It looks like an animal shelter in Panola County is shaping up to be a prominent political issue with an election cycle on next year’s horizon.

The issue was brought to light Monday morning when representatives of Panola County’s Humane Society said, “We will set up petition drives to send a clear message.”

No elected official in their right mind is going to speak against puppies and kittens. And very few will speak for raising taxes—an apparent conundrum that will probably have to be addressed in order for Panola County’s population to support an adequate shelter.

But no shelter is big enough to house the litters that come from abandoned pets and stray animals that are not spayed or neutered.

A timely, but unplanned, column by Panolian publisher John Howell last Friday described how the PCHS has made strides in getting unwanted or abandoned dogs into “forever” homes. Others are taken to Oxford-Lafayette Humane Shelter and a few may wind up at Panola County Sheriff Department’s pens used for vicious dogs. Nobody wants to talk about euthanization.

But many, many dogs—as well  cats, are dropped off on rural roads in the county.
PCHS representatives have stated that talk of a shelter has been going on for 10 years now with no apparent progress.

In the meantime, that organization has made more and more of us aware of the problems through fund raisers and awareness campaigns.

Officials and others can’t help but take notice.

And remember, unwanted pets aren’t the problem—it’s irresponsible pet owners.