Archived - Oxford Animal Shelter Watchdogs

08/02/2021

𝗢𝘅𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀

Friday evening, members of the Watchdogs board met with Nicole Young, executive director of Oxford ARC.

During the productive meeting, Nicole answered our questions in a straightforward way and came across as honest and transparent. Here is some of the information she shared.

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳

• 3 kennel attendants, 1 animal control officer, 1 assistant to the executive director (started last Wednesday), 1 executive director.

• One of the attendants is in training to become a second animal control officer. Currently, Nicole goes out on many of the calls with the one ACO.

𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀

• Fosters are needed, to get animals out of construction chaos.

• Not accepting many in-house volunteers yet because of safety concerns with construction.

• Nicole is saving contact info for people who want to volunteer in the future.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

• Planning to increase. New assistant to executive director will take over some social media duties.

• ACO will start posting found dogs on OARC social media.

𝗔𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹𝘀

• 156 have come through since May 17.

• 41 are in the building; 15 are in foster.

• 3 have been euthanized (serious injuries/illness)—none for space/behavior; 1 died on the way to vet.

• An animal trainer from Veteran K9 comes in twice a week to train dogs with behavior issues.

• Animals are currently housed in pop-up kennels—not ideal. Double-sided kennels are more humane (provide separate area for defecation). Those are coming.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

• Target completion date: end of August.

• Kennels are being upgraded, windows added.

• Potential for additional building to be built to house more dogs.

𝗜𝘀 𝗢𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻?

• Yes for people interested in adopting or fostering.

• Not open for surrenders (giving your own animal to the shelter) until after construction is complete.

• Animal control, including picking up stray animals, is ongoing.

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Does this answer some of your questions? What others do you have?

07/13/2021

Just released. 👇 You’re invited! Come show community support!

𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗔 𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧: 𝗢𝘅𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗱𝗼𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟭𝟵

Oxford Animal Shelter Watchdogs will make a presentation at the next Lafayette County, Mississippi, Board of Supervisors meeting.

𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: Monday, July 19, 9 a.m.

𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗘: Chancery Courthouse (300 North Lamar, Oxford, MS)

𝗧𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗖: Data, stories and a petition—all demonstrating the urgent need for the county and city to agree on a budget so county citizens can use the new Oxford ARC.

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𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗢𝗫𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗗 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛𝗗𝗢𝗚𝗦: Oxford Animal Shelter Watchdogs is a grassroots citizens group formed February 16, 2021, in response to claims of animal abuse and neglect at the Oxford, Mississippi, animal shelter. Watchdogs’ investigation and advocacy efforts played a large part in the city deciding to end the contract with the group running the shelter. Watchdogs now advocates for the well-being of abused and abandoned animals in Oxford and greater Lafayette County.

06/21/2021

Thursday night, local rescuers discovered four kittens with their heads blown off. A sibling was alive and is with the rescuers.

This was the same spot, in the county, where 31 cats and kittens were dumped a couple of weeks ago.

But there’s more.

The person who shot the kittens has confessed.

He claimed he found them in bad condition and shot them to end their suffering.

***

There are untold numbers of abandoned animals outside city limits who are vulnerable not only to starvation and disease but to humans who grab them for dog fighting and baiting—and who shoot them. This is not the first case and won't be the last. In fact, one Oxford vet tells us people often bring in dogs with bullet wounds.

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼 𝘁𝗼. The new Oxford ARC will not take them.

Why?

The city and county disagree on a budget.

***

It is unconscionable that county supervisors have yet to so much as address the dire situation publicly, much less remedy it.

Do you want animals in the county, not just the city, to have a safe haven? Please:

1️⃣ Sign this petition: https://www.change.org/HelpLafayetteCoAnimals
2️⃣ Share this post.
3️⃣ Contact your county supervisor.

The need is URGENT.

CORRECTION: The original post said the kittens were found Friday night. That has been corrected to Thursday night.

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WARNING: GRAPHIC photos in comments. Courtesy Lynley Nichele Letson.

