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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

The financial situation for the Chilton County Humane Society has improved, thanks to several recent, large donations.

A financial update was given to the Humane Society board by member Bill McCay during the Jan. 5 meeting

“We actually have a little bit of money in the bank, about $30,00,” McCay said.

He said there were still unpaid bills for December, such as the veterinarian bill and $4,400 to the Alabama Spay /Neuter Clinic, that were still being processed.

“We’re at least ahead of the game at this point instead of behind,” McCay said.

The board approved $5,000 to be paid to the spay and neuter clinic for the current bill and to allow the local shelter to sell spay/neuter vouchers again. The voucher program benefits the shelter by reducing the number of unwanted puppies and kittens that are brought to the shelter.

Board president Katherine Reece said the board recently met to discuss how it might be able to decrease costs.

“We had been coming up about $3,000 short each month,” Reece said. “That is what has called such a backlog of past due [bills] … one of our biggest expenses is getting the animals fixed.”

It costs about $75 per animal.

An audience member pointed out that this cost is reimbursed to the shelter through the adoption fees.

“What Kristi [Hyche, board member] has found out is that the Alabama Spay /Neuter Clinic will not only match our voucher program, they will match a spay neuter program for the shelter,” Reece said.

Hyche explained that the clinic had lower rates than the veterinarian the shelter uses and will fix two animals for the price of one through its shelter match program.

Reece proposed going to this clinic in Birmingham twice a month.

“Then we would have animals at the shelter who are available for adoption immediately. Because that is usually the problem people have when they come in to adopt an animal, they want to take it home immediately,” Reece said.

Reece said it usually takes seven days to have the animal fixed.

“We have gotten around that a lot by doing foster to adopt,” Reece said.

Hyche said the shelter would save money, even factoring in the cost of driving to Birmingham. Saving money on the phone lines and internet by switching companies was also discussed.

Local municipalities and the Chilton County government have asked the shelter to have an audit done. McCay said the Humane Society needs to find out the type of audit the governments want because there is a vast cost difference between types. A detailed audit could cost tens of thousands of dollars.

“We have no problem with it [having an audit done]. We welcome it, but we would like some help paying for it,” Hyche said.

Once an audit is complete, it could help qualify the shelter to apply for grants in the future.

Board members planned to meet at the shelter on Jan. 13 to organize files.