Video: Okolona Animal Shelter Update

[syndicaster id=’5297449′]

OKOLONA, Miss. (WCBI) — An animal control officer is trying to enforce a small town’s new law, which restricts stray animals and vicious dogs.

In March, Okolona had only a small animal shelter. Animal Control Officer Melvin Burks was doing the best he could with limited funds. Since then, he’s slowly made some improvements to the facilities. Meanwhile, he remains hard at work handing out citations to violators.

“Like I say, we still got a few dogs in the city that are still running loose. And we are still picking them up every day,” Burks said.

Burks has been rounding up strays and vicious dogs like these pit bulls being housed at the shelter, bringing in at least 20 a month.

“We don’t want these dogs to get loose and go over to our school houses and attack our kids. Kids can’t defend themselves like a grown person can. And these dogs will hurt you,” said Burks.

Burks says the animals must be registered in the city, and admits there is opposition from some dog owners, but they soon comply when he explains the nature of his job — keeping residents safe from harm. And the task, he says, is ongoing.

“We are going to keep picking them up. Long as they don’t do what they are suppose to do we are going to keep picking them up and putting them over here in the animal shelter,” said Burks.

The city’s ordinances include other animals such as horses, pigs, and cats. Burks plans on expanding the facility to handle those other animals.