts so ANIMAL CONTROL keep on crying.....

My sources... Hard working people... Allegations have no merit... It's the same thing over and over and over and... Add as many as you want.

From what I have read, I don't see these so much as disparaging remarks against the workers at CCAC as a statement of frustration about management. I certainly would not want to work there. I'm not a save Bambi at all costs type but I would not want to have to be a part of putting down that many animals in a year.

From where I sit as an outsider reading all the rants floating around it looks and sounds to me like the only people that are denigrated in these CCAC  blogs are the two running the place.

I've never met Ms Goon or her cohort, but it sure sounds to me like she has a personality like a bent trash can. Of course good old SPOT sounds like an ...... extraordinaire himself. I don't think either one of them ever played well in the sand box.

The difference is Ms Goon is a county employee. If she can't handle the heat, then she should get out of the kitchen. My guess is that as soon as she has manipulated the system long enough to reach retirement age she'll be gone. Either under her own volition or at the suggestion of her bosses.

Quite honestly, she sounds like a vindictive individual that should have moved on or been moved on a long time ago. I think she has probably been kept on well beyond her 'use by' date. My perception is that if she weren't 'in the system' she would have been told to seek employment opportunities elsewhere ages ago.

The fact is animal control is a government agency with rules, regulations, and policies as does any governmental department.

I believe that you have missed your reading assignments if you haven't noticed that the 'investigation' said that this was the issue. There were no policies so she couldn't have not followed them. Go back to some of Angela's inputs and you will find lots of state rules and regulations that cover most of the situations being written about.

But the fact is if you have been in charge for 19 years then you certainly should have policies to meet darn near any situation. The fact that someone else is writing the policies speaks volumes to me. If she can't be assigned to the task of writing them, why is she in charge?

I look at this kind of like the law suits against Fitzgerald and Ivey. They may not be found guilty, but if it gets them out of a position they probably shouldn't be in then it might be money well spent.

And the beat goes on... My different drummer is getting tired of listening to the same old tune so I'll march on out of here and move on to subjects that are discussed in a more interesting manner.

MikeH

What would people think if they knew that in the early 90's they used to whack the animals in the head with a shovel to save the cost of gas.

So Don gets to call the people at Animal Control all sorts of names and your upset because one person gives him a taste of his own medicine. There are two sides to every story and the only one you people are interested in is Don's. The truth is Don needs to learn the difference in keeping real instead of keeping it mean. Many of us read his consistent nasty remarks about the AC employees daily on Craigslist. It sounds like you have a tight group on this board and don't care about all the money that has been wasted already into checking into these false allegations by the state and county. You also don't seem to care about the tax payers money being wasted on this law suit that is your choice but I am sure there are many more tax payer that do care.Again please show me where any Animal Control person has got on here and trashed Don. None of you have done that.As far as policies go Ms.Goon does not make them. They are made by people above Ms Goon and approved by your county commissioners. Her job is to run animal control. How would you like to be doing your job and to be harassed daily, maybe the get out the kitchen remark wouldn't fit so well then.Anybody outside of your little group for change is tired of it and would like to get back to the business of saving animals. You give rescue a bad name.

Mary, like you I am new contributor to the MCS blogs.  But I have been reading them for almost a year.  If you do some reaearch into past blogs you will see Don/SPOT has been taken out to the back of the blog woodshed on more than one occaision, by more than one blogger.

My comment on being Real instead of Mean was for everyone. I can't speak for any other blogger, but I tune out when people start getting nasty. Especially when they get personal in the attacks (like weight) All people lose credibilty when when they stoop so low, no matter what the subject.

Great minds discuss ideas, Average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people-Eleanor Rossevelt.

I am hoping in my day today, I will strive to be at least average!

Well I would say he has been has been taken out to the back of the blog woodshed on more than one occaision, by more than one blogger. because of his hateful comments on Craiglsit that everyone read before he got here.

He  made several comments about the people at CCAC fat lazy asses. My feelings are do on to others as you would have them do to you.  I however think like you do and do not make personal comments about people weights or looks.

To Marsha I would count on your friend winning. He has done quite a bit of harrassing himself. I will bet you that those people at AC saved a lot of these mesages and messages posted elsewhere that Don told people he put up to bring to court.

Most attorneys are out for the money so we shall see.  I would not say the deck is stacked in their favor keep in mind he is the bringing this suit.

