Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Animal control officer picking up stray dogs

More than 50 dogs have been picked up in Prescott since the first of the year.

This is what Seborn Gregory, Animal Control Officer with Nashville, told the Prescott City Council recently.

He presented the council with a report of the animal control activities, saying it shows the complaints made and where dogs were picked up.

The report also shows how many dog bites were reported, the fines collected, dogs claimed, adopted or euthanized.

Two trucks have been operating in Prescott, working different areas so the dogs don't get driven into one spot. Instead, the animals can't learn when or where the trucks will be and will maintain their normal habits and patterns.

The Nashville shelter, he said, is building another 20 pens so it can hold more dogs.

The report also shows the number of cats and other animals picked up, though only dogs have been picked up in Prescott. In actuality, the shelter will pick up or accept almost any kind of animal, including exotic ones.

"If you have an unwanted animal," Gregory said, "call us. We'll come and get it."

The shelter recently adopted out 25 dogs. Those wanting to adopt animals from the shelter must prove they're worthy, and won't abandon the animal later on. All animals adopted must be either spayed or neutered.

Since the first of the year, he said, a lot of people have either chained their dogs up or fenced them in. Others have called to let the officers know where strays are so they can set traps for them.

"It takes a while for us to figure out the dogs in town," he said, referring to understanding the patterns of the animals.

Prescott has a lot of abandoned houses where the dogs can gather. These houses, he said, are also great places for rodents, possums, raccoons and skunks.

Anyone needing to contact the animal control officers should call 870-845-7414, not the Prescott Police Department, as the PPD has nothing to do with animal control.

The shelter's hours are from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, with an answering machine for after hours calls.

Gregory said no town will ever be completely free of stray dogs.