Malvern Animal Shelter closed due to personnel shortage, while adoptions are still accepted

Malvern, Arkansas – Early in September, the City of Malvern stated on its Facebook page that its animal shelter would be shuttered until new employees were hired.

The Malvern Animal Shelter is now closed to walk-in visitors as it crates two pets per kennel.
Understaffing, not the overpopulation at the shelter, is the reason, according to Malvern Mayor Brenda Weldon.

Weldon stated, “The only reason I closed it is because I don’t have extra staff to keep out here all the time.”

The shelter was forced to temporarily close due to the resignation of both the animal control supervisor and officer, leaving it with just one part-time worker.

While the mayor conducts interviews to fill the posts, the former employees continue to care for the pets.

“The animals receive excellent care. They look fantastic, as you can probably see from your camera. However, all we need is assistance with rescues or adopting people,” Weldon remarked.

It is still possible to schedule appointments to view the animals, preventing the mayor from doing what she claims is the last thing she wants to do: put the dogs to sleep.

More could be done, in the opinion of a former shelter volunteer, to prevent this.

“Take pictures of these animals and write up bios so you may share them online. to be taken back, taken in, or nurtured. Since that plays a significant role in shelters and rescues, Audrey Norwood, a former volunteer, stated.

The mayor wants to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.

Weldon remarked, “Hopefully we can elevate our crisis right now with the new workers we hired and you know, we’re trying to promote adoption work with rescues.”