Peaceful protest for SouthBARK planned

MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile County has not budged on its to ban SouthBARK, athe rescue group, from rescuing dogs from the County Animal Shelter.

It’s a move that has inspired the group and its supporters to take action.

As of Monday night, 2,543 supporters have signed a petition to lift the Mobile County Animal Shelter’s ban on SouthBARK.

The rescue group’s president Emily Thompson said there is a lot at stake.

"Every day that this doesn't get resolved, I can promise you more and more dogs are dying that wouldn't have to,” said Thompson.

Thompson said since the ban last Wednesday, the County hasn’t budged making it tough to save animals.

"It’s like running with one leg. We’re just not able to do everything we need to be able to do without having a presence in the shelter,” said Thompson.

Thompson and many other supporters have requested a sit down with county administrators but instead got an email from County Commission President Connie Hudson thanking them for their support and referring them to a statement from County Administrator John Pafenbach.

He outlines the reasons for the ban including, "SouthBARK, through its tactics and purposeful misrepresentation of facts and outright false information, creates artificial emergencies which have systematically and continually interrupted the very real and large responsibilities of the shelter.” And "Even worse, the commotion routinely created by SouthBARK has jeopardized our relationship with the veterinarians and other professionals with whom we work."

"The times are real, the dates are real and the urgency is absolutely real,” said Thompson.

Thompson said without SouthBARK, more animals will suffer and has planned a peaceful protest outside the County Courthouse for Thursday at 9:45 a.m.

The county shelter has no affiliation with the City of Mobile Shelter.