White County Aiming to Tame Stray Animals

This time of year, rural roads become wandering grounds for many animals. But one of the state`s biggest counties may have found away to tame the problem. City officials throughout White County are considering adding small dog pounds to the incorporated cities, this way the towns would be able to control stray animals. The town of Higginson would be the first to recieve a pound as a prototype for the others. Officials are hoping to add these pounds to most other towns in the county to cover more ground. Higginson Mayor Marilyn Blackwell says her town of about 380 people is often used for dumping animals. Even her 13-year old grandson, Caleb, was bitten by a dog two years ago, that wasn`t even a stray. "We have an old, old leash law, but it`s not enforceable because you don`t have police protection or a kennel, a holding pen," said Blackwell. County Judge Bob Parish says the pounds would have from six to eight stalls to hold animals, and would have to be built and operated through donations and volunteer work. White County has 16 incorporated cities only a few of them have a humane society or pound. Judge Parish says they hope to have the first pound built by the end of August. That`s when a team of mayors will meet with the Searcy Humane Society to discuss the idea further.