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Strays will need to find new location beginning in March
Henry County will need to make decisions on impounded and stray animals moving forward
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
MT. PLEASANT — Healthy Paws Veterinary Care PLC will no longer provide stray animal services to Henry County beginning March, 1 of this year.
According to a letter sent to the Henry County Board of Supervisors at the end of the year, Healthy Paws Veterinary Care will no longer service the county’s stray and impound contract.
“If All God's Creations will be taking them as of this date, they need to be made aware that they will have to take any current and impounded cats and dogs, including any current quarantine and owners in jail, dogs or cats,” the letter stated. “They will need to come get them. Friday, Feb. 28 before close at 4 p.m. as we will be closed Saturday, March 1.”
This letter came to the Board of Supervisors from Doctor Ruth Schinstock who took over the practice September 2023. After taking on Healthy Paws, Schinstock moved the clinic to the former Henry County Veterinary Hospital and Pound. From then, animals impounded in Mt. Pleasant or Henry County were still brought to the location.
According to a post made to the Healthy Paws social media account, in 2023 from Schinstock’s takeover the clinic reunited 18 dogs and five cats with their owners. Additionally, Schinstock volunteered her time to spay, neuter, vaccinate, and adopt out 39 cats and 19 dogs.
These numbers only reflect the animals brought in with impound paperwork.
Out-going supervisor Greg Moeller left the decisions making following this notice to the supervisors serving in the upcoming year, but Sheriff Rich McNamee made it known he would like to participate in whatever decisions are made.
“Obviously, my office is directly affected by the loss of that resource,” McNamee said. “So, if we develop any resource, I’d like to be involved in that.”
Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com
