By John Balch
News-Leader staff
Animal control services for six area southwest Arkansas towns are currently on hold following the abrupt resignation of Nashville Animal Control Officer Seborn Gregory, who has been with the service since it began in 1998.
As of Sept. 24, the day after Gregory submitted his resignation to Nashville Mayor Larry Dunaway, no animals have been taken in at the shelter, and it will remain that way until further notice.
Nashville Animal Control also has contracts for services in Dierks, Murfreesboro, Mineral Springs, Washington and Prescott.
Mayor Dunaway notified the mayors of those cities about Gregory’s resignation via email which stated work was underway to take care of and get the remaining animals at the shelter “adopted out as quickly as possible.”
Dunaway also informed the cities, “I will ask that you hold payment to the City of Nashville beginning with the October payment until we are able to resume normal operations.”
The current annual contract amounts paid to Nashville by the cities includes:
Nashville $57,644
Prescott $43,042
Murfreesboro $20,750
Mineral Springs $15,060
Dierks $12,714
Washington $3,150
The city contracts help fund the two-person animal control operation, including the salary of Gregory and longtime co-employee Suzanne Gathright, who was hired soon after Gregory in January 1998 and will remain with the shelter “at this point in time,” said the mayor.
Mayor Dunaway added that he “hates the way it happened” with Gregory’s departure and noted that Gregory had been “involved in every nut and screw” during construction of the shelter, its completion and operation, and was also nearing the retirement mark of his career. “He’s always been there for us.”
The City of Nashville is currently advertising for the open position. Interested applicants can call the Mayor’s Office at (870) 845-7400.
Gregory’s resignation came on the heels of a Nashville City Council meeting held Monday, Sept. 22 when about 30 members of Southwest Arkansas PAWS showed up with offers to volunteer at the pound and a list of recommendations on how to cut down on or slow the pound’s current euthanasia rate. SWA PAWS is a new organization in Nashville that formed after its members learned that more than 82 percent of the animals that had been taken in at Nashville Animal Control during 2024 had been euthanized.
Mayor Dunaway said any work currently taking place at the shelter is being handled by Gaithright and several SWA PAWS volunteers.
SWA PAWS, which encourages people to “adopt rather than shop” for their pets, is also currently fundraising to provide free or low cost spay or neuter clinics.
