Crimestoppers taking a bite out of animal cruelty, dumping

In a bid to stop crimes against this area’s non-humanity, Cherokee County Crimestoppers board members recently donated a total $800 to a pair of local animal rescue organizations.

Crimestoppers donated $400 each to the Jacksonville Animal Shelter and the County Roads Animal Rescue last week, to be used for spaying and neutering rescue animals brought to each shelter.

“Personally, I think this is the biggest crime in Cherokee County,” Crimestoppers President John Hawkins said. “Cats and dogs are dumped and left every day and our shelters are doing what they can, but space and resources are finite.”

Abandoning an animal in the state of Texas is a class A misdemeanor, as per the Texas Penal Code. According to records from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, in 2018 the department responded to 2,023 animal control calls and complaints -- averaging 168.5 calls per month.

Jacksonville Animal Shelter only takes rescues from inside the city limits. Call the city’s Animal Control Office, (903) 586-7387 for pick up.

“Jacksonville Animal Control promotes and protects the welfare of our citizens and animals,” the JAS’s Facebook page states. “Our goal is to promote responsible pet ownership and to prevent the spread of animal borne diseases. In addition, we will provide services, care, registration, animal control and public safety for our community. We strive to promote adoptions of healthy, non-aggressive animals to the public, while providing temporary shelter for stray, unwanted or homeless animals.

“To provide responsible, efficient, and high quality services that preserves and protects citizen and animal welfare.”

Shelter adoption hours are 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday; and by appointment only on Saturday and Sunday. Adoptions are $40 for dogs which includes a microchip and $40 for cats.

To have a stray picked up, Jacksonville residents will need to contact the shelter as soon as the animal is located.

“Let Animal Control know and they will come out and pick up the stray and attempt to find their owner if possible,” JAS’s Facebook page states. “If you bring a stray in you will need to bring identification and a utility bill showing that you reside in Jacksonville. Please have them with you when you come, you will not be able to leave the animals without correct documentation. We cannot accept animals from non-residents.

“We look forward to working with the public in getting animals back to their respective owners and if the animal does not have an owner we look forward to being able to place that animal with a forever family.

“We apologize for not being able to assist residents in the county but we are a small shelter and cannot meet the needs of the entire county.”

Residents within Cherokee County can call the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, (903) 683-2271. County commissioners discussed establishing a county animal shelter in April, but took no action on the matter, citing ‘feasibility issues.’

“I’m an animal lover, but the reality is, there’s not enough money,” Precinct 2 Commissioner Steven Norton said during the April commissioners court session. “A lot of people want (a shelter), but nobody wants their taxes to go up. It’s just not feasible.”

In the meantime, County Roads Rescue is picking up the slack, as much as possible.

“We are foster, volunteer and donations based only,” CRR’s website states. “We formed our organization to help with a county that is over-run with abandoned animals.

“Since forming in May of 2016, we have rescued 450 animals. We rescue, vet, behaviorally assess and then find the perfect placement for each animal. This is a costly process and we rely on the support of our community!

“Currently we have 45 animals in our program. This number varies from month to month. It was our busiest puppy season so far. We have a ton of puppies available for adoption now!

“We have a few target areas that we focus on such as the local shelter in Jacksonville. A small town known as Dialville, just south of Jacksonville. And a few other special cases. We unfortunately cannot respond to most of the calls for help due to lack of resources.”

Donate to County Roads Rescue by emailing founder Dava Cooley, davacooley@gmail.com; visit the organization’s website, countyroadsrescue.org to sign up for monthly donations; or drop off donations at the Jacksonville Animal Shelter.