Due to the lack of knowledge about their organization on campus, the Humane Society of West Alabama does not have the amount of advertising it needs to promote their mission of finding shelters for all animals in need of a home. The Humane Society of West Alabama is a non-profit organization seeking safe homes for animals in need.

I am afraid that the shelters in our community will get too crowded, and that some families might turn to euthanasia instead of putting their animals in the shelter.

I want to thank the University of Alabama Recreation Center for hosting the Dog Splash, an event that allowed dogs from the Humane Society and the community to come swim in the Rec Center pool before it was cleaned and shut down for the winter. Events like this allow the animals to get out of their normal shelter for a little while and interact with other people and animals.

Other communities have the same problem as Tuscaloosa in needing homes for animals, but the situation in Tuscaloosa got worse after the April 27 tornado. Many animals were separated from their homes and families and have been relocated to either the Humane Society of West Alabama or other humane shelters in Tuscaloosa.

If the University of Alabama provided more information about the humane societies in Tuscaloosa and how students can help, I believe more students would be willing to get involved with helping find safe, healthy homes for these animals.

The University of Alabama should hold more events to benefit the humane shelters in our community. Whether it is a fundraiser or a chance for the animals to get out of their shelter for a while, these efforts would greatly benefit the animals.

Since many of these animals survived the tornado, the community should be willing to help the cats and dogs that live in the shelters find a new home.

With the help of the University’s advertising and events, I believe that the Humane Society of West Alabama can become even more successful in its goal to find shelters for all animals in need around the community of Tuscaloosa.

Searcy Dudley is a freshman majoring in nursing.