The Walker County Commission has formally changed the name of the Walker County Humane and Adoption Center to the Walker County Animal Services.
The decision, which was approved during the commission meeting on Monday, was made to eliminate confusion among residents, as the shelter’s name was similar to another local organization, the Walker County Humane Society.
“The original name of the shelter was chosen based on the architect’s plans when the facility was built,” District 2 Commissioner Jeff Burrough said. “There was no intention to compete with the Humane Society, but the shared name has led to some confusion among the public.”
The commission hopes the name change will help to clarify the distinct roles of the two organizations, District 1 Commissioner Keith Davis said. The Walker County Animal Services will continue to operate as a county shelter, supporting public safety by accepting dogs and cats in violation of the rabies code.
In response to the name change, the Walker County Humane Society released a statement on social media expressing their support for the decision.
“The Walker County Humane Society is thankful that the Walker County Commission formally changed the name of the Walker County Humane and Adoption Center to the Walker County Animal Services,” the statement read. “The Walker County Humane Society supports the well being of all animals and the people who care about them by providing low cost spaying and neutering services, pet food bank, dog houses and support to law enforcement. The County has an important function in the operation of a county shelter to support public safety by accepting dogs and cats in violation of the rabies code. Our nonprofit mission is not the same as their mandated function and the clarification can help to prevent further confusion.”
The commission also discussed and approved Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) guidelines for the newly named Walker County Animal Services. The current commission was unaware of any existing SOP for the shelter, prompting a thorough investigation into operating procedures at several shelters across Alabama. The result is a comprehensive 120-page manual, which can be amended as needed.
