By Steven Calhoun

The Chilton County Humane Society met with the Clanton City Council and Chilton County Commission to declare October the Chilton Month of Animal Compassion. According to the Month of Animal Compassion Facebook page, its main sponsor is Chilton Urgent Care.

The month’s events will all lead up to the Bark in the Park event at Goosepond Park on Oct. 29. Katherine Reece, an employee of the Humane Society, said that it will be a daylong event featuring live music, vendors, a glow run, and a dog and owner costume contest. All adoptable animals from the shelter will be there for families to consider adopting. Chilton Urgent Care is hosting the event.

Reece said that she expects the day to be a huge hit. Live music from multiple acts will go on throughout the day, and the headline act is Jessica Meuse, a rising singer-songwriter and finalist on American Idol in 2014.

“This will be the culmination of the entire month,” said Reece.

Leading up to the Bark in the Park, the Humane Society will also have the first ever Miss Chilton Elite beauty pageant on Oct. 22 at the Jemison Municipal Auditorium. Infants to age 18 may participate and pageant winners from each category will appear on stage at the Bark in the Park the following week, according to Reece.

“What I want to create is a sort of Relay for Life for the Humane Society” said Reece. She explained that she would like to see groups in the community organize events to benefit the Humane Society much like they would for Relay for Life and other causes. She hopes to see the October calendar filled with events to lead up to the Bark in the Park.

“We are badly financially strapped,” said Reece. “We get an average of 300 animals a month, and most of those are owner surrendered.”

According to Reece, the shelter needs the help of the community to succeed. They are working as hard as they can, but still have more to do.

“We want to put the power of the community behind it,” said Reece.

Reece would like to thank the City of Jemison for allowing them to use the Municipal Auditorium free of charge for the pageant fundraiser. Participants can sign up online and pay $75, or pay $65 if registered by Aug. 24. Contestants may also sell sponsorship packages instead of paying the entry fee. Every contestant will receive a crown and plaque to commemorate the occasion. Audience admission is $5.

To find more information about these events, go to chiltoncountyhumanesociety.org and the Month of Animal Compassion Facebook page.