News Summary
The Greater Birmingham Humane Society has elevated the Pell City Animal Care and Control facility to priority status to improve operations and animal welfare. This includes necessary repairs and staff training. GBHS aims to assess the facility comprehensively and temporarily pause operations. Meanwhile, a new animal care complex is being constructed in Jefferson County, promising improved facilities. Legislative measures are also being advanced to enhance animal protection regulations in Alabama, showcasing a commitment to humane treatment.
Pell City, Alabama – The Greater Birmingham Humane Society (GBHS) has designated the Pell City Animal Care and Control (PCACC) facility as priority-one status, aiming to enhance its operations and improve the overall welfare of animals in the region. This new status facilitates necessary repairs, staff training, and a comprehensive evaluation of the facility.
Management of the PCACC was transitioned to GBHS in April with the goal of upgrading animal welfare programs. Over the next 30 days, GBHS will conduct a thorough assessment of the facility’s capacity and processes. Following the evaluation, shelter operations will be restructured to ensure a higher standard of animal care.
During this reassessment period, the facility’s operations will temporarily pause. GBHS aims to evaluate various components, including technology, protocols, and the facility’s overall needs. The intention is to reopen PCACC as a professionally operated center that adheres to GBHS’s core values of transparency, safety, and humane treatment.
As part of the transition, all animals currently at PCACC will be relocated to other GBHS facilities or rescue partners. The only animals remaining at the facility will be those with severe injuries, significant risks of euthanasia, law enforcement-related cases, and dogs deemed dangerous.
In addition to elevating the standards of the current animal care facility, a new animal care and control complex is under construction in Jefferson County. The groundbreaking for this facility is taking place this week at a location on 1052 Sydney Drive, in Oxmoor Corporate Park, situated on a 6.5-acre site. The project is projected to cost around $26 million and is anticipated to be completed by November 2025.
The design for the new complex includes a spacious 36,174-square-foot building, which will unify various animal care services, creating a centralized location for operations. The construction contract has been awarded to Stone Building Company, with BL Harbert International serving as the construction manager. GBHS is actively raising funds to support the construction of this state-of-the-art facility.
Alongside these improvements, Alabama lawmakers are advancing legislative measures aimed at enhancing animal protection regulations in the state. House Bills 149 and 249 have been introduced, addressing critical issues related to animal welfare.
House Bill 249 intends to classify the abandonment of an animal without sufficient care as a Class A misdemeanor, imposing stricter penalties for offenders. It will also provide protections for city or county employees who rescue animals in good faith. Meanwhile, House Bill 149 focuses on regulating the tethering of animals, instituting additional rules concerning outdoor chaining practices.
Emphasizing the dangers associated with tethering animals, GBHS leadership has underscored the importance of clarifying these legislative measures to ensure better protection for animals in the state. Both bills are currently under review by the House Agriculture and Forestry Committee.
As the Greater Birmingham Humane Society works diligently on these initiatives, the combined efforts to enhance animal welfare, alongside legislative backing, signify a strong commitment to promoting humane treatment and care of animals within Pell City and the surrounding areas.
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Additional Resources
- ABC 33/40 – Birmingham Animal Shelter Limits Intake
- Wikipedia: Animal Control
- Bham Now – Jefferson County Animal Care Facility
- Google Search: Animal shelter news
- WVTM 13 – Greater Birmingham Humane Society Expansion
- Google Scholar: Animal welfare legislation
- WBRC – Proposed Animal Care Laws Stricter
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Animal Welfare
- Hoover Sun – Remy Fund for Pets
- Google News: Animal shelter updates
