FROM STAFF REPORTS

COLUMBIANA– Shelby Humane was recently awarded $8,000 from the Remy Fund for Pets and Animal Services, a special fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. This grant will provide much-needed funding for Shelby Spay Neuter, which provides low-cost spay and neuter services for owned pets in Central Alabama, according to a SHS press release.

“The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham has once again placed their confidence in Shelby Humane and the important work we do,” Executive Director David Arias said. “We are deeply humbled by the generosity of Ken Jackson and the Remy Fund to provide this financial assistance, which allows us to do the work we do to improve the lives of the pets and people in our community.”

Shelby Spay Neuter provides more than affordable spay/neuter to Shelby County. Since the program started in 2008, Shelby Humane has seen a decrease in intake numbers each and every year.

“We know that spaying and neutering our pets will help to lower the overpopulation problem in our communities,” Shelby Humane Society External Relations Manager Cassidy Poe said. “Unfortunately, our research shows that many pet owners just won’t make that choice unless the cost is free or nearly free.”

The funding received will go toward offering low-cost or completely free surgeries for owned pets in Central Alabama.

“We’re on track to see over 2,500 owned pets in the program by the end of the 2019,” said Amy Savage, Coordinator for Shelby Spay Neuter. “That’s an increase of nearly 500 pets from 2018.”