Melvin Junior High students urge Osage County to help open an animal shelter

Students from Melvin Junior High urged the Osage County Board of Commissioners on May 5 to back efforts to create a local animal shelter.

Carrie Lanfelter, an English language arts teacher who brought the class to the meeting, introduced students who read five‑paragraph persuasive essays and showed a slideshow arguing Osage County has no dedicated shelter and that volunteers currently shoulder the burden of caring for stray animals. "Osage County currently has no dedicated animal shelters, forcing countless stray and abused animals to fend for themselves without access to basic care," one student said during the presentation.

The students cited public‑health concerns such as the risk of zoonotic disease transmission, road safety risks from loose animals, and local rescue groups operating on tight budgets. The presenters referenced regional examples and grant programs — including ASPCA and Petco Love grants — as potential funding sources and suggested that the county could help by demonstrating official public interest when applying for grants.

Board members thanked the class for their presentation and asked whether the students were proposing the county apply directly for grants; the students said the group envisioned county support for grant applications and local fundraising. The board did not take an action or vote on the matter during the meeting.

The presentation concluded with applause; the students were invited to remain for the rest of the meeting.