The Fact is policies, regulations, and procedures are in place at Animal Control and if anyone does not beleive that, all they need to do is go down there and meet with the dicated people there, and talk to them first hand.

I urge all the good citizens of Clay County to go to the shelter and see for themselves. Talk with the director of Animal Control, the Supervisors, Officers, and Staff. I am confident that you will find they are the most caring, compassionate, loving people you will find anywhere. They all are well trained, hard working, dedicated people.

I have personnaly spent alot of time at that shelter and have had many conversations with Mrs Goon, Supervisors, and staff. I found them to be delightful, caring, intelegent people that fully understand the problems our community face regarding animal control. I have seen them first hand working with these animals and I say to them Bravo, you are all special and keep up the great work you do under the extreme conditions that you endure.

To the people at Animal Control I ask please dont let this handful of delusional, narcisistic people bring your spirits down. they are bitter vindictive people with way too much time on their hands and they need help. I hope that one day they will realize this and seek counseling.

The truth is that with all the allegations being thrown out, not one of these people have provided a single shred of proof, evidence, or named a single reliable "sourse".

The citizens should try to put all this information into perspective and find out first hand what the truth is, go visit the shelter.

I reiterate the people doing all this negative blogging is from "SPOT" who is angry for not being given preferential treatment over any other clay citizen that goes to the shelter. He was kicked out and had 911 called on him for frightening the ladies at the shelter, and for his refusal to leave when asked. It should be noted that the shelter was closed to the public the day that this occured and Mr. "SPOT" entered the shelter through the employee entrance which is clearly marked eployees only and no trespassing. Something that Mr. "SPOT" may also like to pounder is the fact that the lobby area at animal control is under video surveillance with audio capabilities. So good luck with your useless law suit Mr. "SPOT", and remember, "smile your on candid camera". The others, which are few in numbers, are the few friends and cronies that Mr. "SPOT" has managed to collect to help him on his quest to denegrate animal control and boost his hurt pride.

So folks read the blogs as they pass your screen but please remember if you really want the truth, if you realy want to see the blood sweat and tears that the fine people at animal control deal with day in and day out, go down there and see with your own eyes what these people endure.

Until you seek the truth yourself, you will never be confident in knowing where the truth really lies.

The truth will set you free, and yes the truthhurts at times, but it is what it is no more, no less. 

I don't have a dog in this fight and NO ONE in this mess is my friend.  You don't even pay attention to what I say, I've had to correct you on more then one occassion now just in the LAST TWO DAYS.  Let me correct you once again, what I said is if the deck is stacked in anyway at all it is in favor of the CCAC. 

Like Finder I am sick of this entire subject, not because of the the poor animals but because of the people on both sides of the issue. 

I talked with Ms Goon once and the woman was very friendly and wanted to explain "her side"....other then that I know nothing.

BOTH SIDES OF THIS ISSUE ARE BEHAVING IN A MANNER THAT I HAVE TRIED MY BEST TO TEMPER WHILE NOT GETTING CRAPPY ABOUT IT.

SINCE THAT DOES NOT SEEM TO WORK AND BOTH SIDES ARE TWISTING WORDS AND HURLING INSULTS LIKE FINDER I AM FINISHED.

Y'ALL JUST LOST A MEMBER OF YOUR AUDIENCE IN ME AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT ALL MATURE AND REASONABLE BLOGGERS NOW IGNORE THE ENTIRE ISSUE.

Marsha, once again you are on target. 

Mary, you should really read what Marsha says. I don't always agree with her, but I always learn something of value.   I am done with this too.  It is a shame for the animals but both sides have lost any credibilty. 

A word to the wise from my limited observation.  Don't bring a knife to a gun fight with MCS bloggers. I don't know what or who is a craig list, but I do know this is a smart well versed group. 

 [Insert humor here] I think Marsha is kind of our den Mother and she has the the utmost respect of the group.  Don't make her use capslock again.  Keep us straight Marsha!

Oh please I am not going to back up. What knife Marsha?  Oh I understand that your a tight group. Well versed, not sdo much and when it comes to leaning you lean to the other let face it.

I am not  a child and don't need to be corrested by you, but thanks anyway

If they ever make a movie based on my life, they might as well title it "Dog Whisperer."  Always had a bond with all of 'em that was greater than most folks.  Heck, I even love cats and Lord knows they don't always make it easy.  Clay County Animal Control is an issue near and dear to my heart.

