The Bigbee Humane Society will receive a grant to help it in its quest to build a no-kill animal shelter somewhere in Marengo County.
The $3,000 grant will be awarded to Bigbee on Saturday, Sept. 25, at noon at Wallace Community College cafeteria in Selma.
“We went through the Theo Ratliff Center,” said Bigbee board member Cindy McDonald. “The grant has to be used for construction or fencing for the Humane Society.”
The grant comes from the Black Belt Community Foundation, which provides grants to projects that benefit the Black Belt community by helping to transform it through improvements.
“Part of the work of the Foundation is giving grants,” said Cecil Williamson of Demopolis, who serves on the BBCF board. “We have allotted a specific amount for grants for the 12 counties that are represented by the Community Foundation.
“It has to be an organization that is already established, that is doing good work and that is a benefit to the community.”
Getting the grant to build helps the Bigbee Humane Society in its quest to build a shelter, but that is only part of the need.
“Now, we just have to find somewhere to build,” McDonald said. “We have written several letters to different places to try to get them to donate some property. We are really hoping to get something built before the winter time.”
McDonald said the Humane Society has 15 dogs that are looking for foster homes.
“We need foster care,” she said. “We do require that foster homes have a fenced-in yard. Bigbee is responsible for the health care. The dogs are all spayed and neutered, and their shots are up-to-date before we put them in a foster home. We just need someone to take care of them.”
The Bigbee Humane Society continues to take in items for sale at its thrift shop on Walnut Avenue across from the Rosenbush Building. Items may be brought in on the final Saturday of the month — Sept. 25 for this month — and will sell the items on the first Saturday of the month.
Those wanting to be foster parents to a pet or seeking more information about the Bigbee Humane Society can call McDonald at (334) 289-4557, Rosemary Shows at (334) 289-0786 or Savannah Barkley at (334) 289-3299.