Society needs help to complete shelter

By By Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
What started out as a wish and a dream has turned into a hope and a prayer as far as finishing out the interior of an all-volunteer animal shelter is concerned, according to Robin Purdy, president of the Morgan County Humane Society.
The shelter is located at 89 Gum Road in Hartselle.
“We’ve come a long way but we’ve still got a long way to go,” Purdy said. “We need the volunteer labor of an electrician and a plumber, building materials such as sheetrock and concrete blocks and cash donations.”
Purdy also hopes a big yard sale at the animal shelter site will bring in some much needed revenue in September.
A 30 feet by 100 feet metal building was constructed on a concrete foundation last November at a cost of $46,000. It is located on eight and one-half acres of donated land just off Highway 36, five miles east of Hartselle. Money to build it was raised “slinging hot dogs and begging,” Purdy said.
Since then “The Lighhouse for Animals” has struggled in getting the interior of the building finished.
An on-site wastewater disposal system and heating and air-conditioning system are other major needs.
Purdy said the humane society continues to get calls from people who are hunting homes for mistreated and abandoned pets .
The all-volunteer shelter will have 24 dog runs and isolation and play rooms for cats. It will offer low cost programs for pet spaying and neutering and free classes on pet grooming and health.
Purdy said she hopes the shelter will be ready to open in the fall at about the same time new animal shelters are scheduled to open in Hartselle and Decatur.
Donations may be made in person at the Lighthouse for Animals or by mail to 89 Gum Springs Road, Hartselle, AL, 35640.