By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA–The Shelby County Commission unanimously passed a resolution on Monday, Feb. 23, in support of legislation that allows non-profit groups to continue to provide spay and neuter surgeries to consumers at affordable prices after past success.

According to the resolution, Shelby County has experienced a dramatic decrease in the in-take of animals over the past seven years. There has been a 63 percent decrease in the in-take of animals and a 30 percent decrease in the euthanasia of animals.

There has also been a 51 percent decrease in the gas expense in the operation of the crematorium. It cost $25,447 in 2008 and is now down to a cost of $12,921 in 2014 according to the resolution.

“These decreases are in large part, if not entirely, due to these low cost spay and neuter clinics and that’s why we’re supportive of it,” said Commissioner Corley Ellis.

The last paragraph of the resolution states that these low cost clinics continue to contract with Alabama veterinarians and allow veterinarians to be flexible in their business arrangements to carry out the surgeries with the non-profit groups that manage them.