By: Shayla Terry

The Crenshaw County Animal Society has set the date of April 22 for its Paw Poker Run.

The event will be held at the Shriner’s Building in Rutledge, and will be held in conjunction with Bike Blessing, which is sponsored by the Three in One Motorcycle Ministries.

This year’s Paw Poker Run will feature special guests Sharon and John P. Adkinson and their dog, Ziggy. Ziggy has been pivotal to Sharon’s diabetes management. Dog trainer Brian Vinti will also share his knowledge of pets during the day event.

The Crenshaw County Animal Society began its work with the community in 2013.

“We started to promote the human-animal bond,” President Kim Thiem said. “We also create services to support that.”

The organization boasts more than 25 members.

“We started with research in 2013 doing site visits,” Thiem said. “In 2014, we went around and visited the town halls, senior center, civic organizations, and were in attendance at county festivals.”

The society focuses heavily on alleviating strays in the county, as well as offering spay and neutering services.

“We have a low cost spay and neuter program,” Thiem said. “We transport from our flea market to Animal Alliance in Montgomery. We’re trying to promote spay and neuter because it will help everyone in the community.”

Its flea market is located at 998 South Forest Ave., and is open to the public on Saturdays.

The organization has a lost and found page on Facebook. People can request to be added and communicate for a recovery. The page shares posts to veterinarians, business, and profiles.

“This way we can share of the lost with more than 40 sources,” Thiem said. “The Buy, Sell, Trade sites have worked out great, because sometimes the dogs get stolen. We have recovered animals in Troy and Montgomery.”

Currently, members of the society foster the stray animals that they take in. Adoptions are available through the organization. The adoption fee for dogs is $50, and they come spayed and neutered, and up to date on shots.

“We can tell you a lot about the animal before you adopt, because they live with us and spend a lot of time with us,” said Secretary Beth Rogers.

Theim says the society’s mission is community wellness.

“We want to change the dynamic of how our county handles animals long-term,” she said. “We think they are valuable, and they do so much for us. We get way more back than we give.”