Marion County’s first Animal Control Administrator began as a volunteer for the Marion County Animal Control program and is looking forward to her expanded role.
Whitney Purcell has set a number of goals.
“It’s a passion project,” Purcell said. “It’s a love for the animals and to do right by them, and of course help with the education surrounding proper care of animals regarding the spay and neutering to reduce population control and the importance of vaccinations. In my opinion it is easier to get a handle on the overpopulation of dogs in Marion County by approaching it on the front end by spaying and neutering than on the back end of overpopulation and, unfortunately, euthanasia.”
Purcell says since she started working with Marion County in July, 82 dogs have been adopted out and nine sent to rescue. Only vicious dogs and those in poor condition have had to be euthanized.
Purcell will oversee the new animal control facility that will be located in the former Centralia Animal Control Shelter.
“Once we get the new animal control building, people who have lost their animals can of course check there to see if we have picked them up,” Purcell said. “We also always post them on our Facebook page so people can see them there as well. We will have hours of operation where we’ll be open so people can come in and meet the dogs that are available for adoption, and then we’ll also do special days for meet-and-greets and things like that.”
Purcell will also be seeking grants and secondary funding for the facility and to allow more spaying and neutering.
Marion County Board Chair Steve Whritenour is hopeful the memorandum of understanding to allow the county to begin utilizing the former Centralia Animal Control facility will be completed in the next few days.
