By John Howell
Panola County Humane Society (PCHS) President Margaret Eubanks asked Batesville city officials to increase from $2,500 to $3,500 the amount allocated annually for medical expenses to treat animals kept in the city’s pound.

Eubanks also asked the mayor and aldermen to consider replacement of existing pens at the pound.

PCHS has a agreement with the city that allows its volunteers to assist in the care of dogs kept in the pound. PCHS matches the city’s allocation to purchase medicine and other treatments and cleaning supplies.

Eubanks also asked for a change in the agreement with the city that would allow the additional $1,000 to be spent for spaying or neutering.

“In the first five months we’ve spent $4,100 on just the canine spay/neuter and almost $900 on the feline,” Eubanks said.

“This is where most of the citizens of Panola County ask us to help. They can’t afford the spay/neuter, so as long as we have the funds available this is the greatest thing we can do to cut down on some of these puppies.

“If you all would allow us to add spay/neuter under the reimburseable piece — spay/neuter really helps the citizens,” she said.

The PCHS representative said that only 13 of the 18 pens at the pound are presently usable. She presented a price quote of $4,949.52 for replacement pens.

“All of us from the Humane Society will go out and take the old pens down. We will install the new pens we will work those pens.

“If there’s anywhere in your  budget to find consideration to get some of these pens replaced it would be of great value to us and it would help Ben (City Animal Control Officer Benjy Caine) an awful lot.

“We have baling wire; we have chicken wire; we have electrical wire, we have wood boards,” Eubanks said, describing the pens shown in photos she had provided for the mayor and aldermen.

“If you could do one side one year, Mr. Mayor, and one side the next, we’ll take whatever you want to give us,” she said.