Accusations Of Animals Suffering From Heat Exposure At Faulkner County Animal Shelter Prove False.
Aug 1, 2025
On July 27th, blogger Gerrit Ferry, published an article in Substack about conditions at the new Faulkner County Animal Shelter.
The article was pointing out issues he found, during a July 24th visit to the Shelter, with the climate control of indoor kennels that house dogs. The article gave the impression that dogs were suffering and dying from heat stroke.
After the visit and before publishing the article Ferry had a forty plus minute conversation with Faulkner County District two County Quorum Court member Maree Coats. Coats is also on the Shelter Board of Directors.
Ferry recorded that conversation and instead of providing the entire conversation in the article for proper context, he decided to just take a one sentence quote from Coats that would end up causing a firestorm –
“If the taxpayers find out we built a $1.5 million building and we have dogs dying from heatstroke, the shit’s gonna hit the fan,”
The quote and the article gave the impression that dogs housed at the shelter were suffering and dying from excessive heat exposure.
Ferry got hold of Jan Morgan, a well-known animal advocate, letting her know his take. Morgan then ran with it blasting the Shelter and Faulkner County Justice of the Peace Maree Coats on social media, pretty much portraying her as “Cruella de Vil”.
People began contacting me asking that I get involved so on Tuesday July 29th I went to the shelter to see for myself.
When I arrived, the outside temperature was 101 degrees. I walked in and introduced myself with explaining why I was there.
The Shelter Director, Nick Davis, did not hesitate to give me a tour of the entire facility and what I found was that every animal there was well cared for and in good condition.
The temperature in the two inside kennels that house dogs were 89 degrees in one and 90 degrees in the other which may sound hot but actually with the fans circulating it was comfortable in both. The floors were good and cold which we all know dogs love.
I took video of the dogs to show that they were not suffering from excessive heat conditions as the article falsely portrayed. In fact, they all seemed in good spirits except for one guy who looked more sad and lonely than anything. He certainly was not in any heat distress.
Video and Post link
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1HAH5KL2hg/
I asked and Davis said there have been no deaths or medical attention needed for any heat related illness since the facility opened in April.
To confirm I sent an FOI Request to County Judge Allen Dodson for –
- All records of dog deaths, (including necropsy reports), from opening of the new shelter to date.
- All veterinarian examination records of dogs from opening of the new shelter to date.
I received the records late yesterday afternoon and they confirm what Davis told me.
Since the new shelter opened in May there have been six dogs die from illness, none related to the heat.
The shelter is a kill shelter and since the opening in April there have been twenty-six dogs and cats Euthanized.
There have been three Greenbrier Animal Hospital visits, none related to the heat.
I also received Veterinarian Exam records for thirty-eight animals with none showing heat related issues.
After my original post on the visit went up Ferry decided the next day to put the entire Coats conversation on You Tube….Good !
https://youtu.be/QvTgdimKUL8?si=ALq1gAnyA7ujcfqw
I listened to the entire conversation and while I have met Coats one time, I really don’t know her.
However, based off the conversation she impresses me as an animal lov’n snow white with a lil trash mouth to her….I like that !
She took Ferry’s concerns seriously and seemed to agree with him on most of what he said. She even asked him to take over managing the shelters social media pages.
It dumbfounds as to why Ferry would take that one sentence and use it in the article to falsely portray the dogs were suffering and dying in the heat….That is pure fiction.
Now Jan Morgan is known for getting out over her skis.
She took Ferry’s take without verifying any facts and began attacking the shelter and Coats based of false information….Thats a pattern with Jan which makes her uncredible.
Now are there issues with the kennel climate control ?….100% yes. The County and Shelter were working to solve them before Ferry’s article and continue to do so today.
Do I hope Ferry investigates why there were issues to begin with ?
Well, I did but the problem is based off his article not being factual he now has a credibility issue….Thats his own doing though.
Bottom line is the dogs are fine and were not and are not in any danger and that’s a Fact….Not Fiction.
Professional Bully Fighter I investigate and report on issues around the State of Arkansas with an emphasis on Government. I am strong conservative however I bring Truth and Facts regardless of Party affiliation….My hashtag is #FactsNotFiction
Thank you for investigating and sharing your findings of what is actually occurring, or not occurring in this case.