Stray dog inspires family to donate land for shelter

By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
A Christmas miracle happened in Morgan County last week thanks to a flea-bitten, half-starved female stray dog named “Hope” and a fast food restaurant employee and friends who came to her rescue.
Angie Blevins was working at Jack’s Hamburgers in Somerville one day in late October when she spotted a dog walking around in the parking lot looking for something to eat.
A short time later a drive-through customer, Kelly Brown Farris of Zephyr Springs, Nev., noticed the dog and asked about it,” Blevins said. “I told her it was a stray and explained that the Humane Society is having a hard time placing homeless animals because it doesn’t have a shelter and is looking for a piece of land on which to build one. She told me she knew somebody who might be able to help and I gave her the telephone number of our executive director, Robyn Purdy.”
Mayes kept “Hope” overnight and placed her in the home of a friend after she was examined and treated by a veterinarian.
Later, Farris and her two brothers, Charlie Brown of Somerville and Mark Brown of Albany, Ga. decided to donate eight and one-half acres of their late mother’s property to the Human Society. Mrs. Brown died Nov. 20. Charlie Brown related how that came about at the Humane Society’s monthly meeting in Somerville on Dec. 13.
“My sister, who lives in Nevada, suggested to me and my brother that we consider donating Mama’s place for that purpose. We talked to her about it and she was all for it.
With a deed to the property in hand, the society moved quickly to get a building project under way. A groundbreaking was held Dec. 16 at the building site near the corner of Highway 36 and Gum Springs Cutoff Road. A drive for cash donations, materials and labor also was announced.
Larry White, a building committee member, unveiled a sketch of a layout for the proposed animal shelter, provided by fellow committee member Woody Woodard of Trinity. It allowed for 4,800 square foot of floor space and units for 55 animals.
Among the visitors at the meeting were representatives of the Morgan County Animal Shelter, Decatur Mayor Don Kyle and John Ross of the office of U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville). All commended the society for its work and pledged their support.