Porter turns in retirement papers
County’s Animal Control officer steps down effective July 20
Anderson County animal control officer Brian Porter has told county Mayor Terry Frank that he is retiring, effective today (July 20), according to the mayor’s office.
Porter, who has worked for the county in the animal-control position for 16 years, has recently been under fire over complaints from local animal-rescue groups about his and the county animal shelter’s treatment of animals in their care.
Frank said that an investigation of the complaints against Porter has been underway in the county’s Human Resources department, but he had been allowed to continue working while that investigation proceeded.
In a statement to the news media, Frank said Monday:
“Brian has been with Anderson County since 2006, and while there is a review by Human Resources regarding complaints, I do want to take the opportunity to thank Brian for all he has done to advance animal welfare in Anderson County over the last 16 years.
“He has been a pioneer who has worked with animals his entire adult life, and has always been a person who has given more than he’s ever asked for. I am currently working to find an experienced, capable and compassionate individual to take on the duties of director.”
Some of the concerns about his work included euthanization of dogs and cats at the shelter, a duty he personally performed under a state license. One complaint was that Porter’s state license to perform euthanizations expired at the end of February 2021.
Frank told The Courier News earlier that even though the license had expired, Porter had just missed a cutoff date by which he could have been granted a permanent license to euthanize animals, and that he had been doing the job long enough to know how to perform the procedures properly.
Porter could not be reached for comment on Tuesday prior to press time. But earlier, when allegations first surfaced about his treatment of animals at the shelter, he issued the following statement:
“A recent social media post by a co-worker has alleged that I am violating euthanasia procedures by euthanizing with ‘heart stick’ as the first step in euthanasia. These statements and others written in the social media post are inaccurate and have placed me in a false light.
“Using all legal means available to me, I intend to fully defend my lifetime of compassionate, humane treatment of animals, including humane euthanasia in accordance with humane euthanasia principles, procedures, and guidance required by the State of Tennessee.
“I have a lifetime of experience in animal welfare and through my leadership efforts, working with mayors and commissioners over the last 15 years in Anderson County Government, we have built a shelter, developed partnerships with numerous rescues, and successfully and constantly facilitated placement of cats, dogs, kittens, puppies, and sometimes pigs, rabbits, guinea pigs and more, into adoptive, loving homes.
“I have been working with animals since I was 16 years old, including work in veterinary and emergency pet clinics, and the University of Tennessee.
“My entire life has involved working with and caring for animals. My work today is motivated by my love of animals and my desire to provide compassionate and humane treatment to every animal we encounter. Every animal that suffers causes me to suffer, and every animal that dies is a death I mourn. I have never done anything to harm an animal and I never will.”