by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

Bo’s Buddies is a story about Michelle Story’s answer to that question. The story begins almost four years ago. “A dog got shot. It was a family pet. The people were looking for their dog,” Story said. She soon learned it was not uncommon for people to shoot stray dogs in Marion County. “I started trying to figure out why this is happening. People told me [law enforcement] said to shoot a stray dog if they felt threatened.”

A registered nurse and owner of medical spas in Jasper and Monteagle, Story moved to Sequatchie in 2015. In 2021, she adopted a dog from Marion Animal Resources Connection (MARC). The trauma of imagining how she would have felt if her dog had wandered off and been shot prompted her to talk with Marion County Mayor David Jackson, who in turn put her in touch with Sheriff Ronnie Burnette.

Story sympathizes with people who feel threatened by stray dogs. “If there is a vicious dog in my yard, I don’t want to have that responsibility [to shoot the dog]. I want to have someone I can call. Technically, the sheriff’s department is responsible. Animals running at large is against Tennessee state law.”

But when Story spoke with Sherriff Burnette, a far more complex picture began to emerge. “When I asked why they don’t respond to animal calls, he said, ‘We don’t have the resources. What are we supposed to do with them? Put them in jail? Bring them to the police station?’”

Marion County has an Animal Control Committee composed of five county commissioners, but no officer dedicated to animal control and no shelter. Founded in 2011, MARC’s mission is to offer low cost spay-neuter services to reduce pet overpopulation and to rehome animals in need. Never intended as a shelter, MARC places dogs and cats in temporary foster homes until a forever home can be found.

“MARC is always full. They do everything they can for this community,” Story said.

And the dogs that people contact MARC about are often not only homeless, but tragically in need of medical care.

On July 2, a Marion County Deputy arrested three individuals for animal cruelty. The photographs of the 14 dogs found at the residence are difficult to look at. Some of the dogs literally resembled dog skeletons with skin stretched taut over the bones. Story accompanied the deputy who made the arrest. “It was a tough day,” Story acknowledged. “Dogs with their poor bones showing through their skin. Tick infested and flea infested, skin irritations and urine stains on their paws, toenails that were uncomfortable for them to walk on, ears with insect bites.” Ultimately, all 14 dogs went to MARC. “Some had heartworms. All of them tested positive for intestinal parasites and needed medical attention. Having a shelter in place for when these things happen would have been a lot easier than the blood, sweat and tears of trying to figure out what we were going to do and how we were going to do it,” Story said. Several days later, another Marion County dog owner was arrested for animal cruelty and five more dogs went to MARC.

Convinced of the need for a Marion County shelter, Story crafted a proposal based on a Rhea County shelter formed as a nonprofit and receiving financial support from the local government.

“All the county commissioners were very receptive to the idea,” Story said.

Story established a nonprofit called Animal Protective Services of Marion, Inc. The board of directors includes a Marion County educator, attorney, and veterinarian. The nonprofit operates under the business name “Bo’s Buddies.” “Who doesn’t know who Bo is?” the website asks. Who hasn’t had a ‘Bo’ in their life, a loyal four-legged friend who offered unconditional love and trust?

“Some people just don’t know how to maintain dogs or end up having more dogs than they can take care of,” said Mayor Jackson. “There is a definite need to have a shelter. Once Bo’s Buddies gets their plan put together, hopefully the county commission will throw some funding that way.”

“Our mission is to provide resources and establish an animal shelter to support local law enforcement agencies,” Story said. “By equipping them with the necessary tools to respond to animal cruelty and neglect cases, we also enhance public safety and promote humane treatment for all animals in Marion County, Tenn.”

Story’s top priority need is a location, land to lease, or reasonably priced land to buy, or, better still, land donated to the county. Her dream location would have 5-8 acres so the shelter could eventually expand to take farm animals. Another recent animal cruelty case resulted in a horse being euthanized.

Land is the first crucial ingredient, Story stressed. She explained grant funding is available, but the baseline requirement for funding is having property to build on or, at the least, identified to purchase. Volunteers have offered to help with excavation, plumbing and electrical, and even to supply concrete, possibly at low or no cost.

Story also needs people to help with fundraising and to educate the public about the need. Volunteers have stepped forward from South Pittsburg Mountain and Jasper Highlands, but Story pointed out, “This county is huge.” She would love to hear from people in Jasper, Kimball, South Pittsburg, Whitwell, Crossroads, and Haletown willing to help coordinate fundraising and spread the word.

And finally, Bo’s Buddies, needs money. To donate and learn more about the effort visit <https://www.bosbuddies.org;.

“I’m a great supporter,” said Sheriff Burnette. “As far as dogs running at large, we have some.” In cases where the owner is known, a deputy issues a warning and, after 3-4 warnings, will write a citation “Our biggest problem is people having dogs in pens and not feeding them proper and not taking care of them,” Burnette insisted. “I have a deputy who has charged several people. He’s a lover of animals. He would love the job of animal control officer. But first we have to have a place.”