Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter experiencing new crisis after distemper outbreak

TUSCALOOSA, Ala ( WIAT ) — The Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter is experiencing another crisis following the distemper outbreak.

The only shelter in Tuscaloosa County had to euthanize 56 dogs because of distemper, which is nearly half of its occupancy. Yet the shelter is at full capacity.

“Very recently, we had 14 dogs come in from just one residence,” said Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter Kennel Manager Raquel Kimball. “That shows you how quickly we can get full, and this become a crisis situation on just a day-to-day basis.”

Not only on can kennel availability change daily, but it also can change in a matter of seconds. It all depends on how many dogs are coming in and how many people are coming in to adopt or foster them, Kimball said.

“I like the phrase ‘Adopt, don’t shop,'” said Tuscaloosa resident and dog adopter Kirsta Gilliland.

Gilliland and her family adopted a dog from the Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter years ago, and they were back in on Monday hoping to add another four-legged friend to the family.

Despite people like Gilliland, the shelter has more dogs than prospective homes. It’s a statewide issue, Kimball said.

“I would say a good majority of the shelters that we’ll go out and visit around here are having the same issues we are,” Kimball said. “I don’t think we’ve been to a single one who has said, ‘Oh, we have plenty of space.’ Every shelter in the state of Alabama is full.”

Shelters across state lines could be faced with the same crisis.

“I can guarantee a lot of shelters around the country are in a similar position,” Kimball said.

Dogs have been dropped off at the Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter for many reasons. Calls to animal control, strays and the costs of being a dog owner are among the top reasons the kennels stay full.

“Sometimes, it’s just a bag of food keeping someone from keeping their pet,” Kimball said.

Pet owners who don’t know where to turn when the money isn’t there eventually turn their dog over to Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter, Kimball said. The shelter, however, wants people to know there are other options.

The Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter can provide food, cheaper medicine, crates and help fix a fence – anything that could be temporarily getting in the way of a dog staying at home.

“We try to exhaust everything,” Kimball said. “We want [the pets] to stay with the people they know.”

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