Holly Springs eyes animal control return

Frustrated Holly Springs residents are demanding solutions after more than a year without municipal animal control, citing aggressive stray dog packs roaming neighborhoods and killing pets.

A Monday evening gathering brought nearly a dozen citizens together with their accounts of dogs roaming streets and attacking other neighborhood pets. There’s also been occasions where dogs are threatening people, similar to the attack on Lakesha “Tootie” Newsom, a 35-year-old mother of three children. She was attacked and mauled by four dogs along Highway 178 in March of this year.

Newsom fought for her life in intensive care for more than three weeks. Her severe injuries required the amputation of her right arm and right leg. Tragically, she passed away on March 27, leaving behind her 11-year-old twins and a 13-year-old child.

Hearing the accounts of roaming dogs and attacks on other animals were Holly Springs Mayor Charles Terry, Alderman Jim Moore, and Police Chief Grant Glover. The city eliminated dedicated animal control 18 months ago during budget shortfalls, transferring enforcement duties to the police department.

Resident Becky Rogers described a recent wave of violence driven by roaming dogs.

“A lot of these cats that have been slaughtered, literally slaughtered this past week and a half, are cats that I’ve worked with,” Rogers said, noting widespread attacks across town.

Resident Stephanie Jones echoed those concerns, detailing fatal strikes on neighborhood pets.

“We saw two black dogs attacking one of the cats that we feed,” Jones said. “It did not make it.” Lisa Carlton said aggressive animals are also causing widespread fear among pedestrians.

“A lot of seniors have stopped walking because of the dogs,” Carlton said. “There’s just so many of them.”

Tammy Degraffenreid noted that uncontained animals have become an everyday concern for neighbors.

“We got people that are just sitting there also letting their dogs run loose at 6 o’clock in the morning,” Degraffenreid said. “They let them run loose, and I know they’re all over the neighborhood up here because we see them.”

Janie Koerner recounted witnessing attacks right outside her home on West Chulahoma Avenue.

“Three of the dogs are coming from that block there,” Koerner said. “I saw two of them pull a cat apart in my backyard.”

Andrea Hurdle warned that roaming packs are threatening residents who attempt to intervene.

“My neighbor’s house, who’s 95 years old and has a heart of gold feeding those cats, and one of her cats got killed,” Hurdle said. “I didn’t want to go behind there to check or shoo them away because I didn’t know if they’re going to attack me or not.”

Glover urged residents to exercise caution and report incidents appropriately.

“Protect yourselves. Protect your family,” Glover said. “If these dogs are vicious, call 911. If they’re not vicious dogs, you see dogs wandering around, call the police department at our local number.”

Terry explained that officials are evaluating an amended budget to restore animal control funding and rehabilitate municipal kennels.

“We’re going to have a special-called meeting at some time where we’re going to have to do some amendments to our budget,” Terry said. “If we can get it in the budget this year to where we can put animal control back into place, even if it’s part-time, then we will have somewhere to place them.”

Moore expressed confidence that city leadership will back the move.

“I think there’s support for the amended budget,” Moore said. “The other aldermen will see the need of getting animal control put back in.”