MARSHALL COUNTY, Ala. — UPDATE: To get as many pets adopted as possible, the Marshall County Animal Shelter has extended its free adoptions through May 15, 2023. Ten dogs and one cat needs forever homes!
Some of their pups:
Marshall County Animal Services
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As of May 1, two dogs are still in the shelter and will be put down on May 15, according to the Marshall County Animal Shelter.
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With new animal euthanasia rules soon to go into effect in Marshall County, the Marshall Animal County Animal Shelter urgently needs adopters and is waiving adoption fees on most pets through the end of April.
In a post on Facebook, the shelter says:
Effective immediately through April 30, we will be having a no-cost adoption event at the Marshall County Shelter. Please, please, please come meet out dogs. The new Marshall County euthanization policy will go into effect May 1, 2023.
The shelter is at maximum capacity and adopters and rescues are needed to give dogs a much-needed, forever home. Some of the animals have been at the shelter for more than two years.
When shelter tech, Jamika Thomas, with Marshall County Animal Shelter first learned of the new policy, she cried and felt, "I didn't do enough. Our community didn't know enough and we failed the things that couldn't help themselves, that haven't failed anybody. We failed them all the way around."
The Marshall County District 2 Commissioner, Rickey Watson, says they put this procedure in place to address the overcrowding issues.
"The time the dog comes in, it has 60 days to be adopted out or be euthanized. And that was just something, I think, to get the process going. You know, changes can be made as we go along," Watson said.
In less than two weeks, after word spread, around 90 dogs have either been adopted or taken to rescues, with some awaiting their spay or neutering procedure before they can be taken home to their new family.
But still a little more than 20 remain on a list to be euthanized on May 1st, including sweet 'Buddy' who has been at the shelter for quite some time and desperately needs a loving home.
"We have people who are hungry every day and that extends over to animals who don't know kindness, don't know love, don't know anything," Thomas said.
Some dogs who are in danger of euthanasia, are being held at a boarding facility and the hope is to get them into the shelter as soon as possible so they can be adopted.
There is some concern that these animals will be euthanized before ever meeting potential adopters.
According to Commissioner Watson he hopes they can extend the deadline, "we can probably extend it a little bit. I hope we can…..Since they've really done a great job in getting the dogs to loving homes and so forth. So, yes...I hope we can. But again, I'm one vote."
If you are in a place to adopt a dog, Marshall County Animal Control says they have been overwhelmed with calls so they encourage you to come straight to the shelter between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
And rescues are encouraged to take animals in as well.
The shelter is located on Abbott road in Albertville, Alabama and the shelter's phone number is (256) 960-1408.
Lesley Hyde, a volunteer at the shelter, is also available to help those who may have questions about adoptions. She can be reached at (205) 305-5098.
"I'm hoping that the community finally understands how important spaying and neutering is, how important the care of your pet is," Thomas said.