Morgan County Animal Shelter getting additional artificial turf, lean-to for second dog run

By Erica Smith 

For the Enquirer  

After a successful project last year, the Morgan County Animal Shelter will be adding an additional lean-to and artificial turf to the second dog run at the facility. 

“On the back of the building is where we have put our first lean-to,” said Morgan County Animal Shelter and Animal Control Director Darren Tucker. “It goes all the way to our fence, so if it rains, our animals stay dry. Down at the south end of our building, it does not have a roof on it. We’re going to go the width of the building on that end, but farther out with the lean-to and with artificial grass.” 

The lean-to, Tucker said, will be 20 feet wide and 70 feet long, but there will still be a small portion open for sunlight. He said the lean-to can make the dogs more adoptable. 

“Let’s say somebody comes up here and it’s a bad weather day. We can let them go outside with that dog,” Tucker said. “They’ve got a good dry place where they can throw a ball with it, they can sit with it and make sure that its demeanor and all is fitting to the family or person that’s wanting to adopt it.” 

Tucker said when both dog runs are covered and it rains, they will be able to separate the dogs if needed. 

“Let’s say we had some dogs who were not dog friendly. We could put that dog into another run and keep them separate,” he said. “Or male and female or small and large dogs. It’s just better that you have two separate runs to put them in.” 

Ray Long, Morgan County Commission chairman, said the dogs need a chance to get outside, no matter the weather, so the additional lean-to is needed. 

An affectionate female dog that is available for adoption at the Morgan County Animal Shelter wanted to lick a photographer’s face. Photo by Jeronimo Nisa.

“A lot of times the animals like that, if they stay cooped up, they get to the point of not really being friendly,” he said. “Any time we can help our animals have more greenspace and be outside and be more natural, then we want to do it.” 

Tucker said they will be putting a 20-by-60-foot area and a 24-by-19-foot area of artificial turf. He said it will help keep the dogs and the interior of the building cleaner. 

“That area’s low and when it rains, they get out there, it’s muddy,” he said. “In the summertime they wear the grass out and it just goes to dirt. Then when it rains, it becomes mud and they’re tracking mud back into the building.” 

Tucker said the turf is easier to sanitize, as well. 

“At the end of every day, we go out there and we spray that entire turf area. We pick up any solids that the dogs may have left out there throughout the day,” he said. “That disinfects everything. The product we use, zoos use it, too. … It’s a very good, animal-friendly disinfectant and deodorizer as well.” 

The turf is just like grass, Tucker said. 

“The liquid is going to permeate down into the ground with a layer of sand, with a layer of pebbles, and just go into the ground just like it would in your grass,” he said. 

The shelter, built in 2010, is a Morgan County Commission-owned facility in Hartselle. At Tuesday’s commission meeting, the commission approved a bid from Southwest Greens Birmingham for artificial turf in the amount of $19,872. The commission also accepted a quote from Genesis Construction for a lean-to in the amount of $25,600. 

Long said most of the shelter projects are funded by donations and the shelter should have enough donations to cover this one, too. He said he believes the shelter has about $40,000 in donations currently. 

“Of course, if they have any overrun, we at the county will pay for it,” he said. 

Tucker said he codes all the donations the shelter receives differently in their commission budget. 

“If you come in here and want to give $100, $50 for the dogs, well we’re going to make sure that money goes towards the dogs,” he said. “It’s not going to pay the light bill or admin fees or anything like that. It’s going specifically for the well-being of the animals in the shelter.” 

Long said ideally there would be no need for a shelter. 

“Everybody would like for people to take care of their animals and us not need to have shelters,” he said. “That’s just not the world we live in.” 

Tucker said the goal for their shelter animals is adoption. 

“Just get them off the concrete and on the grass as quick as possible,” he said. “We’re working this year to get our adoption numbers up.”