A Magnolia couple who built an animal shelter to assist the city with its stray dog problem say a recent meeting with the mayor left them “very discouraged” after the city refused to contribute to the shelter.
John and Judy Martin said now they want nothing to do with the city and will find a way to tend to the mounting bills to operate the shelter on their own.
“The mayor wants to put restrictions on us that we cannot live with. The restrictions would result in very few dogs ever making it to the shelter,” John Martin said.
The couple constructed an animal shelter on their property just outside Magnolia city limits on Mallette Circle, complete with an intake area with four cages, a holding area for dogs with plenty of room for them to run, and a cat pen.
They’ve taken it upon themselves to pick up strays running throughout the streets of Magnolia and treat, shelter and feed them.
But funding is an issue.
Magnolia Mayor Anthony Witherspoon said the city would assist where it could, including the purchase of a van to transport stray dogs.
But the Martins said the decision to bring the dog to the shelter or put it down still remains in the city’s hands.
The Martins said Witherspoon told them all strays will first be brought to the Magnolia Police Department, which will determine ownership and decide if the dog is to go to a veterinarian, be put down or sent to the shelter.
The Martins said they met with the mayor last week.
While the Martins said Witherspoon told them the city would pay for dog food and a minimum of the veterinary bills, he also said the city will not pay for dog medicine, identification tags or equipment for the shelter.
Residents have donated close to $2,000 to the shelter. Much of that came from a fundraising event organized by Alderman Mercedes Ricks at her restaurant.
However, the Martins say they’ve spent close to $4,000 out of their own pocket to bring the shelter up to minimum American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals shelter standards. Not a penny of that will be reimbursed by the city, they said.
The city board meets tonight, but John Martin said he isn’t going. “I’m not into politics. That’s what this seems to come down to.”
He posted to the Magnolia Animal Shelter Facebook page after meeting with the mayor. “All is not lost. This experience has taught us that there is a great need for an additional shelter in Pike County,” he wrote.
Mayor Witherspoon could not be reached for comment.
