Mount Vernon Optic-Herald

The growing problem of dumping unwanted domestic animals was brought to a recent meeting of the Franklin County Commissioners Court by rancher and businessman Nat Paul Gibbs.
Mr. Gibbs owns about 1,000 acres along the Franklin and Hopkins county line off CR NW1018, north of Hwy. 67.  He recounted having three dogs dumped at his rural doorstep in as many months.
“These are not tiny cute little puppies. If they were, there might be a chance of finding them a home,” Mr. Gibbs said.
He explained that domestic dogs cannot survive on their own. The dumping of older dogs he said, leads to the creation of roaming packs of semi-wild dogs. Many breed with coyotes, and packs sometime turn to chasing livestock for food and fun.
“Then we have more of a problem,” stressed Mr. Gibbs.  He went on to ask members of the Commissioners Court to include funding for a county animal shelter. See the commissioners’ response in the May 6 edition of the Mount Vernon Optic-Herald.