By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

Hurricane Irma will have a lasting impact on the Chilton County Humane Society.

“Irma has caused us a problem,” board president Katherine Reece said.

Several of the animal rescue organizations that the local shelter sends animals to were destroyed when the hurricane swept through Florida.

“All of the major places that was hit was one of our rescues,” Employee Tina Austin said.

She said each of these will be closed for weeks as they have power restored and try to recover.

A rescue in Orlando is trying to reopen in two week, according to Austin.

“I know Naples is out of the question for a long time,” Reece said.

Last month, 199 animals from the shelter were sent to rescues. Reece said the shelter does work with some in-state rescues and some in northern states, but those in the north will likely be full of animals from hurricane-ravaged areas.

Reece said every shelter and humane society in Alabama is going to be facing this issue.

The humane society is asking that if there is anyway a pet owner can keep their pet until rescue options are available again to please do so.

If the only reason someone wants to surrender an animal is because they cannot afford food, the shelter can give the person food for the pet, thanks to food donations.

“The way that we have kept our euthanasia rate down is by sending out to rescues,” Reece said.

Now that this option is not as readily available, keeping the euthanasia rate down could only be achieved by limiting intake or adopting out more animals. Since the animal shelter receives some funding from Chilton County and local municipality governments, limiting intake is not really an option.

Intake at the animal shelter ends at 3 p.m. to give employees time to clean before heading home.

Adoption fees are $125 for dogs up to 5 years old; $50 for dogs 6 years and older. Adoption fees are $50 for kittens under 6 months old, $25 for cats 6 months and older.

“Fees include spay or neuter, rabies shot, microchip, up-to-date on normal shots, bordetella shot, treated for fleas and dewormed. Plus, you get a free vet visit with a Chilton County vet within 3 days of adoption. When you adopt from the shelter, you also qualify for 30 days of free pet health insurance with 24 Pet Watch, ” according to the Chilton County Humane Society website.

The shelter is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The humane society will also be holding adoption events at Tractor Supply Company in Clanton on Sept. 15 and Montevallo on Oct. 7.