According to authorities, Pell City and the surrounding areas are inundated by unwanted animals. These animals often arrive at the door of the Pell City Animal Control Center. It’s not uncommon for entire litters of kittens or puppies to be admitted at once. 

So, how do pet owners end up with an entire litter of animals they don’t want? According to Center Director Shannon Van Scoy, a lot of people allow their pets to reproduce – without considering or caring about the consequences.

“Some people don’t believe in having their animals fixed, and some want their children to have the experience of seeing the ‘miracle of life’. Either way, that has a negative outcome for those animals,” Van Scoy said. “People end up bringing them in by the litter and it’s up to us to find them homes before overcrowding occurs.”

It has been almost one year since negotiations with the nonprofit ASPCI (Animal Shelter of Pell City, Inc.) failed to deliver a new contract, and the City of Pell City took responsibly for the Center. Since then, the City has been operating the Center with five staff members and community volunteers.

Their chief objective, as stated by Van Scoy, is to increase live release rates and decrease euthanasia rates. Essentially, the Center exists to keep as many animals alive as possible. So, with obvious challenges, is it succeeding?

Simply, yes.

When it comes to saving animal lives, the facility has assembled a solid track record, according to City Manager Brian Muenger. He said that each month since the City acquired the Center, they have seen an increase in live releases.

Since the change of leadership, 770 animals have been live releases. Based on statistics from May 11, 1073 animals have been euthanized. The reason for those cases varies, with 198 taking place as a result of overcrowding. The live release rate for the center is 41.78 percent, according to City statistics.

In a statement released by the ASPCI in July of 2015, the organization said to have had a live release rate of 37.5 percent.

“The most consequential thing that has occurred since we’ve been open is that is that each month we have been steadily improving,” Muenger said. “Last month was a new record with over 160 rescues, adoptions and reclaims.”

According to Van Scoy, a big part of that success has come from the social media interaction the Center initiates. Having active followers who help animals get reclaimed or adopted has led to a lot of live releases that might not have been possible without that platform. That’s not the only way the City has been utilizing outside sources, though.

“One of the biggest improvements for us has been relationships we have formed with different rescue organizations,” Muenger said. “Every month, we add new rescue organizations that help pull animals from the center and place them in homes.”

A factor that impacts adoption rates is the stigma surrounding shelter animals. Van Scoy said that often people will have a negative perception of the animals at the shelter, and those views are not based on facts.

“We have great animals here and I would adopt them all myself if I could,” Van Scoy said. “I wish people could see that the Center is not filled with aggressive, disobedient animals. There are a lot of sweethearts here, who really need a home.”

Muenger echoed her statement, saying that while not every animal is adoptable, there are trained, loving animals at the Center.

“One thing we all can do is promote the adoptability of these animals,” Muenger said. “So many animals there are ready to be re-homed today. People need to strongly consider adopting as they think about adding a pet to their home.”

Both Muenger and Van Scoy are very pleased with the direction the Center is headed in, but both recognize that there is room for improvement. The biggest one is population control, which, as referenced at the start of this article, is a source of the overcrowding issue the shelter faces.

They believes that the first step in mitigating that issue is expanding the spay and neutering program offered by the Animal Control Center. The Center currently offers a low-cost spay and neutering service through a veterinarian clinic in Irondale. Pet owners who adopt from the Center and those that already own pets are eligible to purchase a low-cost certificate.

Since opening, Muenger said that the Center has sold over 500 certificates. The City is currently in talks with local veterinarian clinics, to offer that program nearby. The next step in the expansion of the spay and neuter program is to work towards having animals altered as they are admitted into the shelter.

“Spay and neutering is essential to helping regulate the number of pets that are in the shelter,” Muenger said. “We just don’t want to keep seeing litters of unwanted animals being brought to the shelter, when that could have been prevented.”

That solution to the high cost of a program that altered animals as they are admitted comes in the form of a nonprofit group, Friends of the Pell City Animal Control Center.

The group is newly formed and has just received its nonprofit status. The mission of the group is simply to serve as a helpmeet to the Animal Center in whatever way the Center needs.

“We want to do what we can to raise awareness for the Center and raise funds,” President Susan Ensley said. “Right now, the big goal is affording population-control methods. We would love to see every animal in the shelter fixed before it relocates.”

The Friends of the Pell City Animal Control Center board is currently making plans for several fundraisers, including a 5K and tennis tournament. For more information about the Friends of the Pell City Animal Control Center, visit their Facebook page.

And stop by the Center sometime. Your next best friend is probably waiting for you.

September 2015 – April 2016

770 Live Releases

1073 Euthanasias 

Reason

Health – 494

Injured – 17

Feral – 241

Vicious/Aggressive – 102

Overcrowding – 198

DOA – 21

 Low Cost Spay / Neuter Certificates

Dogs:

Female $45

Male $35

Cats:

Female $35

Male $28