Before partnering with Maddie’s Fund—a “no-kill” coalition that aims to find safe homes for animals—five years ago, Daphne Animal Shelter had euthanized 23 animals per month.

But the shelter recently has seen a drop in euthanizations.

Animal euthanization totals since October 2008 are as follows:

The shelter’s partnership with Maddie’s seems to be working—which is fine by the shelter’s staffers.

“Our goal is to save lives,” Daphne Animal Shelter animal control officer Rhonda Jones said. “That’s the mission of the whole network.”

But while the past two months’ decline in death count seems encouraging, compared to last year’s figures, more animal adoptions would be helpful.

Animal euthanizations at the Daphne Animal Shelter last year, according to one staffer, are as follows:

Having Maddie’s as a fall-back helps.

“If we’re overcrowded at the shelter, we call the coalition,” Jones said.

“We take them into our care and place them into new homes,” Maddie’s Fund field representative Lynn Friendly said.

“The Daphne Animal Shelter, The Haven (a Fairhope no-kill shelter) and the Baldwin Animal Rescue Center are all working well together,” she said. “We’re pleased with their progress.”

Councilman August Palumbo lauded the program.

“I commend the shelter and the police department for taking the time and the initiative,” he said. “I would love to see it taken county-wide.”

See the rest of this story in the April 15 Daphne Bulletin.