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Escambia, AL, Animal Shelter Closing
July 26, 2014
The Humane Society of Escambia County (Ala.) has announced that it will no longer be operating an animal shelter or providing field services.
The organization’s directors said they can’t “humanely operate” on the $120,000 per year budget proposed by the Escambia County (Ala.) Commission. Doing so, according to Director Renee Jones, would force the shelter to bring in animals and hold them for the minimum required seven day period before euthanizing them at the shelter in Flomaton.
She said the Humane Society of Escambia County “has never operated that way and to do so would be completely contrary to our mission.”
“Although we completely understand that the commissioners have the task of responsibly allocating taxpayer dollars, we believe that our role in the community is to work toward the long term goal of a more humane community,” she wrote. “As an organization, we are refocusing and believe that we will be able to better support the needs of the animals and the people who love them, as well as staying true to our mission, by working toward a spay/neuter assistance and humane education program.”
The group will work through August to move animals housed in the shelter to guaranteed adoption shelters and rescues.
For more information on how you can adopt an animal, contact the Humane Society of Escambia County in Flomaton, Ala., at (251) 296-2275 or email hsescambia@gmail.com.
Comments
15 Responses to “Escambia, AL, Animal Shelter Closing”
I just think it’s sad that too many cities and counties are not willing to do the right thing to help “shelters” that are trying to avoid putting animals down to find a better way to provide funding. Everyone knows that caring/vetting/feeding and everything that goes with homeless animals it cost lots of money. Dog/cast food alone is extremely expensive and medical care for injured unless you have vets willing to donate most of the services are just down right cost prohibitive.
Having said the have all avenues to help raise extra funding been explored, I’m sure it has but sometimes it takes someone on the outside looking in to see other options to help raise funds, even in times when the economy is really struggling. I hate think many more homeless animals are going to suffer needlessly.
This is so sad! $120,000 for a year does not go very far! Beings most animals when brought in are hurt or in very poor health. A vet bill quickly racks up to $1,000 . Shelters have to turn to putting them down after a short period of time, and all rescues are always full bc they are self funded! There should be more money to help these innocent, loving animals!
It says a lot about Escambia County, Al. When they don’t value the innocent lives of animals, they don’t value their community. You are not moving forward – you are taking 2 giant steps back. I’m very sad and disappointed in the leadership.
This is so sad. I would really like to see money going to fund this to an operable level instead of a new ditch or pot hole commission. People should be encouraged to have their pets “fixed”. I thought a no kill shelter was a big step for the area. I mean there isn’t a lot of progress going on folks. Unless, you are on the reservation and we aren’t talking about that. Good for somebody. Nothing ever changes around here it is depressing.
120,000 is a lot of money but its not just for “small town” but rather its for escambia county as a whole,that considered it dosn’t seem to be as much,not to me anyway. i don”t knolw how much more money they need to operate the way they do now’as a “no kill” shelter but i urge the comission to dig a little deeper into the general fuund money and see if there isn’t some money that can be found to keep “our rescue station” for these poor little animals open,after all we are supposed to be a Humane and civilized people “lets act like it” and keep this shelter open
So so sad
hope they’ll be able to find most of them homes.
I agree with queen on this matter. Animals have been put on the back burner for far too long. Shelters don’t get enough funds so the animals are just over populating. Its cruel that so many have to be put down, but sometimes that’s what needs to be done in order to prevent more animals than people living in town. Then there are the idiots that neglect their animals or abandon them. Sorry, but it had to be said. In a nutshell, I believe shelters need more funding so that these animals are no longer starving on the streets or being abused.
$120,000 isn’t that much money when you consider the costs of paying employees to run the facility, water and electricity for the facility, food and water for all the animals, gas to fuel the trucks that do stray pick-ups, servicing said trucks, and of course, other costs for the animals’ care. I worked for a rescue organization for a number of years, and it’s not cheap to take good care of animals. Good for them for realizing they would be nothing more than a holding facility before euthanization. Over breeding/backyard breeding and owners neglecting to alter their pets is the problem. I think redirecting their resources to focus on that is awesome.
The concept of a Humane Society is too progressive for the majority of people in this county. In this area, talking to people about having their dog spayed or neutered brings about a vacuous slack-jawed yokel look from many. Even better with men and male dogs; somehow, they equate having the dog neutered with having their testicles removed. Right up there with that is, “We ain’t getting her spaded cause we gonna make money selling them puppies!”
Outside of the casino in Atmore, there is little growth in this county. You can’t help but be amused by the Brewton Standard’s “”Progress” issue; it would be better titled “Maintaining the Status Quo”.
Sadly, the animals are going to be the ones to suffer in the whole thing. To the powers that be they are not living creatures to be helped, only a nuisance to be exterminated after 7-10 days. The next you see an idiot drag a horse behind a car to “break it’, don’t be appalled it is only a horse and their suffering doesn’t matter…
They should put signs on the county line saying, “Welcome to Escambia County Alabama, Appalachia in the Pines”. It will fit well when driving through the litter and stray animals.
Seems like 120,000 is a lot of money to not to be able to operate in such a small town!
The amount spent on animal control rivals that of the Drug Task Force.
Look at their budgets. I have.
In a perfect world there would be no need for either but with limited resources you’ve got to make hard choices.
We re all looking for answers as to where the animals will go. Sad
Sad that the shelter will have to close down. But spaying & neutering goes a long way towards not needing a shelter. Those who would claim costs keep them from doing so should consider this when getting a pet. Those who let their pets wander around because they feel the pet likes it or because it suits their lifestyle are not doing their pet a favor. These pets end up adding to the need for a shelter. People should be responsible pet owners, or not own pets.
Sidewalks and parks give people places to walk and play without getting run over and killed.
People ARE more important than other animals because people are us.
David for perspective
It’s very sad when our county entities put animals on the back burner when it comes to their budget. Sidewalks and parks seem to be more important to them. That is why there are so many 501(c)3 rescues out there. People have to start their own organizations and fundraise to help the animals. Donations come from the taxpayers which tell me that they are concerned for animal welfare. Why can’t our politicians make county funded shelters a priority? It does involve public safety. It is very sad to see the Humane Society go. What will happen to all the animals still out there on the streets? I see big problems coming.