Canine Advocates host community outreach meeting for the public

RUSSELLVILLE — Second Chance Canine Advocates hosted a public awareness meeting recently at the Ralph C. Bishop Community Center.

The group’s goal is to engage the community in addressing issues of neglect, mistreatment and overpopulation of dogs in Franklin County.

Volunteers shared information about spaying and neutering, emphasized the need for local foster homes, and discussed the challenges of transporting dogs to rescues.

Organization leaders said even those who can’t foster can still play a vital role.

One way to help is by driving dogs to rescue organizations. Some are located as far as Tennessee or Kentucky, and others are even farther north.

Some volunteers also assist by taking dogs to veterinary appointments.

“More fosters, or foster assistants, would mean more dogs could get to safety,” said Kyra Britton, one of the group organizers.

She said part of the organization’s mission is to help the public understand its role in the process.

“We are advocates working with county officials, law enforcement and private citizens,” Britton said. “We’re not a rescue. We’re a bridge.”

Members also discussed plans to expand educational outreach, including continued efforts to share information about spaying and neutering and connecting residents with available resources and ways to help.

The group’s next public meeting will be held Aug. 23 at 10 a.m. at the Ralph C. Bishop Community Center.