Calhoun lawmaker introductes animal shelter bill

Rep. K.L. Brown

A Calhoun county legislator wants all animal shelters in the state to provide monthly reports on their activities upon request from the public.

Rep. K.L. Brown, R-Jacksonville, introduced the bill, saying it’s needed to track instances of euthanasia in the state.

At least one local shelter sees no problem with the bill. Another shelter, though, says the requirements would demand too much paperwork from understaffed facilities.

Brown's bill had its second reading in the House on Thursday. Meanwhile, Sen. William Beasley, D-Clayton, has a companion bill pending in committee. Brown's bill would require animal shelters to compile monthly reports on how many animals enter and leave their facilities and detail how those pets arrived and left. It would also require shelters to report how many animals were euthanized each month and for what reasons.

All shelters would have to provide this information to the public upon request. The bill exempts any people providing temporary foster care to animals in their homes and animal rescue groups and sanctuaries sheltering animals on an individual's property.

Brown said he decided to introduce the bill after a discussion with an animal rights activist in Birmingham.

Angie Persch, director of the Calhoun County Animal Control Center, said her staff keeps periodic statistics of their activities.

Jane Cunningham, chairwoman of the Cheaha Regional Humane Society board, which contracts with the county to oversee the animal control center, said Thursday she had no problem releasing its statistics. She said, however, that she could not provide numbers Thursday because the center was closed that day.

Brown said he understands that many shelters work with limited staff but doesn't see the bill adding much extra bureaucracy. Brown said the statistics required in the bill could be easily compiled in minutes on a computer spreadsheet.