The Demopolis Animal Shelter had to euthanize approximately 253 dogs and puppies in the last 12 months, said Lucille Carpenter, shelter director.

A review of shelter records shows that of the facility took in some 543 animals since May 2001. Approximately 153 animals were adopted from the shelter in the last 12 months.

The shelter can house up to 25 dogs at one time, she said, but the facility usually has just 15. Carpenter said it is a constant steam of animals that comes to the shelter.

She is working with Maddie’s Fund, a state program coordinated by the Humane Society of Alabama, which hopes to spay and neuter 30,000 animals in 2002. It was already a very successful year in 2001 when the fund helped 14,000 animals, Carpenter said.

The program wants to help people on fixed incomes who need their pets neutered or spayed.

How can the out-of-control population of domestic animals be slowed, it is going to take more people to spend the money to have their pets altered.

For more information about helping the animals at the Demopolis shelter or Maddie’s Fund, call Carpenter at 289-3879.