Coosa County establishes animal shelter
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Special to the News
The Coosa County Commission has voted to use $30,000 of the county’s American Rescue Plan Act fiscal recovery funds to establish an animal shelter to provide care, resources, temporary shelter, and good homes for lost, abandoned and neglected dogs and cats.
The funds will be used for start-up costs and funding for the first year’s estimated annual operational budget.
The shelter is located in Stewartville, in the old volunteer fire department building beside the Stewartville Water Authority. It will feature 18 dog kennels, as well as puppy pens and cat kennels.
The shelter will open on December 3. Citizens can keep in touch with the shelter through its Facebook page, Coosa County Animal Shelter, at www.facebook.com/dogsandcats41.
“It is said that one can judge the humanity of a population by the way it treats its animals. Coosa County has a duty to care for these creatures who do not have a voice,” said Coosa County Commissioner Randall Dunham. “It’s an honor to be able to use some of our ARPA funding to assist in the Coosa County Animal Shelter’s efforts to house, care for and rehome animals in need of help.”
Shelters were hit especially hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, with a decline in volunteer staffing and philanthropic support. Many animals that were adopted during the pandemic when people transitioned to remote work are now being surrendered as their adopters return to the office.
“We look forward to serving the people of Coosa County by providing temporary shelter, food and health services to the stray and unwanted dogs and cats in our county,” said Dennis Hill, the shelter’s director. “We thank all that have donated and supported the shelter thus far, both from within and outside the county.”
Enacted in March of 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act provides counties with fiscal recovery funds to address the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on local government and economy, public health and safety, and quality of life issues. Counties have until December 31, 2024, to obligate these funds.
The Coosa County Commission is a participant in the Investing in Alabama Counties program established by the Association of County Commissions of Alabama. The IAC program provides customized assistance, expertise, guidance, and implementation assistance to ensure the county’s federally restricted funds allocated under the American Rescue Plan Act are utilized within the requirements provided by the U.S. Department of Treasury.
For more information on the Coosa County Animal Shelter, call or text 256-391-7192 or email coosacountyanimalshelter41@gmail.com.