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Future Uncertain For Animals In Two Shelters Slated For Closure
May 23, 2011
Rusty the cat really doesn’t know what his future holds. At 15-years old, his life took a dramatic turn when he landed at the Atmore Animal Shelter. His elderly caretaker was forced to move in with her children, unable to take her cat along.
At the shelter, Rusty (pictured left) did not really fit in with the younger cats in the “Cat Room” (he is in his 70’s in human years, after all), so he adopted the office as his own where he can, between long old-man naps, manage things.
But Rusty has a problem — the Atmore Animal Shelter is closing.
Both the Atmore and Brewton animal shelters, which are operated by the Humane Society of Escambia County (Ala.), lost over 60 percent of their funding when the Neal Trust of Brewton came to an end. Without the commitment of adequate funding from the governments they serve — Atmore, Brewton, East Brewton, Flomaton and Escambia County (Ala.) — Director Renee Jones announced the shelters will close by May 31.
Jones is proud of the work accomplished at the shelters, proud of the numbers that show euthanasias are down from 79 percent of animal intakes in 2008 to less than 15 percent — only the most necessary of cases — in 2011. A spray and neutering program, along with education, has brought the total number of animals housed at the shelter each year down dramatically.
For more photos of cats and dogs at the Atmore animal shelter, click here.
“I just don’t understand how the cities can’t have the vision to fund a shelter,” Jones said. “Animal control and a shelter is a basic and necessary part of government service.”
After the shelter closings were announced on the group’s Facebook page April 11, there were about 50 adult dogs, 25 puppies and 20 cats in the two shelters in need of a home. A shelter in Brunswick, Maine, the nearby North Baldwin Animal Shelter in Bay Minette and others stepped forward to accept animals.
Saturday, pilot Jack Rowell of Cantonment began a “Pilots n Paws” trip at the Brewton Airport with 15 puppies headed to a humane society in Virginia.
“I believe we have a place for all of them — all of them at no-kill shelters,” Jones said Saturday morning as she provided a tour of the Atmore Shelter. As she passed each dog remaining in the kennel, she pointed out their names and personalities.
“She’s a little shy,” she said of one that was frightened by a camera flash.
By Monday morning, the kennels fell silent with all of the dogs relocated from the Atmore shelter, and the same will happen later in the week in Brewton as the last animals are moved out.
As for Rusty the cat, well, 15-year old cats tend not to get too excited. He’s just taking everything one day at time. As is Jones, hoping that the cities of Atmore and Brewton will come to some sort of an understanding and create a funding plan that will save the shelters.
But until that moment, she continues to work to find a place for each animal as the shelters face closure in about a week.
“It wasn’t suppose to be this way,” Jones said, trying to hold back tears. “It really wasn’t suppose to end this way.”
For more photos of cats and dogs at the Atmore animal shelter, click here.
Editor’s note: It is now, according to Jones, too late for individuals to adopt animals in the shelters.
SPCA Suncoast in New Port Richey, Fla., has agreed to accept most of the remaining animals from the Brewton and Atmore shelters. The Humane Society of Escambia County is accepting donations to help pay for hundreds of dollars in fuel needed to transport the animals. To donate, visit www.petango.com/humanesocietybrewton and locate the “donate now” button for a link to make a PayPal donation. For more information about the Humane Society of Escambia County, click here for their Facebook page.
Pictured: Animals that remained at the Atmore Animal Shelter as of Saturday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
25 Responses to “Future Uncertain For Animals In Two Shelters Slated For Closure”
What happened to Rusty the cat? I hope he has a home! When my Mom moved in with me I MADE room for her kitty because she loved her so much, and I loved them both, even though the cat didn’t particularly care for me!
As a current resident in Brewton I am wondering why the Brewton Shelter is closing. Has the shelter asked for money at the city council meetings ? ? There must be another reason other that can not get money from the Neal Trust. The shelter WILL Have to reopen. It may have a new Director. It may have to be under City Control. The need is there. What are Brewton residents to do with all of the stray animals ? I just don’t believe Brewton can’t fund a animal shelter.
For any doubters, the staff of the Escambia County AL Humane Society has always had the best interest of the animals in mind. They will be greatly missed. Maybe the Poarch Creek Tribe could see it in their hearts to make a donation and help keep the shelters open?
NWFL Linda, there is no bitterness here. I am just asking questions. Who is accountable? Is the City responsible for the salaries? Itemized statement for work done. We have a nice facility now, but nothing to put in it! Did someone NOT see this happening? I am just asking for accountability. If we paid employee salaries out of this, say so. Trucks and transportation belong to the City. Did this come from the City of the gift?
I guess I missed it when it was reported here on the 12th. I never look at any of the other papers or wkrg. Sounds like they are all moving to other shelters so that is good.
LuLu, I thought the same thing about the old lady having to give up her old cat. So sad for her children not to let her bring it with her.
Pilots N Paws was happy to transport 15 puppies to Virginia. I want you all to know they have arrived safetly in Williamsburg, VA and all are slated for adoption. Please visit the Heritage Humane Soceity web site http://www.heritagehumanesociety.org
Pictures should be up in the next couple of days.
I had the priveledge of flying the final leg of this rescue. It was obvious to everyone these babys had been very well cared for. It is our sincere hope funding is restored or a new source is found so Rene and her people can continue to do their excellent work on behalf of the innocent animals.
Here is a clip of the arrival of the pups in Williamsburg.
http://www.wtkr.com/videobeta/c4eaf666-b277-49b1-b629-1f374dc74cdc/News/Pilots-take-action-to-rescue-puppies
If Pilots N Paws can help in any way please do not hesitate to contact us.
