Residents press Mount Vernon for animal shelter and pound expansion; mayor pledges enforcement

Several Mount Vernon residents used the June 23 public comment period to press the Board of Aldermen on animal-control issues, asking the city to provide closer sheltering and better care for stray animals.

Annmarie Little raised concerns about animal control and rescue and Mayor Jason Haymes responded that he had spoken with the police chief and that "the city has and will continue to prosecute people who are breaking the animal ordinances." Little was encouraged to continue reporting incidents to the police so they could be investigated.

Leah Gibson asked the board to consider a local shelter or humane society, noting the nearest shelter is in Aurora. Tiki Hunter suggested expanding the existing dog pound and using community service workers from Lawrence County to help with animal care; Hunter said she had a list of about 75 community service workers and warned that unaddressed dogs could begin to "terrorize the farm animals."

City Attorney Toni Hendricks also read several ordinance titles from the municipal code during the public-comment portion, indicating the board was informed of relevant legal provisions. The minutes record the residents' concerns and the mayor's assurance of enforcement but show no vote or directive to fund a shelter or to modify pound operations at this meeting.

Next steps: The mayor and police chief indicated they would follow up on reported incidents; the board did not take immediate action to create a shelter or expand pound staffing during the June 23 meeting.