Lincoln Pound Pals Seeks New Leadership

LINCOLN —Marilyn Miles, president of the board for Lincoln Pound Pals, is stepping down and hoping other volunteers will come forward and continue to grow the organization.

“We need someone to step forward and take it over,” Miles said. “We don’t have the time for it now.”

Miles and her son, Dennis Miles Jr., both have been very involved with Lincoln Pound Pals since its beginning. The non-profit group started more than three years ago with the goal to help eliminate euthanasia at the city pound.

Miles said she still feels strongly about the group and is still passionate about its purpose to save animals from euthanasia.

Lincoln Pound Pals has a signed contract with the city of Lincoln to help with dogs brought to the city’s shelter.

As part of the agreement, the city will hold dogs for a minimum of eight days to allow time for animals to be reclaimed by their owners. Lincoln Pound Pals helps to identify and locate the owners of these dogs.

If a dog is not claimed, then it is transported to the Washington County Animal Shelter.

The county shelter charges Lincoln a total fee of $ 180 per dog. The city pays $80 of this and Lincoln Pound Pals pays the balance.

Lincoln Pound Pals has come a long way since it started, Miles said.

It started with a $2,500 dona t ion in 2016 and has raised a net $ 9,000 through fundraisers and donations since then.

Since 2016, Lincoln Pound Pals has sent about 107 dogs to the county animal shelter.

Expenses for the group beyond shelter fees are minimal, Miles said. The organization has a post office box, website and liability insurance that all together cost about $ 760 annually.

The city has supported the organization and helped with different activities. The Pals sponsor a fundraiser during the Apple Festival and in the spring it partnered for the first time with the city to sponsor a shot clinic and city animal registration event.

“We want to keep it going and keep euthanasia out of Lincoln,” Miles said. “I would hate to see this fall back on the wayside and go back to ground zero.”

Miles also would like to see programs in the schools that educate students about the responsibilities of owning a dog or cat.

“We want to make a difference in the next generation,” Miles said.

Miles encouraged anyone interested in serving as president to contact her through the Lincoln Pound Pals Facebook page for more information.

Miles