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Shelter needs help now
Published Thursday, November 13, 2008
Board members of the Central Alabama Animal Shelter say they need money soon, or they might have to close the doors.
"We have no money," said Kelly Sue Giampietro, one of the shelter's board members. "We live by the seat of our pants."
Currently, the board says it has less than $500 to meet operating expenses at the shelter. The board continues to appeal to individuals and local organizations for private donations to help feed, provide vaccines and care for the animals in their care.
Recently, board members met with Mayor George Evans to talk about the crisis. Evans promised he would look at what the city contributes and would attempt to work out something to help the shelter.
Evans took office only a week ago and still does not have a full picture of the city's finances. "This was my first time to hear about their situation. I'm going to research it and see what the city can do."
Evans said he will meet again with the shelter board members to go over possible solutions.
Documents from the city's financial department provided by City Treasurer Cynthia Mitchell shows from October 2007 until September 2008, the city paid $22,345.18 for shelter operations. Among those expenses, $4,314 to Alabama Gas, $10,221.27 to Alabama Power; $307.58 to AT&T; $402.14 for animal care equipment and service. The operations costs also included $7,100 for roof repair paid out of oil lease money from members of the Selma City Council.
Additionally, the city paid a total of $53,481.57 for two salaries and fringe benefits, bringing the total animal shelter cost for a year up to $75,826.75.
Dallas County budgets $57,066 each year for animal control, which benefits the shelter. Documents from the Dallas County Commission show the county pays wages and fringes for an employee, uniforms, vehicle maintenance, insurance and repair, general liability insurance and for communications.
The commission budget also shows the county budgets $25,200 each year to pay to the city for the animal shelter. Mitchell's bookkeeping at the city acknowledges receipt of the county funds, but does not specifically show how the contribution is divided line item-by-line item.
Giampietro and other board members say they'd like to see all the cash paid out by the county so they could make improvements to the building, purchase cleaning supplies and other items.
But the shelter also needs continuing donations of food, cleaning supplies, newspapers, towels and blankets for the animals, Giampietro said.
"We're appealing to the public for donations," she said. "We need the money."
Comments
Posted by pari1220 (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 7:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Step up Selma.....we need this place!!!
Posted by alabamaWOW (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 8:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is really sad. These animals that go in there are depending on HUMANS to care for them. They need people and rely on us to keep them healthy and feed. Its really sickness me that in our city we put money in places that it shouldnt go whether pocketed by a crook in city government or just wasting it on useless things. It really goes to show what we find important in our town. Having an animal shelter was a great idea and we as a communtiy should STEP UP and SUPPORT IT. Whether it be via donations or volunteering. Ask yourself this how would you feel if the dog or cat you love was euthanized AKA "put to sleep" because they had nowhere for it or nothing to give it. It something our community needs to think about deeply.
Posted by catchem (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Without an adequate Police Department, my dogs are my families first line defense against burglars. 3 of my 4 dogs came from a shelter and have made the best loyal pets even warning me of a burglary on my home last July.
They really need the money, and will be getting a contribution from me today.
Posted by tiredofthistown (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 10:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I bought a dog from the shelter a year and a half ago. To this day they have yet to deposit my check. Maybe someone is mismanaging the money. I agree with keeping the shelter open. I have donated food on several occasions. Someone needs to go in and see where the money is going for adopting these animals.
Posted by nobody45 (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 11:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I would like to see their financial statement made public. Every single year they ask for handouts. Is an animal shelter a good idea, yes, if it is run right. How many animals do they take to the animal hospital to be put down? How many animals are "on hand" on average? If it is not many, then they can cut the work force. One of the animal control flunkies is nothing but worthless, I vote for him.
Posted by graphicsgirl (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Does anyone have the name and address to send donations to?
Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
$53,481.57 for two salaries and fringe benefits??? That is part of the problem right there. Who makes this money working at a shelter? They should start making people from the court system do community service hours at this shelter. That would aid with the needed free help. Sounds like the shelter is on the same track as the Public School System with needing cleaning supplies, food, toilet paper, etc. Maybe the new admistration of the city can go through their budget and weed out some of these pork barrel, excess, junkett spending line items that us tax payers fund. That would be a start!!
Posted by catchem (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 2:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Because of the confidence I have in the new staff running the shelter, I just made a large donation. Warren Henson is very responsible and does care for the dogs. The City of Selma bond issue which took place in the 1990's called for a new shelter to be built. Mayor Perkins changed the original intent of a new building and purchased and rehabilitated a building with a worn out roof. Question: why do we keep signing contracts with contractors which do not require them to make sure these roofs last longer than 1 year? Power cost and repairs seem to be the major problems for the shelter.
Posted by catchem (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 2:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
graphicsgirl: I dropped my donation off at the Central Alabama Animal Shelter located at the corner of Bell Road and Medical Center Parkway.
Posted by Liberty (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 3:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If people would get their pets fixed and stop giving them "one way trips", we wouldn't have near the problem we have now.
Posted by popdukes12 (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 5:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I WOULD RATHER SEE MONEY GO TO THE SHELTER THAN TO HAND IT OUT TO "INVENTED" NEEDS LIKE CHURCH AND SOCIAL GROUPS WANTING TO SEND SOME KIDS SOMEWHERE AND DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO DO IT. DOGS AND CATS CAN'T HELP THEIR SITUATION AND PEOPLE CAN. OVERSITE IS NEEDED,NO REQUIRED. A "ZERO BASE" BUDGET APPROACH IS SELMA'S ONLY SALVATION. POLITICIANS DON'T LIKE IT BECAUSE IT REQUIRES THEM TO STAY ON TOP OF EVERYTHING AND REALLY WORK FOR THEIR MONEY. THE OLD DAYS OF INCREASING LABOR ONE YEAR AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURES THE NEXT ARE LONG GONE. POPDUKES12
Posted by noneofurbus (anonymous) on November 19, 2008 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dogs and cats can't help their situation, I think that kids can't help their situation either. Maybe adults can, but not kids.
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