Recent reports from communities around the county indicate so-called “puppy dumping”–abandoning unwanted animals on the side of the road to fend for themselves–is becoming all too frequent again in Butler County.

Kristi S. Sexton and Christy D. Sexton,  the GPD animal control officers who operate the Greenville Animal Shelter, can only make calls to pick up stray animals within the Greenville City Limits.

However, they want to remind everyone the facility located at 1310 E. Commerce St. is open to all county residents who need to surrender animals. The shelter is open Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.

The shelter officers work closely with a number of animal rescue groups in Alabama and elsewhere and strive to find homes for as many adoptable pets as possible coming through the shelter’s doors.

“Don’t think just because you bring them to us they are automatically going to be put to sleep,” Sexton adds. “They’ve got a much better chance with us of having a good ending than they do out there on their own.”

Herbert Morton, president of the Butler County Humane Society, the non-profit group that helps underwrite the shelter’s mission to improve animal welfare in the county, agrees with Sexton’s assessment.

“The BCHS fully supports the Greenville Animal Shelter, knowing how hard these ladies work to find good homes for unwanted Butler County pets,” Morton says.

Because the Greenville Shelter officers are sometimes called away to pick up animals, they do ask anyone coming in to surrender animals or to look at possible candidates for adoption, to first give them a call at 382-7806.

“Sometimes we actually have people who do bring puppies to the shelter and then because we aren’t on the premises, they just dump them outside and leave,” Kristi S. Sexton says. “Well, that’s not good for the animals. They could get in the road, get run over, and depending on the weather, get real hot or cold or thirsty. Just think about how you’d feel in the same situation and treat them the way you’d want to be treated.”

The animal shelter officers and Morton all agree that more pet foster parents in the county would help even more animals stay alive longer as these homeless pets await either local adoption or a rescue commitment.

For those interested in becoming a “foster for the furry,” contact Herbert Morton at hm000@centurytel.net or by phone at 382-4611.

“Several of our members are foster moms and dads, a very rewarding way to help and to improve your own life,” says Morton.

“And may I also add— to prevent those unwanted litters, spay and neuter your critters!”