Over the past few months, I've steered along a few of the concerns about Animal Control I've picked up on the campaign trail, posed a few questions about that department and made a few suggestions I thought made sense.  Have the upper echelons of local government take a look, I wrote, and make the changes it thought necessary for improvement.  Talk about the issues, not the people, I've often said. Fix the problems.

The County Manager is in the process of establishing new rules and policies for the department. But that's not enough to stop this electronic Hatfield-McCoy battlefield.  Nothing I or many others have contributed has made a dent in slowing the crude, vicious, name-calling.

A year from now, I may be on the County Commission, someone who might have some influence over the policies that govern Animal Control.  All these ranters have shown me is they won't have my "official" ear any longer than civility dictates, and they won't be the people I seek for advice on how to make things better at Animal Control.

Keep the feud going, folks, rationalize it and keep it as nasty and inane as you care to.  But you've lost my ear and my participation.

Michael S. Mann

  If there is such a problem at the Animal Control shelter why hasn't someone stepped up and asked formally for a grand Jury investigation ?  Lawsuits are OK but they take a long time to come to closure. 

It's a perfect example of part of the problem.  My words get twisted into something I didn't say and when I point that out  you refuse to acknowledge the inaccuracy. It just lets everyone know the truth is not important to you Mary.

No worries, I'll not give you that opportunity to twist what I say anymore.

not sdo much and when it comes to leaning you lean to the other let face it.  HUH??

What the heck are you trying to say? It is really hard to hold a conversation with someone that doesn't take the time to read what they are typing.  

Here is a suggestion: After you have finished typing your thoughts, open a session of 'Word'. Copy and paste your blog response to there, then run 'Spelling and Grammar' check. Fix your errors then post it.

It isn't going to catch everything so sit back and actually read what you have written to see if you have truly expressed your stance correctly. It might aid you in getting your point across.

Mary, I'm sure you are not a child and that you don't feel like you need to be corrected by anyone out here on this site. I and probably many others would like to hear anything important that you have to say. How do you expect anyone to respond with anything but derision when what you have to say is not comprehendible?

The problem for me is that many times you and some of the other participants in the CCAC threads come across as raving maniacs with little or no credibility. If anyone comes even close to disagreeing with you, you go off on some tantrum based tangent that gets you nowhere.

If you want to take constructive criticism defensively and not acknowledge that someone might actually be trying to help you, then so be it. But I truly think you may be missing out on some good sound advice that could help you in your endeavor to protect animals.

Hey, it's free advice so it may be worth exactly what you paid for it but think about it. Successful people accept help from wherever they can get it. Even from some AH that might sound like he's trying to put you down when he really isn't. 

Mike Heemer

Here we go. I have Marsha telling me to back up real quick and that if the deck is stacked it is in favor of CCAC, no that's not to one sided is it.

Oh and my apologies Marsha it was the other poster who told me "Don't bring a knife to a gun fight with MCS bloggers." I am not a blogger.

Now I have some else who is critical of my spelling of course that isn't playing mean is it. Not by this group's standards. It's only playing mean when someone else does it. Aren't you the same Mike that said "You two on the other hand are way too over the top with the pie in the sky in the sweet by and by for me." Tell me how much sensse that makes.I have stated the facts as I see them, and these are some of the responses I have gotten

Mary,

It was me who said the knife at a gun fight. What I could have said is:  This is a smart, clever, well read group of folks. If you are going to get in the mix, bring your "A" game because they play hard.  I don't agree with a lot of them, but I appreciate their side, and even learn a thing or two in the process. I even worry about our resident agnostic but he held his own landscaping revival in another thread, there's hope!  Good laughs are found here too.

You really should re-read what Mike H. had to say. I am a terrible speller and my punctuation "ain't no good neither" (add to that a slow, weak, and obscure sense of humor) My grammer (or is it grammar) leaves a lot to be desired. So, I am going to figure out how to cut and paste. 

This group in the most recent past has made my mouth water (short ribs!) my tears flow (for a sorrowing Mother) and my eyes open (insert any poiltical subject here).

Mary 

I too have expereinced the same when I use sarcastic humor to make a point. I was held to task by the group and labeled "mean"

I even apologised to the group for subjecting them to my "mean" blog, and became a victim of the same style of sarcastic humor.

