Bank Independent representatives delivered a large quantity of pet food and miscellaneous supplies to Morgan County Animal Shelter on Tuesday as the result of an inaugural Animal Shelter Share Drive at all 27 of its locations. Pictured, from left, are David Lively, sales officer at Moulton; Corey Henson, senior animal control officer; and Erin Letson, marketing services coordinator. | Clif Knight

Donations of pet supplies are helping Morgan County Animal Shelter stretch its budget and be able to purchase other needs such as medications it otherwise would not be able to afford.

The shelter received a generous donation of packaged cat and dog food and miscellaneous pet items from Bank Independent on Tuesday.

In expressing her appreciation, shelter director Claudia Ray said the donation would enable the shelter to purchase six bottles of antibiotics without affecting its budget.

“We’re so thankful for every donation we receive,” Ray stated. “They go right back into the shelter and help us provide good care for the animals and make it easier to find good homes for them.”

The Bank Independent donation was one of four made to animal shelters in the bank’s service area, according to Patricia Hartley of Florence, communications officer for the bank’s 27 locations in North Alabama.

“These supplies are the result of our first annual Animal Shelter Share Drive,” she said. “We asked our employees and customers at all locations for their support and we’re happy with the response we received.

“The idea for the drive came from our own employees who opt to work at animal shelters to fulfill their commitment to volunteer for community service a minimum of eight hours per year. They were made aware of the shelters’ needs and suggested that we conduct a pet supplies drive to meet some of those needs.”

“This is something we want to do every year,” Hartley pointed out. “We anticipate doing more in the future as word spreads through the media.”