City Hires Animal Control Officer
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Andi Epes addresses the Water Valley Board of Aldermen hours after she was bitten by a dog. Epes urged the city to respond to the problem of aggressive dogs while cautioning against treating every loose dog as a threat.
WATER VALLEY — A lingering problem with stray dogs in Water Valley came to a head following two reported dog attacks last week, prompting back-to-back special meetings of the Board of Aldermen and ultimately the hiring of a new animal control officer.
Aldermen voted to hire Justin Smith during a special meeting Friday, Sept. 18, at a rate of $500 per month plus $25 for each dog picked up.
The action came one day after aldermen met with concerned residents following two dog bites during the week. Water Valley Police Chief Jason Mangrum reported a pedestrian was attacked on Martin Street Tuesday and required medical treatment. Andi Epes was bitten Thursday morning near First Baptist Church and also received medical treatment.
Mayor Tommy Reynolds opened Thursday’s discussion by calling for the city to immediately advertise the position.
“It is wrong for us not to protect the lives and safety of the people,” Reynolds said. “I know our money is tight, but the first thing in government is to protect the lives and safety of the people.”
The discussion centered on a group of dogs that residents said has been roaming portions of Water Valley for nearly two years. Several residents described repeated encounters with the dogs and expressed concern that someone could be seriously injured.
Mary Tyler Brooks told aldermen she has been documenting the dogs for some time after an encounter in which she said five large dogs killed her pet and then turned toward her.
“I’ve lived with this for almost two years,” Brooks said.
Concern for children was raised several times during the meeting. Alderman-at-Large Herbie Rogers said he had received messages from residents who were afraid to allow their children to play outside because of loose dogs.
“What are we going to do until we hire somebody?” Ward 2 Alderman Demetrius Ingram asked. “We’ve got to figure out something because we can’t have accidents like Ms. Epes continue.”
Epes, who had been bitten only hours before the meeting, thanked the people who stopped to help her during the attack.
“I was lucky today because some citizens stopped to help me,” Epes said.
Despite what had happened, Epes urged a measured response. She said the city needed to deal with aggressive dogs but cautioned against treating every loose animal as a threat.
“I don’t want anybody else to get hurt, but I also don’t want it to put a bounty on every dog’s head that’s out in the community,” Epes said.
She said she understood the dog involved in her attack needed to be dealt with and believed it may also have been involved in the earlier attack that week.
“Everybody wants those dogs to be taken care of, but if my dog gets out and is wandering down the road, I don’t want somebody just to come up and kill it because it’s out in the neighborhood,” Epes said. “There are people’s pets that get out.”
Mandy Beard with Second Chance Animal Alliance told aldermen the city has an agreement with the organization to house dogs picked up through animal control, but that system had essentially stopped functioning after the previous officer left.
“Y’all have a contract with Second Chance, but nothing has been brought to us since the last ACO quit,” Beard said.
The city had hired an animal control officer earlier this year, but he subsequently left the position after being bitten by a dog.
Aldermen initially expected to advertise the position. The board called another special meeting Friday and hired Williams.
