DOGS GONE?

EVEN WITH DENIALS AND PROMISES FROM COUNTY OFFICIALS, GROUP FEARS SITE WILL BECOME ‘KILL-SHELTER’ AGAIN

MAY 6, 2019 – written by WADE QUEEN

An animal shelter usually does not have the combination words of ‘peaceful’ and ‘quiet’ as a description.

But that is the case, as in very recently with the animal shelter near Inez, in Martin County, being empty, as this past Tuesday, April 30, was the last day of Stray Hearts Animal Rescue’s contract.

“Anything we can do to help the county and the animals out,” said Cynthia McGinnis, who works with Hillbilly Paws Animal Rescue.

“There’s a lot of animals that come in every day and it’s hard for one person, who is also a county maintenance employee,” Ms. McGinnis pointed out.

Now, McGinnis is worried officials will kill dogs after their five-day holding period.
Before the county contracted with Stray Hearts Animal Rescue, the shelter sent animals to be euthanized regularly.

“Animals were put down all the time. Nobody even attempted to make any efforts to find them homes,” claimed Ms. McGinnis.

However, Martin County District 5 Magistrate Victor Slone says there is no reason to worry.

“We still want to continue to be a no-kill shelter. If that doesn’t work out it would be the last resort that we would turn back to a kill shelter,” said magistrate Slone.

Slone told local news media outlets county officials hope to work with the rescue organizations in the county.

The Stray Hearts Animal Rescue will still operate, just not through the previous Martin County contract and not on the same land site.

“As far as pulling from the shelter, our plans right now are to check with the A.C.O. (Animal Control Officer) daily to see what animals he has and to network those animals with larger rescues and try to get them out of the shelter once their 5-day stray hold is over,” said Stray Hearts Rescue’s owner Mary Kirk-Blanton.

Beginning on Wednesday, May 1, the Martin County Animal Shelter was being operated by the Martin County dog warden, Todd Stacy.

Regular hours for the animal shelter will be Monday through Friday, 2:00 P.M. until 4:00 P.M.
According to an official statement released from the Martin County Fiscal Court, owners may claim any impounded animal by showing proof of a valid rabies vaccination or vaccine voucher.

Officials ask owners to attach a valid rabies tag or other legible identification to their dog’s collar.

Dogs that are not claimed after five days will be available for adoption.
Under Kentucky law, owners are responsible for any impound fees whether they reclaim the animal or not.

“Our hopes are that we will still be able to continue to work with the two organizations that are here in the county. That would allow folks to still come up and rescue these dogs,” assured magistrate Slone.