In the News

Thumbs up to the Amy Knight and Shannon Banks, the founders of Save Our Strays, and to all the people who’ve gotten behind the fledgling organization’s worthwhile mission — to save stray dogs from being put to sleep.

SOS has grown so much so fast that it’s now putting together a board of directors to help oversee its operations.

Here’s hoping formation of the board and other SOS endeavors go well. Many of the dogs that wind up having to be euthanized could make great pets if only they were given the chance. SOS is helping give them that chance.

ALL THUMBS

Benton County Daily Record Rogers Edtion

Posted on Saturday, January 14, 2006
Thumbs Up

Northwest Arkansas Save Our Strays will ask the question, "Who let the dogs out?" to all who come out to see the Bentonville Christmas Parade at 11 a.m. today.

It’s the first year the grass-roots animal advocacy organization has entered the parade, where approximately 100 participants are expected for the event. Parade organizer Brenda Compton of Main Street Bentonville said this year’s parade looks to be even bigger than last year.

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He scooted on his belly because his legs were too weak to support him. It’s unknown how long Charlie had been struggling in a ditch near Bentonville High School.

When a Bentonville animal control officer recovered Charlie — a German shepherd — he was in terrible condition. The dog was taken to the Bentonville Animal Shelter, a standard procedure when strays are picked up. That’s when Northwest Arkansas Save Our Strays, an organization formed in July, was notified. Founders Shannon Banks, a middle-school teacher in Bentonville, and Amy Knight, a business analyst with a vendor for Wal-Mart, started NWA Save Our Strays to offer an alternative to putting down stray dogs after they spent 10 days at the Bentonville Animal Shelter.

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A new animal shelter in Rogers may be completed by summer’s end, but already a member of Northwest Arkansas Save Our Strays is concerned about how animal-control issues will be handled when the Bentonville and Rogers shelters merge.

NWA-SOS volunteer Kim Murray said Bentonville needs its own shelter.

“ I think (Bentonville is ) just slacking and looking for the easy way out, ” she said.

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