Animal Control Issues

When I began my term, I knew this job wouldn’t be easy. It’s not possible to make every single person in the county content. I have especially learned this with the ordinance I proposed to amend the current animal control laws. After the public saw it, there was some backlash but also a multitude of support for updating the animal control laws and trying to fix an issue that has been going on for a while. I pulled the ordinance the weekend before the February Quorum Court committee meeting because I realized more effort needed to go into it to actually get the problem fixed.

Since February 3, I have spoken with some individuals who work directly in animal rescue and animal welfare. I met with Bryant animal shelter manager Tricia Power to get her input on how the county can begin trying to solve the problem of animal control within the unincorporated areas of the county. I have also spoken with the founder of Southern Hearts Rescue, Whitney Ashcraft. Whitney helps not only rescue abandoned animals in Saline County, but she also helps all over the state with abused, neglected, and abandoned animals. She and Tricia both explained what a problem animal control is in the county. The pictures I saw of abused and neglected animals absolutely broke my heart. The primary feedback I received from both Whitney and Tricia is the need for an animal shelter in Saline County. Bryant, Benton, and Hot Springs Village all have animal shelters, but no other locality in the county operates one. We don’t have a city-run animal shelter where I live in District 12. I see dogs running loose all the time and observed the same all across my district last year. We definitely have a problem in Saline county, but no one has been willing to step up to the plate to offer a solution, especially a reasonable one.

County residents have told me they don’t want a leash law. Bryant has a leash law. Hot Springs Village has a leash law. Benton has a leash law. Think about this. Let’s just say, for example, that your dog is in your yard and suddenly a rather vicious dog comes up that then attacks or maybe even kills your dog. If there had been a leash law, and if that leash law had been enforced, the dog that ran up and attacked or killed your dog likely wouldn’t have done so. We have a lot of coyotes and other wild animals in the county. If a dog isn’t secure and is allowed to roam freely all over the county, a wild animal could kill that dog. (For those apprehensive about a leash law, something as simple as an invisible fence would be sufficient as well.) It is also important to note that the vast majority of the recent growth in Saline County has been in unincorporated areas. Large subdivisions have been built in recent years, making parts of the county look more like a city. Regardless of whether you support the growth, it is happening nonetheless. As a result, many county residents are faced with wild dogs running rampant and attacking their pets. We need a reasonable solution to address this problem in Saline County.

The single biggest issue that contributes to the county being overrun with unwanted pets is dogs and cats not being spayed or neutered. Along with annual vaccines, spaying and neutering is the single biggest expense of owning a pet. Low-cost spay and neuter, as well as vaccine clinics, are offered regularly in central Arkansas. One of them is called Arkansans for Animals. They offer low cost spay and neuter clinics and provide low-cost vaccines. The Humane Society of Saline County also offers periodic spay and neuter and shot clinics. Options are out there to help pet owners afford the costs of owning a pet. All pet owners need to do is look for them.

When I proposed my ordinance, I was called a Democrat, a liar, and a typical politician. First, I’m the furthest thing from a Democrat. I am a very strong conservative and have been my entire life. Second, I haven’t lied about a thing. And third, I’m also not a typical politician. Typical politicians don’t go into office wanting to make a positive change. Typical politicians are happy just doing the very bare minimum that they have to and don’t want to “make waves.” Typical politicians run for office and tell voters that they’ll be different than the person they’re running against, perhaps a primary opponent, but turn out to be no better than the person they ran against. A typical politician is something I never want to become; I vowed I would be better than that when I ran for office. A true leader is willing to step up and do the hard things and be willing to take the slings and arrows that come with doing that.

I was recently reminded of a quote by Mahatma Gandhi: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” He also said, “I hold that the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of man.” Also, Proverbs 12:10 says, “The righteous care for the needs of their animals.” In the future, I will research more before I propose an ordinance however, I will never apologize for wanting to make the welfare of animals in Saline county better. Saline County can do better, and we should do better.