Animal Crisis in Birmingham: Broke, Full, and Drowning

How do we stop this cycle?

With puppy season in session, shelters across the country are filling up with strays and surrendered litters. Community members and animal welfare professionals are at a loss -do they watch these animals die on the street or end up on the street themselves, paying for their care?

Countless communities are facing this crisis, but today we’ll talk about Birmingham, Alabama -a close neighbor of mine.

After reviewing several Facebook posts, I saw that many community members are caring for stray litters because animal control refuses to pick them up -the shelters are too full. With such overwhelming numbers, it’s simply too dangerous and unethical to take in more -the lack of staff and funding would leave them neglected.

The Greater Birmingham Humane Society is the main animal holding facility in this county and they are currently caring for 155 animals at max capacity. Surrounding facilities such as Pell City are holding 35 animals, Walker County has 21, and Jasper County is housing 18 animals -all reaching max capacity.

Please check out all the available animals at these facilities.

No one can tell me that they don’t want this boy Simon -I definitely do! Retrieved from GBHS Facebook page

So, how does this happen?

On top of the numerous strays and surrenders that come in, municipal shelters have a responsibility to assist with animal cruelty situations, such as hoards. And when a hoard is discovered, it creates an immediate crisis for shelters because many times, dozens of animals come in at once, with absolutely nowhere to go -there aren’t enough homes for them.

We can look at a recent hoard, for example. On June 26, Alabaster animal control discovered 186 animals -9 cats and the rest dogs- being hoarded by two individuals. Some of the animals were reported to be inbred, without air conditioning, or left to free-roam outside.

The animals were in such poor condition that 119 of them had to be euthanized, and the conditions of the home were condemnable. So, the family was removed from the property and the animals are still being retrieved by Shelby Humane Society to be treated and hopefully prepared for adoption.

Officials confirmed there was no illegal breeding or other business operation involved. While no arrests have been made, the two family members were charged with first degree animal cruelty and authorities are considering more severe charges.

As of August 21, the two individuals, Jesus (56) and Arturo (62) Reyna Salazar, were charged with first degree cruelty to a dog/cat -and have, you guessed it, already bonded out. It is beyond unacceptable for people such as this to be back on the streets with no legal stipulations. What is going to keep them from hurting more animals or possibly people? Evilness of this degree doesn't just go away.

View the initial report here

View the updated report here

“We saved as many of the treatable animals as possible -working to get them medical care, into rescues and adopted. We were not able to save them all.” -public relations manager for Shelby Humane Society.

A few more situations...

On June 19, a community member made a Facebook post pleading for help with a litter of 8 puppies as GBHS was refusing to even get in contact with them. Fortunately, Precious Paws Rescue Alabama, was able to reach out to the individual through the comment section. They reported that the puppies were rescued and they had the mom spayed.

Just a few days ago, another individual posted that they also are caring for strays that had 10 puppies. If not for local rescues, this would be another dozen dogs left to free-roam the streets. 

In the words of a local: “How does this stop the cycle? It doesn’t. It only makes it worse for rescues who are broke full and drowning trying to help.”

This situation can definitely get worse, but we really don’t want to see that, right? Litters are abandoned weekly. Something has to change or the streets will continue to become more dangerous -for everyone.

These babies have since been picked up by a local rescue. Photo taken from the local’s Facebook.

Can this problem be fixed?

The only way to 'fix' a problem so large and out of control is for government officials to get on the same page as the community members they serve. Enforcement of animal welfare laws, primarily sterilization, is necessary in areas overwhelmed by unwanted litters and abandoned animals.

The cycle will continue as long as unsterilized animals continue to roam freely. The government needs to step up and provide adequate resources and enforcement funding in areas such as this one.

As community members, we have a voice and at some point we’ll need to organize our voices to stand up for the speechless animals suffering just for existing in our world. This feels like a helpless situation but we can’t give up on animals that are dependent on our help.