This month not only marks the one-year anniversary of the historic April 27 tornadoes, but also the one-year anniversary of the formation of the Alabama Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a Tuscaloosa-based nonprofit organization fighting for animal welfare.
Having been in the works for months in advance, the organization catapulted into existence after the devastating storms left many animals stranded from their homes.
“At that time, there was an incredible need not only to assist in the rescue of the afflicted ‘tornado animals,’ but also to rehome the animals that were currently in Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter and outlying shelters to make room for the wave of new homeless animals,” said Kimberly Hillman, president of the ALSPCA.
However, even after the tornado, the original founders, including Thomas Sahm, Shannon Walker, Kim Gentry and Mani Berti-Kuffel, witnessed firsthand the necessity of an organization to protect the rights of animals around the state.
“We felt like there were a lot of holes in the animal welfare system in Alabama,” Sahm said. “The purpose of the organization is to fill all of those holes.”
On Tuesday, the ALSPCA hosted their monthly “Pooches on the Porch,” a social event for community members to spend quality time with their pets at Innisfree Irish Pub. The event raises awareness about the group’s mission and showcases adoptable dogs within the area on the second Tuesday of every month.
Lena Boeckmann, a volunteer with RedGate Farm Rescue, feels a connection to the ALSPCA goals and attends “Pooches on the Porch” every month.
“I like to come and help out whenever I can,” she said. “I love animals and love finding them a good home. There’s just something about the look on a dog’s face when he does find one.”
The ALSPCA uses community events, such as “Pooches on the Porch,” to bring to light the issues at the heart of the organization.
“We assure compassion and humanity for animals in the area,” said Brandt Garrison, the public relations coordinator for the ALSPCA. “We do this through rescue and networking, advocacy and education through awareness.”
Because the effects from the tornadoes hit close to home, a large focus of the organization is the rescue of area animals. Hillman records more than 800 homeless animals have been adopted due to their efforts.
Sahm also counts more than 1,000 animals have been saved from high-kill animal shelters around the state.
“High-kill animal shelters euthanize their animals at an incredibly high rate,” he said. “In rural areas, sometimes these percentages are anywhere between 80 and 90 percent. We’ve found that there’s not enough awareness of animal issues, such as education on spaying/neutering and welfare regulations. Animals just roam around and create overpopulation.”
To continue their efforts, ALSPCA will partner with the Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter to assist the cause of the North Shore Animal League America, a nationwide tour that lends itself as an adoption event. The tour will make a stop at the University Mall tomorrow from 2 to 7 p.m.
Also, on Sun. April 15 from noon to 4 p.m., the ALSPCA will be set up at the University of Alabama Arboretum’s spring plant sale with equipment to provide animals with low-cost microchips, an under-skin animal identification chip. The procedure will be administered for $25.
“Through our initiatives of animal advocacy and humane education we hope to get ahead of the problem of pet overpopulation,” Hillman said. “We look forward to a day when Animal Rescue is a thing of the past in Alabama because all companion animals have a safe and loving home.”
