Rescue Animal Services
With a variety of animal groups in the county, many residents seem confused about who is in charge of each resource. Adding to that confusion is the fact that the Walker County Animal Shelter and the Jasper City Animal Shelter occupy the former Walker County Humane Society building, but the Humane Society has not been involved with the actual shelter in a number of years.
The Walker County Humane Society was established in 1979 and operated the shelter on Birmingham Avenue until 2011. Since they no longer have a facility, the Humane Society does not currently accept owner-surrendered pets. Any animals seized by or surrendered to the humane society in neglect and abuse cases are currently housed in space they rent from Farmstead Veterinary Clinic. There, the animals receive veterinary assistance and are available for adoption.
The Humane Society also attempts to assist with cases where animals have overwhelmed their owner, including two homes they are currently working with where they say there are 30 or more animals. Often those homes began with a few animals who reproduced and now there are just too many for the owners to care for properly.
Those situations, along with the large stray population, is the reason the Humane Society sponsors and pushes their low-cost spay and neuter program to help prevent unwanted litters of kittens and puppies. The program, funded entirely by donations and grant money, is available to county residents who meet the income requirements.
To assist with funding the program, the Chamber of Commerce of Walker County’s Junior Ambassadors host an annual Pets on Parade event at Gamble Park, where owners can enter their pets in various contests. All of the proceeds go to the spay and neuter program.
Walker County Commission is currently building a new facility at the county landfill that is slated to open later this year as the Walker County Humane and Adoption Center. It and the Jasper Animal Shelter are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the current Birmingham Avenue facility.
Sasha's Hope is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, volunteer, foster home and donation based dog rescue organization located in Jasper, AL.
- Source: The Daily Mountain Eagle, "Shelter working hard to care for unwanted animals" 24 Oct 2014, by Racheal Davis
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