Nick O’Connell
President, Pilots N Paws
OMG!!!!!!!! They have some beautiful pets there! They have a dashie! That pet must have belonged to somebody….somebody please adopt it, they are precious! Go look at all of the animals on this link William has provided, I think you’ll be surprised at what they have!
come to the Bay Minette shelter..some of the animals have been moved there. Shelter pets make the best pets, I PROMISE you. They are so grateful for you dopting them and getting them out of the cages…they love attention and love. PLEASE TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW WANTING A PET, GO TO THE SHELTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its much better than buying from a pet store or an individual. These pets are taken care of by the staff and by local Dr’s, you KNOW they are in good health and are usually up on vaccines and are spade or neutered.
Folks, please direct your energy toward the mayor, governor and other representatives. Don’t think your letter or email or phone call won’t matter. Remind them (as if they need reminding) with the recent tornadoes and even southern flooding, the number of strays is multiplied. Remind them of the potential increase in disease resulting from lack of animal control and human education. Remind them of the increase in crime related to dog fighting and how much the Humane Societies assisted with apprehension of criminals who participate in dog fighting. Police forces are stretched thin. Quality of life – both animal and human – will be adversely impacted. It is not too late to reestablish the good work these shelters and their personnel do for the community. Encourage partnership with the Poarch Creeks. Offer other ideas. I emailed Mayor Shell and received an immediate response. Maybe just lip service but if enough people make enough noise, maybe………
If you can’t or won’t do those things, at least spay and neuter your own pets. Have them vaccinated against disease. Losing these shelters is a tremendous loss to these communities.
In a side note, a group I work with was able to find a rescue for a sweet mama pit bull out of the Atmore shelter. She has a place waiting for her in Michigan!
P.S. to Sista and 429SCJ, that amount of money, while tremendous and beyond generous, could only go so far in this economy. You can be sure it was spent wisely. Could their be a little bitterness in your questions? Renee Jones and her staff always had the best interests of the animals as their main priority. Animals who wouldn’t have needed help if people were more responsible.
>>>WHY is it too late to adopt? Can anyone answer this?
The animals have already been moved out of Atmore (they are not in the building) and are being moved out of Brewton to shelters that have agreed to accept them.
WHY is it too late to adopt? Can anyone answer this?
I live near the shelter in Atmore and have gotten used to hearing the dogs barking over there. It’s dead silent now.
Mrs. Jones should be commended for her hard work. I personally know her and know the countless hours she has put into this shelter. She has even taken many dogs and cats into her own home, as she really enjoys what she does. $200,000 does not last long when you maintains vehicles for transports, employees, housing, food and vet care for the animals. If the funds donated are so questionable, why aren’t YOU VOLUNTEERING your personal time to the shelter? Maybe it would sheld a little light on expenses that incur before you begin to pass poor judgement. Renee, great job done!
429SCJ – your question is addressed in the 2nd comment for this story. $200k is a huge and wonderful gift , but caring for animals and buildings it just doesn’t last long.
Such a sad statement of the community “leaders” that something like this is allowed to happen.
My late Aunt donated 200 grand to the Atmore animal shelter nearly 2 years ago, I wonder who performs audit and accounting in Escambia County Ala.?
Amazing….city of atmore can raise taxes to pay for their rivercane snafu but can’t adquately fund basic services…..you people need to wake up and vote out the regime….and that doesn’t mean voting in Staff who is no different than shell…I didn’t know I lived in cuba where fidel can handpick his successor like shell has hand picked staff….vote the bums out and save the shelter!
Seems cruel to me for kids to make their mother give up her old friend when she has to move in with them. It must have boke her heart.
This is SO SAD! If individuals could still adopt, I’d be happy to take Rusty the cat and the cute bulldog….they could have a happy life together with my 14-year old cat Buddy and my boxer, Lily!
Come on people step forward and help out! God bless Jack Rowell! I’d love to meet him and shake his hand and tell him how much it means to me (and other people) that he would care enough to do this for the animals! Someone come forward and take poor little Rusty home!!! PLEASE! The lady who had him could never have seen this one coming for Rusty! It will break her heart! If no one else wants him I will be try to find him a home!!
@Dad
Don’t feel to bad, I missed every article also and I try to stay informed on the
issues close to my heart. Sometimes life just gets very busy.
What a sad thing to have happen in this area. With unemployment and
so many living with their parents and vise versa we need these shelters
for the animals who have to leave their homes also.
It’s hard to believe not enough care.
>>I wish this had been reported before it was too late for individuals to adopt.
It was.
The announcement was made 5/11, and we reported on 5/12. It was reported in the next few days after that by both Atmore papers, the Flomaton paper, the Mobile Press-Register, WKRG 5 and others.
Jack Rowell is a Saint! God Bless him and all who work with him! Such sad news this morning!
I wish this had been reported before it was too late for individuals to adopt.
People please get your animals fixed. That is part of being a responsible adult.
The very generous contribution left by Mrs. Smith was left to the City of Atmore for the animal shelter and, in fact, the city has made tremendous improvements to the shelter with that money. They added beautiful outdoor kennels, complete with fans to cool the animals overhead, and completely remodeled the older building on the property making it a wonderful building to house the hundreds of puppies that were transported to other areas with much higher adoption demands. A serious water drainage problem was corrected and the grounds were landscaped. The Director of Public Safety, Glenn Carlee, put down sod with his own hands and diligently watered on a daily basis after hours. He was the “project manager” of the improvements and actually got quite attached to several of the dogs and found adopters for some. He spent countless hours in the evenings and weekends at the shelter……..While I don’t have a dollar amount utilized for these improvements, I have no doubt Mrs. Smith would be very pleased with how her donation was utilized.
What happened to the $200,000.00 plus given by Mrs. Margret Smith upon her death a couple of years ago? I think an audit needs to be done here.