New leadership at Selma Animal Shelter leads to changes

Selma Animal Shelter has a new director, new mission for cleanliness, a slate of new events aimed at increasing adoptions and renewed requests for volunteers and foster families. 

The shelter’s new director is Hatwatha McGhee, who is also Selma’s Code Enforcement director, and she opened the shelter Monday night to show off its new clean atmosphere and encourage community engagement.  

McGhee said the shelter has a no-kill policy and is not being run like a “prison” but a temporary shelter. 

“We’ve kind of spruced some things up since I became the director,” she said of her new duties that started a month ago. 

Her changes have led to a positive attitude and outlook which has employee and volunteer morale at a high level. 

Cleanliness was first on McGhee’s to-do list.  

“Keeping the place clean is one of the best things we can do,” she said,adding staff, which is made up mostly of volunteers, have worked hard to keep the shelter clean. “It takes a lot of volunteers and a lot of community effort. I’m very thankful for our community and the staff here.”  

“We do have a lot of animals coming in.” McGhee reports, “But we have a lot going out” to forever homes. And over the coming weeks, there are events aimed at getting more pets adopted out to loving homes. 

McGhee said there will be another tour in a few weeks, and a new Dog Walk event on Oct. 22 at 11 a.m. that asks for volunteers to come walk a dog from the shelter. 

After that is “Coffee with a Pup” event on Nov. 3 at 10 a.m. McGhee said everyone is invited to come and have a cup of coffee with the puppies and “hopefully take one home.” 

McGhee said there are a lot of other events being planned that will be announced at a later date.  

McGhee added that those who aren’t ready to adopt may want to consider fostering an animal. “It really helps the animals get used to being in a home. And with our puppies and kittens who come in too young, foster care helps with the nursing.” 

Anyone interested in adopting a pet, fostering, volunteering or participating in any of the events can call the Selma Animal Shelter at 334-877-2204. Or go by and visit at 206 Medical Center Parkway.