First Jackson Animal Committee Meeting A Success Despite City Mayor’s Absence

The Jackson County Animal Committee did not receive the support it wanted from local officials at its first meeting.

Coordinator Karen Fitzmaurice said after the meeting had already been scheduled weeks in advance, Gainesboro Mayor Lloyd Williams did not attend.

“We were a little displeased that the Gainesboro City Mayor Lloyd Williams had cancelled an hour before the meeting,” Fitzmaurice said. ‘However, we went ahead, and with over 20 in attendance, we made great progress on having some more of the community involved with the pet issue here in Jackson County.”

Fitzmaurice said with community interest growing, the committee will proceed with its initiative. The group seeks funding to create a one-stop website for lost and found animals and explore animal shelter options.

“The first meeting was to kind of show which direction we are trying to go in,” Fitzmaurice said.

Fitzmaurice said in the next meeting, members look to gather facts and figures to find which alternatives are best for Jackson County. Fitzmaurice said the goal would be to present their findings to local leaders.

“We have to do it all in steps and as our group grows you are actually getting other people’s ideas, but it takes a while to get all the financial information and then to compare our different alternatives of what we have,” Fitzmaurice said. “But, we have some great people out there that are really participating to help us. Baby steps, but we will get there.”