Faulkner County Animal Shelter closer to reality

October 17-23, 2016

By Jay Edwards

On Oct. 6 a group of citizens gathered in Conway near the Justice Department on South German to unveil a sign on the land that will likely be the future site of the Faulkner County Animal Shelter.  

On hand to speak to the crowd was County Judge Jim Baker, who has been meeting with the Advisory Committee appointed by the Faulkner County Quorum Court to research the possible building of the Shelter.

“We’ve got 5 acres back there,” Baker told the crowd, pointing out the land. “This is a logical place for a permanent home. I won’t say it’s the best place in the county but it is in the top two.”

The Advisory Committee members are Donna Clawson, Susan Shaddox, Chris Quinn and Vickie Crutchfield. They have been working for months, supplying proposals and figures; as well as visiting shelters all over the county, talking to architects and presenting their findings to the Quorum Court for approval to move forward. Judge Baker gave the committee the permission to put a sign on the property, which is owned by the county, to start the process to obtain bids and start writing grants for the shelter.

 Quorum Court Chairman Randy Higgins voted last month to allot $30,000 of the $1.1 million, raised by the Voluntary Tax from the people of Faulkner County. “This will afford us to move forward with the beginning of the proposed shelter,” Crutchfield says. “The people of Faulkner County have been faithful to check the voluntary tax box to go toward an animal shelter. We encourage them to continue to do that so they can see their efforts have not been in vain and will provide for the maintenance of the shelter once it is built.”

Baker said that the location would likely be beneficial for a rehab program through the jail that already sits on the property. The Paws in Prison program is made possible through Arkansas Department of Correction’s partnership with animal shelters and advocate groups around the State. Selected inmates have the opportunity to become trainers of rescue dogs in the program. Inmates work with the dogs teaching them basic obedience skills and properly socializing the animals, making them more adoptable.

“We could change the direction of some folks’ life,” Baker said.

“There have been so many that have worked for hours, days, months and years to see the Faulkner County Shelter built,” Crutchfield added. “It will also provide a place for people to take animals in case of a disaster, which was so evident when the tornado hit a couple of years ago. We appreciate and thank all those people who have made this step possible.” 

PHOTO CAPTION:

Members of the Faulkner County Animal Shelter Advisory Committee stand with Faulkner County Judge Jim Baker, near the proposed site for the new shelter during a sign unveiling on Oct. 6. Left to right are Mrs. Randy Higgins (representing her husband who was out of town), Susan Shaddox, Vickie Crutchfield, Chris Quinn, Donna Clawson and Judge Baker. (Photo by Jay Edwards)