Group ‘rescues’ Marion County Animal Shelter

MARION — The Marion County Animal Shelter has made news for years about the lack of care for the animals. But last month, Marion County Council awarded Paws to the Rescue, an animal rescue group, a management contract to oversee the daily operations.

Paws to the Rescue founder and director Jennifer Nall said she has high hopes as the new director of the shelter. She said her to-do list just keeps growing, but she’s concentrating on the most important issues first.

“We’re focusing on the big things like spaying and neutering and emergency medical care to the little things like getting volunteers in to walk the animals, spend time with them, get them out of their runs, get them socialized and just spread the word that there are so many animals in the shelter,” she said.

Paws to the Rescue quickly made strides by regularly transporting animals from local shelters to shelters in other states, giving them another chance at adoption.

For years, complaints circulated ranging from the lack of veterinary care to the inadequate condition of the shelter.

“We are excited about the partnership with Paws to the Rescue as they take over the day-to-day operations and management of the Marion County Animal Shelter,” Marion County Administrator Tim Harper said. “With their resources and volunteers that were presented in their proposal to council, I feel that they will be able to provide better services and management of the shelter. This partnership will also allow mores animals to be adopted out to loving homes.”

Nall said she will make sure animals receive emergency care, heartworm testing and feline leukemia testing so adopters know an animal’s situation.

Nall is a life-long supporter of animals. For nearly two years, her rescue group helped hundreds of animals. She said she understands the importance of volunteers and community backing.

“It can be sad, but if everyone works together and does a little bit here and there,” she said. “Maybe we can’t save all of them, but we can make it better while they are here at the shelter.”

There will be a fundraiser for the shelter from 4 to 9 p.m. Oct. 11 at Dusty Hills Country Club, 225 Country Club Road, Marion. The musical group Southern Blue will perform from 6 to 9 p.m. during the event, which will feature raffles, silent auctions, and a barbecue plate dinner. The dinner is $6 per person.

Anyone who would like to donate an auction item or supplies for the shelter can call Nall at (843) 251-8390. Among the items needed are vaccines; de-wormers; medications; heartworm and feline leukemia tests; spay and neuter surgeries; a refrigerator for vaccines; galvanized buckets; large stainless steel dog dishes; cat litter; collars, leashes and toys; a copy machine and copy paper; postage stamps; file folders; four-drawer locking filing cabinets; bleach; paper towels; towels; and laundry detergent.