“Best Friends” are coming in handy to help Bryant Animal Control to reduce the number of animals that have to be euthanized at the shelter. The City of Bryant and Bryant Animal Control have partnered with an organization called Best Friends Animal Society. Read more below about the partnership, the spay/neuter vouchers available to citizens, and other ways to help the pet population.
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According to a statement from the City of Bryant, adoptable animals will be transferred from local shelters to the Best Friends location in northwest Arkansas. Once they get there, the animals join a network of foster homes. The shelter conducted its first transfer of animals on Tuesday, August 29th with plans for more.
“We’ve done all we can alone,” said Tricia Power, “We’ve reached the edge of our life-saving abilities working independently. It is time to expand our capabilities. This partnership provides renewed hope for our shelter’s save rate and ability to to help more animals in need.”
Best Friends Animal Society was founded in 1984 by a group of friends who simply wanted to make a difference and stop the routine killing of shelter animals across the country. This group of self-described “misfits” established the animal sanctuary in Kanab, Utah and laid the groundwork for a nationwide organization that grows every year.
Power said, “Every large endeavor begins with a single step. The first three cats we transferred to Best Friends are just the very beginning of the goal to save all homeless pets. The routine killing of shelter animals has gone on far too long. I am proud to be a part of this partnership and look forward to the future of life saving.”
Bryant Animal Control & Adoption Center was founded on July 1, 1999, and Tricia Power, the organization’s current director, was hired to be the department’s only Animal Control Officer later that year. In 2003, the City of Bryant built the Animal Shelter in a converted warehouse, which still houses the shelter and the department’s administrative offices. It has grown from a single employee to eight full-time positions and two part-time positions, plus a network of volunteers.
With the continued support of Bryant City Council and Mayor Allen Scott, the department has purchased a transport van, which allows the staff to transport animals to partner shelters across the country, reducing euthanasia. This partnership expands that capability as well as allows the department access to a plethora of life-saving programs, support, and knowledge.
For now, Power says that the shelter needs more help at the local level. “We need more volunteers and foster families to expand our capacity for care locally. Additionally, we need to reduce the number of pets being born that do not have homes – through spay and neuter.”
To help with the spay/neuter process, they offer vouchers for Bryant residents. Visit this link for more info: www.facebook.com/bryantanimalshelter.
If you are interested in helping the Bryant Animal Shelter through volunteering or fostering, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/