Wagoner mayor addresses animal shelter concerns following public outcry

The Mayor of Wagoner is responding to mounting concerns over conditions at the city-run animal shelter after a newly elected city councilor took to social media to share a video that quickly sparked outrage among residents.

Wagoner Mayor Dalton Self walked through the shelter with News On 6 on Monday as city maintenance crews continued repairs. Last week, the shelter was closed to the media during a visit, but that changed amid growing community interest.

“This pound wasn’t that bad,” Self said. “Did it need some love? Absolutely. As soon as the problem was presented to me, I got on it.”

Repairs currently underway include installing a new air conditioning unit, fixing broken kennel doors, addressing plumbing issues, and replacing rotting wood. The upgrades are being paid for through the police department’s maintenance budget.

When asked why the issues hadn’t been addressed sooner, Self said the maintenance issues at the shelter weren’t previously brought to his attention. The Wagoner police department runs the animal shelter and has not raised any concerns with the city in the last two years, said Self.

“We’ve been working on a lot of other things — streets, water towers, EMS, fire,” he said. “The city is not just about the dog shelter.”

The public scrutiny began when Councilor Nathan Wilson posted a video online showing the shelter’s conditions. Wilson pleaded for help from the community, prompting an immediate reaction and calls for transparency.

Related: Wagoner City Councilor calls for immediate action over 'deplorable' animal shelter conditions

Self said he wishes Wilson had brought his concerns to the city first, but acknowledged the shelter’s shortcomings.

“Is this the best shelter in Oklahoma? No, probably not,” he said. “Even if we build a new one, will it be? Probably not. But it’s not the worst shelter.”

Looking ahead, the mayor said the city is planning to hire a part-time animal control officer to assist the current full-time employee and will soon begin accepting volunteers again.

“We’re going to work with the public, and we’re going to work together,” Self said. “I know there’s been issues in the past with volunteering and stuff, but we’re not going with the past — we’re moving forward with the future.”

Q&A with Mayor Self

Q: Can the city move the current shelter and build a new one right now?

A: “ We’re three-quarters of the way through a fiscal year. We run off the city budget. We have zero dollars budgeted for a new shelter.”

Q: Will the city allow rescues or community members to volunteer at the shelter?

A: “ We’re going to open it back up to volunteers, and we’re going to have a city employee here with them for accountability,” said Self. “ So, we’re going to work with the public, and we’re going to work together. I know there’s been issues in the past with volunteering and stuff, but we’re not going with the past, we’re moving forward with the future.”

Q: Would the community support putting money toward a new shelter or a bond package to build a new one?

A: “ Personally, I couldn’t get behind a bond. Sales tax has already gone up for residents in the city due to a lawsuit settlement against the county,” said Self. “ What do you want? Do you want to fix an existing animal shelter, or do you want better roads? Do you want another EMS station with more ambulances? It’s hard to say (what the community will want).”

Q: People are concerned that animals are being killed before they are being adopted out. Or just being killed because you’re making space. Is that happening here?

A: “No, No, absolutely not. Now, I can’t speak for 20 years ago, but we aren’t talking about the past.”

Q: What is the euthanasia policy?

A: (Not a direct quote) Wagoner has a local vet partner that euthanizes animals that are considered aggressive by the ACO or have been at the shelter too long, and the shelter needs to make space. The Mayor tells us the ACO does a good job of getting animals adopted and says he'd like it to be a "no-kill" shelter.

Q: Is there a working freezer on the property after animal carcasses were found in a broken one last week?

A: (Not a direct quote) Yes, there is a working freezer in a building on the other side of the substation in the city yard.

Q: Where are the animals that were here last week?

A: (Not a direct quote) Some have been adopted (or returned to their owner), and the remaining dog, named Dakota, is staying with a groomer and dog daycare in town called What the Fluff. WTF grooming volunteers as the shelter’s grooming partner and offers free daycare services.