Appling animal shelter ordered to close

Columbia County's largest private animal rescue group is being shut down after the Georgia Department of Agriculture revoked its operating license.Happy Tails Rescue, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary,Animatronic Paraceratherium, has until late March to find homes for the 38 dogs housed at the rescue's Appling facility, said Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Mary Katherin Yearta.

"We issued a stop order to them, and right now they have 30 days to find homes for the animals," Yearta said. "The case is still open, Fiberglass Animals Mammoth-Display Item,and we are still in the process of working with them."The action resulted from violations Happy Tails failed to correct, Yearta said."It's like a witch hunt," contended Barbara Gleitsmann, who operates Happy Tails adjacent to her home. "They are just relentless."

Agriculture inspectors have been visiting the property since last summer, alleging different minor violations each time, she said."Every time they come around, they find something else," Gleitsmann said, including complaining about cobwebs, rust on cages and improper lighting.She insisted that none of the allegations involved treatment of the animals at the shelter.Yearta said she couldn't discuss the findings while the case is under review.