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County supervisors: Elect Mike Roberts County Commissioner District 3, Brent Larson for District 1 Supervisor, Elect Larry Gillespie II, David Rikard for Supervisor District 3, Chad McLarty

City: Robyn Tannehill for Mayor of Oxford, Rick Addy For Ward 1, Mark Huelse for Alderman, Brian Hyneman Alderman Ward 3, Kesha Howell-Atkinson, Preston Taylor, Alderman Jason Bailey, Re-Elect John Morgan for Alderman at Large

Media: The Oxford Eagle / Anna Guizerix / Jake Thompson, If you love Oxford, MS, and Ole Miss . . . / Alyssa Kagen Schnugg, Mississippi Free Press / Grace Marion / Grace E Marion, NewsWatch Ole Miss, FOX13 Memphis / Tom Dees FOX13 Memphis, WREG News Channel 3 / Luke Jones WREG, WTVA 9 News, Daily Journal / Adam Armour

06/18/2021

Lafayette County, MS, dogs and cats desperately need your help.

These three innocent animals—and more like them—are not allowed access to the City of Oxford animal shelter, simply because they were found outside city limits.

Will you please help change this by signing this petition?

http://chng.it/dqGWjTkG

Thank you!

06/02/2021

We have a lot of new Watchdogs page likes! Welcome!! If you want to just hear about the big stuff, this is the place to be. If you want to be where the action is, please join Oxford Watchdogs Group. See you there!

06/01/2021

𝗙𝗔𝗤: 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹?

Here is what we know right now.

IF THE ANIMAL IS IN THE CITY: Call Oxford MS Police Department. Last we’ve heard from City of Oxford, OPD is animal control until an animal control officer is hired.

IF THE ANIMAL IS IN THE COUNTY: Lafayette County has no shelter and no animal control. If you believe this is a problem, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿 and tell them your concerns. If they do not hear from people, they do not know anyone cares. (𝘕𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘳? 𝘚𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸.)

IF YOU HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS: Today, the city posted Oxford ARC's contact information: [email protected], 662-832-1386. ("DMs to social media may not be answered immediately, but will be answered.") The new executive director is Nicole Young. She is being transparent, and we have heard good things!

Is this helpful? What other information do you need? We still have many questions ourselves, but at least this is a start.

04/26/2021

Even if you've followed this story from the beginning, this is a must-watch. Thank you to Hannah Dear for this spot-on journalism.

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT As of this Friday, April 23rd, the City of Oxford, Mississippi has made a $1 million investment in renovations and community program...

04/22/2021

ANNOUNCEMENT

Watchdogs, it's been a wild couple of months, right? I am so proud of this group—of you. You heard the silent cries for help from animals who couldn't speak for themselves, and you rushed to take action. Within a few weeks, the cruelty at the Oxford/Lafayette County shelter ended.

Now: What's next? How can we harness this momentum and keep going?

I've talked with many of you over the past few weeks, and every single person has told me that you want to take things to the next level.

So ... let's do it.

Announcing the new Watchdogs board of directors! With their expertise and talent, we will enter this next phase strong.

Donna Niewiaroski (vice president)
Karen Gill (secretary)
Deborah Buchanan
Katie Hiland Griffin
Jennifer Lundeby

I (Leigh Ann Hubbard) will stay on as president.

Thank you to these women, who will do the hard work of organizing and decision-making. And thank you to those of you who are on committees as well. There will be many more tasks and positions that need filling in the future. I know you will be ready.

Given this group's proven dedication, I believe we can start a movement.

We can change lives permanently for animals in our community, region and beyond.

This summer, we'll focus on three things: 1) ensuring that the animals currently in the shelter are being cared for properly, 2) advocating for a wonderful future animal resource center, 3) forming Oxford Watchdogs into a proper organization so we can make a lasting impact.

This is an exciting time. What do you most want to accomplish next?

04/21/2021

Have you submitted your questions yet? Here's the link! (Need some inspiration? See the comments below.) https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=iZdFErz_a0CtDGUbgLzm2G0xntW-rAJClOWlQ0n6sFdUREVSOUg3WlNFSEhZQ082REhZSFlOUDYwQi4u&fbclid=IwAR2hZ4_DPq3f8aaAmICtf9rFqLoagtS1FWvQizuk8BD-pupKJHZiEOEH5bo

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: APRIL 22, 6:00 PM
See links below for the meeting link as well as the link to submit questions.