Several Four Paws Animal Rescue members scolded the Lincoln Parish Police Jury in an impromptu gathering after the official meeting had been adjourned, saying it was “unconscionable” that the jury cut funding for the group. The freewheeling discussion immediately followed comments during the meeting by jury administrator Doug Postel and Four Paws Director Sue Martin.
Postel said the jury continues to work with the sheriff on their comprehensive animal control plan for the parish.
Said Postel, “We’ve engaged in a new relationship with Simply Southern Rescue here in Ruston. Simply Southern is willing to work with us on a per animal basis. That fits into our comprehensive plan. At the same time we make that same offer to any animal rescue operations in the parish. We’re more than happy to work with them on a per animal basis.”
Martin was confined to a three-minute comment period, and addressed a prepared document that was provided by the jury administration.
Said Martin, “In 2016, we were going to build a shelter with the parish and the city and Four Paws. That never happened.”
She also addressed the claim that Four Paws had turned away animals from the parish. “I also need to address all of the things that Mr. (LPSO Deputy) Sasser has here. These animals were not brought to us. We have never, ever turned away an animal brought to us by Rob Sasser.”
Martin concluded, “Your comprehensive plan is sending animals to a kill shelter. We can do better than that.”
After Martin concluded, the meeting was adjourned and the crowd milled about talking to individual jurors. A consensus was arrived at to allow other individuals to speak informally.
Almost all the jurors were still in the room.
Judith Howard was first to speak.
“The primary goal seems to be just to get rid of the problem by sending all the dogs to Ouachita Parish where they have a 41% euthanasia rate. What I’m getting from this jury is that’s okay. It’s okay that you send them to another parish to get killed as long as you don’t have to deal with it. And I find that unconscionable.”
She added, “I don’t understand why we don’t have our own shelter in this parish, instead of dumping your problem, our problem on another parish. Does this jury have the funds to build a shelter?”
Juror Logan Hunt spoke up at this point, saying, “I’m open to partner to the city and try to get that project back online.”
Terry Nix passionately implored the jury to reconsider the de-funding decision.
Jane Jenkins commented that they jury should consider a spay/neuter ordinance, similar to what is under consideration in Caddo Parish.
Several jurors implied that some sort of compromise might be arrived at with Four Paws.
Said Skip Russell, “I think that a number of us would like to sit down with your board of directors and just let’s talk.”
Juror Glenn Scriber noted that no one from Four Paws was at the October budget discussions to make a presentation.
Martin said that she had in the past never been asked to do that, and was unaware that complete de-funding was being contemplated.
“As for the October meeting, I’ve never gone to an October meeting,” she said.
Someone in the audience commented that Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker should be a part of any discussion, as a $1.2 milliion animal shelter was a major component of his 2016 Moving Ruston Forward program. A 3/4 cent sales tax was approved by Ruston voters to fund the projects.
The next formal step in the process is a December 14 public hearing prior to a final vote to adopt all the police jury budgets for 2022.
That public hearing would be the last opportunity to make changes to what has been proposed.
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