County won't let Southbark pull animals

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - The Mobile County Animal Shelter has banned a local rescue group. SouthBARK has pulled more animals than any other rescue group.

Since SouthBARK was founded two years ago, it has saved more than 1,400 animals and found them homes all over the country. Now the county has cut its partnership stating SouthBARK’s tactics are causing problems for the staff.

Shirley, Oliver and Goldie are all dogs now in their ‘furever’ homes. They were pulled from the euthanasia list at the Mobile County Animal Shelter by SouthBark.

Emily Thompson and a group of volunteers network around the country to place them and get them to their new families.

"Our priority is just getting those dogs out of the shelter safely and into great homes,” said Thompson.

Thompson said she received an official letter alerting her of SouthBARK’s ban Wednesday.

"It’s just a really sad day for the animals at the shelter, I think for all the city and the county because that's a big facility with a lot of money. And, too me, it's a shame that their priority is the shelter employees and not the dogs that are in their care,” said Thompson.

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We spoke to Nancy Johnson with the County. She said SouthBARK’s advertising of the animals has caused a overload of phone calls to the shelter. That’s one reason it cut the shelter as a placement partner.

"It’s not working. It’s more of a hindrance than a benefit for the shelter," said Johnson.

She said SouthBARK was spreading lies and rumors about the shelter.

"We need people to want to come to the shelter. And when it’s very negative information, they are hurting the operation and the success of the shelter,” said Johnson.

Thompson attributes this claim to the groups’ page. It posts pictures of animals and they are seen by people all over the world.

These dogs and cats are from a euthanasia list sent by the animal shelter. The posts often use phrases like "will die" or "death row dog."

"Their response is, ‘Well, it might not die today. So it’s hard to say that it might die in three days.’ Well, we just say, ‘Look, it’s got probably a week to live at best take it or leave it.’ We’re not going to sugar coat things but that's just the truth," said Thompson.

SouthBARK’s methods work. Other rescue groups attribute 80 percent of the animals rescued from the shelter to SouthBARK

Johnson said other rescue groups are stepping up to pick up the slack.

"We have had the other rescue agencies coming up to us and saying, “We’ll help well pull more of the weight,’" said Johnson.

Robbie Fitzgerald who runs the Safe Haven Animal Care Kennel said SouthBARK has resources that can’t be matched.

"You can’t rely on the rest of the rescues. Because if that's the case, SouthBARK wouldn't be pulling the numbers they are pulling because they would be happy for other rescues to pull more," said Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald said unless the shelter itself picks up where SouthBARK left off and starts networking the dogs, the animals will suffer.

Thompson said there are other shelters she could work with, but the animals in Mobile County need her the most.

"In some ways, I'm tempted to kind of throw my hands in the air, but I don't feel like giving up I feel the Mobile County Animal Shelter, (and) the dogs that are there and certainly the cats. The cats have it worse. You know, they need more groups in there. They need people advocating for them,” said Thompson.

In May, the Mobile County Animal Shelter had a 72 percent euthanasia rate. They euthanized 149 dogs and 455 cats.