Hi there! My name is Alexander.  I am a retriever lab mix and I am about fourteen months old.  As you can see I have a shiny black coat, a white lightning bolt on my chest, and cute wing-like ears at the sides of my head! I am a really friendly guy with lots of personality and energy.  I was really lucky.  Some people found me when I was just a young puppy and they brought me to the shelter.  No one ever came looking for me so I have been up for adoption for a long time.  I have all of my vaccinations, I am heartworm negative, I have a microchip, and I have already been neutered.  I would be a great companion for a ten or twelve year old boy or girl that is active and energetic. Please come by for a visit and just ask for Alexander.  You would make my day!

Hi, my name is Michaela. I am a one year old shepherd mix. As you can see I have a pretty brown coat with some black highlights and I have a dab of white on my chest. I got out of my yard not long ago. Well I got completely turned around and I couldn’t find my way back home. Animal Control found me and brought me to the shelter. What a relief! I knew that my family would be called and then I could go back home. Well my family was called and they didn't come get me. I was devastated! I had been with them almost a year and they deserted me! Now I must start over. I have all of my vaccinations, I am heartworm negative, I have a microchip, and I have already been spayed. I am a really nice girl that just wants a family to love. I am good with adults, kids, and other dogs. I already know how to sit and lay on command. I am a smart girl that just wants to be your best friend.  Won't you come to the shelter for a visit? I bet you would like me a lot!

Recent surveillance for rabies in the raccoon population near Columbiana in Shelby County has revealed three positive cases. The current area of focus includes a two-mile radius around the Beeswax Creek boat launch area, where the most recent of the positive raccoons was discovered.

The ongoing surveillance is being conducted by the USDA Wildlife Services (WS) along with the Alabama Department of Public Health. The surveillance began in response to a rabid puppy found in February that was confirmed to be infected with a raccoon variant of the rabies virus.

The primary concern is that these positive cases have been found in an area where raccoon rabies is not typically found. According to Dana Johnson, a USDA WS biologist, the primary focus will be expanding the surveillance areas to try to determine the extent that the rabies virus has spread.