The Chilton County Humane Society is kicking off a spay and neuter campaign beginning Feb. 1 for residents in Chilton County.

“February is actually National Spay and Neuter month,” said Katherine Reece with the Chilton County Humane Society. “We are really wanting to reduce the intake of animals that comes into the shelter, which is why we decided to start this program.”

Any individual living in Chilton County can visit the shelter and purchase a $20 certificate for their dogs or cats and redeem the gift certificate with Alabama Spay Neuter Clinic in Irondale.

Reece said the Alabama Spay Neuter Clinic has agreed to provide free transportation for those living in Chilton County, so all that is needed for an animal to be spayed or neutered is the purchase of the $20 gift certificate.

“What happens is you buy the gift certificate, and then you can call the Alabama Spay Neuter Clinic and find out what times they will be coming to Chilton County,” Reece said. “On whatever day they are coming, you will bring your animal to the shelter, and someone from the clinic will be present to load the animals up for transport. They will take them to Irondale and have the animals spayed and neutered, and then the next morning you can come back to the shelter and pick up your animal. It really is a great service, and something that would normally cost about $100.”

The $20 gift certificate is redeemable for one animal, but multiple gift certificates can be purchased depending on how many animals an individual owns.

Reece said those interested in the certificates must purchase them at the shelter, due to the certificates containing a number, which is attached to a corresponding database.

“In the long run, this program will do so much good for the shelter,” Reece said. “We can work ourselves to pieces getting the animals adopted and rescued, but we need to stop the animals from coming in to the shelter in the first place.”

Reece said the initial starting fund for the campaign was made possible from money donated by the city of Clanton.

The Alabama Spay and Neuter Clinic has an anonymous donor who will match each dollar that the Chilton County Humane Society puts in the Community Fund.

“In order for us to make a real difference, we will need more money to be donated to the Community Fund,” Reece said. “For the first year, the donor will match dollar for dollar, but the second year the donor will match $1 for every $2 we donate.”

Reece said individuals wanting to donate to the Community Fund can send a check to the Chilton County Humane Society and designate the money to the Community Fund.

“We are very appreciative to the city of Clanton,” Reece said. “They were given the option to make this campaign only available to those living in Clanton, but they decided to make it available to every resident living in Chilton County, which is tremendously generous.”

For anyone wanting to adopt an animal from the Humane Society, Reece said part of the adoption fee includes spaying and neutering.

Currently, prices on animals at the shelter include adult dogs $85, senior dogs (six years and older) $50, kittens $50 and cats six months and older $25.

For more information about the Chilton County Humane Society, call (205) 755-9170 or visit www.chiltoncountyhumanesociety.org.