PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINARY ACTION “This is a record ofa: (check one) lst Warning X 2nd Warning X Adverse Action ‘Employee Name: Thomas Sheffield EXPLANATION OF OFFENSE: ‘0n245-18 Feld supervisor Tommy Sheffield assisted fc inspector Ben Thorahil with performing a routine Inspection on icensod pet dele by the name of “Geonpia Puppies". This facility was a large fcty with ‘pproximately 450 dogs onthe premise. Atte tie of this inspection a violation was written onthe ‘etabishment for “structural strengl” du to some annals being peamnenily housed in temporary erates. Ben scheduled a 1e-inspection date of 3/15/18 to recheck, On 4-16-18 (30 day after the schoduled date) Ben did the :e-inspection on the flty andthe stuctralstength voltion had not been corrected. Tommy was not present ‘thie inspection, Another violation for structural strength was written a this ime anda followup date of 523/18 was noted, On 5/29/18 Ren and Toray returned to the establishment, however, the report was lbeled 4 e*niscellancous inspestion ater than ae-inspection. Supervisor Sheffield accompanied Benton this inspection. The 5/29/18 inspection ead a follows: Met today wth pet dealer faci ovmer Craig Grey and Supervisor Tommy Sheffeld. Todays inspection and a copy ofthis report willbe sent to both pet dealer city owner and supervisor, In today’s meeting we fled bout plan of action for reducing numberof dogs at thls fallity and how dogs here are housed. Owner has stated he plans reduce his monberofenima at this cation to 100 dogs. There i eurrently enough ‘permanent enclasures at this location fo house his munber within regulation. This task sto be completed by December 2018 as sated by omer There was no inspection performed during today's meeting Ill be returning, every 30 days for an inventory of animals at this locaton“The next ngpocton tha coctred on this flity was on 2-28-19 (10 months late ratha shan the 30 dy interval stned within the May inspection). Ths inspection was done because rogram Manager Mark Marah bed isibwed ais of igh risk extabishnents to Supervisors and dete em to asue the high sk ‘establishment ad been recently inspected. Tommy was preset this inspestion, where it was found that the ‘over had become unable to tnd othe aed af the animals. When asked why he had gone with Ben onthe ‘May 2018 inspection, Tommy sated, “te asked me to". Many ofthe dogs and pupie one property were severely mated snd were in need of veterinary assessment. Te structural strength violations sil existed and the animals wore Hiving in unsanitary conditons, The ShorifPs Deparment was called since it appeared that snimal cruelty charges may apply, When the authorities and animal contol asved, the daunting task of took the efforts of many individuals from te rescue and law removing approximately 700 snimals began. ‘enforcement communities, wit assistance from GDA Companion Animal and Equine staff over a seven day pevio. “Toramy was interviewed extensively sbout the coe on March 7 by GDA Direntor of Operations James Suton; Avimal Indust Division Direter, Adam Buel; and Companion Animaliqune Setion Manages, Mark ‘Mab, When asked why Ben did ot retuan to conduct sa inspection after 30 days, Tommy stated thet he “ddn'tremember being pat of Bon waiting the report ofthe 30 day roti date”. He adited that he “id not pt the date” on his calendar for Ben's einapcton”. He went onto say, “Wve all ron. (Ben's) bean ere forfour year Over the years I've put that'd go back in 30 days, and [would do it When asked if he sees the benefit of reviewing his inspector’ repos beter in the tue, Tommy sad "yes". Later on in the interview ‘when asked what he panned to do to prevent this fom happening gain inthe futwe, Tommy stated “Tbe reviewing more report, especially it's «complaint ora big fc”, Tommy also admitted that he felt ke ite (bis) fl that Ben didnt go back to Georgia Puppies. He stated “it won'thappen again, but fel responsible” ‘When asked about the 5/29/18 inspection twas discovered tht nether Tommy, no nspettor Thora, actully went nt the establishment to cheskon the animals but stood out bythe gat to ak with the ower. “This explnined why “nl not applicable) was cheskod on all ofthe premise requirements onthe report “Tonuny aad that no inspection took place ding the meeting depts the fct that they were bth onthe eae at 9:20 in the momning. When asked win, with both ofthers there, ful inspection was not performed‘0n 5729/18; ornmy replied tnt “The violation for temporary shelier was nota big dea. Tewnsn® ike sanitary condition, We ust wanted the guy to seduce his numbers and to be in contact with hin, 1 was really & followup tothe February findings. Iwaated to take the man at is word. I don"t want to make enemies, Ion" want tobe ugly unless have to. He sid he was about to pour concrete, He had moved stuff ont ofthe shelter nasa he was going pour concrete. 0k hn at his word” ‘During the interview, Toray provided «repor tha shoved that Inspector Thor visited Berien County on 22 occasions during the period beeen 525/18 and 2728/1, yet Ben didnot r-ingpoct the Georgia Puppies ‘cility during hove same dates. When asked i Ben askod Tammy to go beck with him to Georgia Puppies aller the May 2018 vst Tommy stated, "I don’t remember and don't have an ema or txt fos him asking 1meto go. (Ben's) called me about diffrent stuf™Anytime somenne calls me, go. That's wht {fel ike should be doing" dont remember him aking moto go back wit hm to Georgia Puppies.” Supervisor “Tommy Sheftield was uot aware, or dda’ remember, the followup inspections thst were scheduled for every 30 ays ftervards, It does nt appear that Supervisor Shelield ever eached out to Ben and asked about followup ofthe violations that were issued. “When asked i ho had been having any performance issues with Ben, Tommy provided a laundry ist of sues ‘including “going tothe ame facilities a too high afequency, while avoiding others “time reporting issues"; an he elo mentioned several examples of insubordination, Tommy informed us that he and Matk Muah hed conducted oral counseling for Ben in Tifton on March 62018 for similar issues; followed by an eal fom “Tommy to Ben fr similar issues in June 2018; notes made by Tommy for smite issues he had rough to ‘Bens ettetion again in July 2018; and more notes for yet noiersinilr discussion that Tommy bad with Ben conFebruery 21,2019. Despite similar ianue being bought to Ben's attention on numerous occasions over the lus year, Tommy infocmed us that Bon “sil n't mestng requirements afer exail and oral counseling” and that his performance is possibly “declining”. Per ll acount, it appears that Tommy should have followed the departments progressive discipline poly, and given Bena fis Iovel warning, inet second level waning, ios othe Georgia Poples case. ‘The lck of seton taken, lac of Supeevisory oversight, and the use of poor judgment diretly conteibuted to the fact that this Heensed pet dealer was allowed to deteriorate to such a degre,