By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

The Chilton County Humane Society board considered repurposing a fence to create more outdoor dog kennels during its meeting on Aug. 3.

Board member Jeff Melton said the Rural Electric Authority has offered to donate a heavy-duty fence to the Humane Society, but the board would need to get a crew together to take it down and put it back up.

“It’s a nice fence about 2,000 feet of it,” Melton said.

Board president Katherine Reece asked if the fence, which is comprised of 8-foot panel and metal posts could be converted into outdoor kennels. After some discussion, it was determined it probably could. Reece also said Shelby Concrete has offered to donate the concrete needed to create the pad for an outdoor kennel.

The main concern for Humane Shelter board members and employees was how to remove the fence posts, which are cemented in place. A decision is expected at a later date.

Also during the meeting, job descriptions and amendments to procedures to reduce parvovirus in animals at the shelter were approved. Procedures now require the use of gloves, medical gowns and wearing boots, which will be cleaned in a bleach solution for everyone handling puppies. Parvo was a contributing factor in the shelter’s elevated euthanasia rate for July. There were 198 animals euthanized in July. Reece said the month’s 69 percent was “definitely not a number we’re happy with.”

Interim director Tonya Terreros said changes were already being implemented at the shelter to improve daily operations.

Reece said written job descriptions is something the board had wanted to do for a long time but just never got to.

Several fundraisers were discussed. Bark in the Park and a beauty pageant fundraiser will be held in October. Details are still being finalized, including possibly renaming the beauty pageant.

The board voted to have elections in February and have new board members begin serving in March.