Chilton County Commission says county will operate animal-control department; staff and repairs underway

At a Chilton County Commission meeting, commissioners described steps to establish a county-run animal control department to comply with a state mandate requiring a pound and care for stray dogs, cats and ferrets.

Commissioners said the county has hired an animal shelter director (identified in the meeting only as Christina), is recruiting technicians and intends to hire an assistant director. Commissioners and volunteers described an immediate “transition period” to manage intake and operations while the county implements policies and completes facility repairs.

The commission said the move responds to state law (recorded in the meeting as "Alabama code 19753-7a-7") and what commissioners described as gaps in shelter capacity when the humane society at times could not accept animals. Commissioners emphasized that the director is a county employee, not a humane society employee, and that the county will run the shelter as a department.

Commissioner Childress, speaking as a co-liaison to the shelter, described site conditions when he began visiting in November and said the director had been on the job about eight days and already made notable changes. Childress said volunteers and assistance from the sheriff’s office (inmates helping with cleaning) have been used while county hiring continues. Childress said county staff are preparing bids to refurbish the building and that the commission has one-time funds set aside for the work.

Commissioner Hall and other commissioners urged residents who had concerns to visit the shelter and speak with the director. Commissioners said volunteers who previously worked with the humane society have been asked to collaborate under the county’s animal-control rules if they wish to continue supporting shelter operations. The commission said the humane society remains a separate nonprofit organization governed by its own bylaws; any collaboration would be under the county department’s rules and procedures.

An informal suspension of the rules allowed public and commissioner comments during the discussion; the commission voted to suspend the rules before opening the informal discussion. A motion to adjourn closed the meeting.

Officials did not provide a complete timetable for hiring all positions or a firm date for building work; commissioners said they are collecting bids and will decide whether to bid the work out or complete repairs incrementally with the one-time funds.

Why this matters: county officials framed the department as necessary to meet the state mandate and to reduce legal and operational risk when the shelter is unable to accept animals. The discussion signaled immediate staffing and operational changes while larger repairs and policy details are finalized.