DAPHNE — The Daphne Animal Shelter has received a $20,000 grant from Maddie’s Fund, a California-based pet rescue foundation that promotes a “no-kill” program.

“There is no limit on what they can spend it on, as long as it helps them in their jobs of helping the animals,” Lynne Fridley, a field representative for Maddie’s Fund, said.

“We’re looking into getting a new vehicle to transport animals to the shelters,” Rhonda Jones, an animal shelter worker, said.

“We need a reliable truck for the animals,” Maria Nicholson, grant administrator, said.

“We’re also looking into getting some of the medications and inoculations that the animals need,” Nicholson added.

Maddie’s Fund in October 2005 began work on a 10-year community collaboration in Baldwin County to promote a “no-kill” program, according to Fridley.

The goal is to save healthy animals from euthanasia and then target treatable animals, according to Nicholson.

“A treatable animal has a physical or behavioral condition that can be treated to make them healthy; such as dogs with mange or cats with ringworm,” Fridley said.

The Haven, in Fairhope, and the Baldwin County Humane Society are “adoption guarantee” organizations; they don’t euthanize animals to combat overcrowding, according to Fridley.

Maddie’s Fund aims to increase adoptions from these organizations, Fridley said.

The Daphne Animal Shelter in 2006 gave 307 euthanasia procedures, according to statistics prepared by the shelter for Maddie’s pet rescue project. In 2006, the shelter euthanized 361 animals.

The Baldwin County Community Shelter in 2004 gave 5,140 euthanizations, according to the statistics. In 2006, the shelter euthanized 5,271 animals.

The increase in euthanasia procedures is due to an increase in the number of animals taken in by these shelters, according to Fridley, who said shelters countywide take in about 10,000 animals each year.

The Daphne shelter took in 982 animals in 2006 and 846 in 2004, according to the statistics.

The Balwin County shelter took in 10,904 animals in 2006 and 10,582 in 2004, according to the statistics.

Maddie’s funding for the county is expected to reach $2.5 million over the 10-year project, according to Fridley.

The Baldwin project began in 2005, after Rob Walker, former director of the Baldwin County Humane Society, applied for a Maddie’s grant in 2004.

For more information go to www.maddiesfund.org.