It appears to me that the only folks here that can use sarcastic humor are those of the tight group.

I must give Marsha credit though, for she was the only one to accept my apology indicating to me that she is the only one of the group with a truly enlightend spirit

Don't give it any more concern because you will just get jumped on and brought down by the many "SUPERIOR" minds here, you are merely a simpleton (humor)

TRUTHHURTS

DISCLAIMER:  This has nothing to do with Animal Control.

I've read more than one "new" blogger make similar comments about feeling like there is a "tight" group that seeks to exclude or ridicule anyone else.  I disagree.

What some of the old-timers find fault with is people joining and come right out of the gate SCREAMING AND HOLLERING ENDLESSLY ABOUT SOME PERSONAL GRIPE THEY HAVE.

I think I speak (write) for at least a few other folks when I say we welcome new bloggers. By the way - if you're blogging, you're a blogger.  New bloggers help change the subjects we tend to get hung up on, and add more personality to the site.

Are we "a tough crowd"?  Sometimes.  But, honestly, if someone is coming on here to sway public opinion, shouldn't they take the time to make their best effort.  No one expects perfect grammar (or grammer), or perfect spelling, but it's obvious when someone is making the effort, and when they're not.  Word and Cut & Paste is one way.  Using a dictionary, though a bit old fashioned, still works too.

It helps if the newcomer makes an effort to read other blogs and comment first, before BLASTING ONTO THE SCENE AND HAMMERING US OVER THE HEAD WITH THEIR PERSONAL GRIPES.  Honestly, I quit reading about Animal Control a long time ago.  I JUST COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.

For what it's worth, and I'm sure the Animal Control folks have already seen it, there is an article in the TU today (2-11-08) about Animal Control around NE Florida.  I got a funny feeling the idea for the article was spawned right here.  So for that, SPOT and others deserve CONGRATULATIONS!

To all who think we are too tough - don't judge us so quickly.  Keep trying, and just like any other conversation, remember good manners go a long way.

Welcome aboard, and looking forward to more postings. Hopefully about something other than Animal Control.

"You two on the other hand are way too over the top with the pie in the sky in the sweet by and by for me." This line makes perfectly good sense to me. It is probably a regional or age thing.

'Pie in the sky' was always about dreams or fantasies. Things that we wished were true but weren't and probably never would be. The 'sweet by and by' is about as life goes on, in the future, a better place and time that we all hope for. Also a line from an old hymn. 'I'll fly away'.

It seems as if my suggestion about copying and pasting came across like some elitist sob trying to make you and maybe others look uneducated. If I hurt your feelings with that it certainly wasn't intentional.

I use this method because it is available to me. I type faster than I think and don't spell that well. It is a tool in my tool box that I use often because I need it.

Unfair though it may seem, a person dressed in a suit and tie is going to be given more credibility than a person in jeans and a 'T' shirt with their pants down to their butt. My suggestion was made in the spirit of giving you another tool to use. A way to 'dress up' your communication. Nothing more, nothing less.

Please, reread some of my comments. 

If you want to take constructive criticism defensively and not acknowledge that someone might actually be trying to help you, then so be it.

Successful people accept help from wherever they can get it. Even from some AH that might sound like he's trying to put you down when he really isn't. 

It was not meant to be mean. I even tried to acknowledge that it might come across that way in the hopes of defusing that line of thought. I guess it didn't work as well as I had hoped.  

Mike Heemer

Mike, I thought the cut and paste suggestion was simple and I am using it!

Bax, thanks for my morning chuckle, I spell so bad I can't even find the words in the dictionary, sometimes my spell check surrenders. But I am going to dust it off, my Thesauras(sp?) too.  Gotta look for that dictionary today.

You can bookmark Dictionary.com and it will be right there at your mousetip!

I too have started the copy/paste routine because two or three times now (yes, it took that many), I have lost my entire blog because I went to another site to research a link, and it overrode my blog - not the MCS website - the back arrow took me back to the site, but the blog was gone.  So I finally figured out I should use word and edit there, and then copy/paste.  I only do that for long blogs though, so if you find a typo in the short ones, it's because I wasn't paying attention to detail. 

Or, I could just reset my internet options.

I know, this should be a new blog, but Baxley started it!