McMinnville Animal Control recently earned state licensure, allowing the facility to acquire medications directly from suppliers and officially recognizing its high operational standards.
McMinnville Public Works Director Lyndon Bussell said the department pursued the certification to demonstrate the quality of the shelter to the community. The facility was already operating under strict internal guidelines before the state conducted its official inspection.
“We already hold ourselves up at a pretty high standard, we weren’t a certified facility, but so we wanted to go ahead and get that done to show, you know, our community that we do have an excellent facility here in McMinnville, the state recognizes it and has certified us and really gives us the better ability to take care of our animals at our shelter and help keep the community safe because now we’re able including with the DEA licensure we’re able to get, you know, medication directly from the supplier rather than have to go third party,” Bussell said.
Bussell said the shelter is equipped to house up to 16 dogs at a time and does not handle cats at the facility. Staff members respond to eight to ten calls on a busy day regarding stray dogs, vicious animal complaints, and nuisance wildlife like skunks or possums that need to be relocated to the forest.
“No, it just it just the state comes and inspects us and makes sure that we’re still held to that high standard that we want to be held to and we want to be recognized for,” Bussell said. “So it’s it’s really just kind of a pat on the back for our animal control facility to have that kind of recognition and to show that we have an excellent facility here.”
Bussell said overpopulation remains one of the biggest issues facing the area. The department recently secured a grant to help low-income and elderly residents across Warren County afford spay and neuter services for both dogs and cats.
“I I think it’s really controlling the pet population by having your pet spayed and neutered and making sure all their shots and records are up to date especially the rabies vaccine,” Bussell said. “So that that’s the big thing is the spay and neuter and the rabies shot, yeah.”
Bussell said residents should contact animal control when a loose dog becomes a nuisance by damaging property, tearing up plants, or eating food left out for other pets. Officers will capture the dog and speak with the owner about keeping a closer watch on the animal.
“We’re out here every day, we’re out, you know, we’re on call 24/7 if anybody ever needs us and, you know, it it’s nice to get the word out about our animal control,” Bussell said.
Residents needing assistance can reach the on-call animal control officer by calling the department at 931-473-2553.