Chilton County’s dire financial situation isn’t news to anyone.

There are many roads and bridges in the county that need improvement, and there is little money and manpower to improve them with.

So, it should come as no surprise that commissioners would be reluctant to spend money on anything that doesn’t involve asphalt. But the commission did just that at its Monday night meeting, voting to give $7,500 to the county humane society.

The commission this year cut the shelter’s annual appropriation from $20,000 to $7,500, and commissioner Red Turnipseed—who introduced the motion to give more money—said the humane society is running short each month by about $2,000.

Commissioners Allen Caton and Joe Headley voted against the motion, and their stance is understandable. If you’ve ever sat through a meeting and listened to all the road complaints, it’s clear what is the No. 1 priority for county residents. (In the very same meeting, residents addressed the commission about the need to replace a washed out bridge on County Road 455.)

Still, the humane society must be funded. The consensus seems to be that shelter officials are doing as much as they can with what they have, so there should be sympathy that they’ve had to ask for a little bit more.

The local humane society serves a vital function in Chilton County. Imagine our county with no one to take in unwanted pets, give them shots and food, spay or neuter them, and then find someone responsible to adopt them. Our streets would be overrun with wandering and dangerous animals.

That thought is even scarier than some of our potholes.