Our Story

In rural Clay County, Alabama, a legacy of compassion and resilience took root through Nancy Bailey’s love for animals. In 2014, Nancy gathered friends and concerned citizens who shared her dream of a ‘no-kill’ shelter for the neglected and abandoned animals of Clay County. By 2015, the Clay County Animal Shelter officially opened its doors in Ashland, Alabama, as the only animal shelter in the County. Though small, it quickly became a beacon of hope and a labor of love, with the board of directors, officers and other volunteers donating their time, without pay, and often spending their own money to meet the needs of the animals in their care. The shelter stood as a symbol of second chances for the abandoned and neglected animals and as a source of community pride.

But as life sometimes goes, challenges followed. Before Nancy’s passing, her cousin, Senator Gerald Dial, promised to keep her dream alive. In 2017 and 2018, he introduced two pieces of legislation to provide partial funding for the shelter from Alabama tobacco tax funds. For a moment, it seemed the shelter’s future was assured. Then the Clay County Commission filed two separate lawsuits to prevent the shelter from receiving the funds from either statute, casting a shadow of uncertainty over its future.

Fortunately, two attorneys volunteered to represent the shelter for free. Over the next five years the legal battle went all the way to the Alabama Supreme Court, twice. The shelter lost the first case but won the second case. The Shelter’s attorney promptly, filed a motion with the trial court to release the funds to the shelter, that had been accumulating in escrow, and begin monthly payments. However, the Court did not respond to this request for six more months and only after the Commission agreed to settle the case, to avoid further litigation. This finally gave the Shelter a hard-fought victory in the Spring of 2022.

The shelter wanted to use this money to purchase land to build a new shelter. However, after news of the settlement became public knowledge, the landlord for the shelter demanded that the shelter either vacate the premises or purchase the property at an asking price far above its appraised value. Local citizens rallied around the shelter, offering temporary spaces and homes for over 90 animals until a permanent solution could be found. Throughout this transition, the dedicated staff and volunteers never wavered in their commitment.

Then a miracle unfolded. Tony and Maryna Lawrenson, animal advocates, moved by the shelter’s story, donated land in Delta, Alabama for a new facility. This generous gift revitalized the shelter’s mission. In May 2023, a groundbreaking ceremony was held on the donated land and building began.

Unfortunately, by that time, the country was sinking into a period of massive inflation and the costs of construction were going through the roof across the nation. Once again the community came to the rescue. Time after time local contractors and professionals substantially reduced their bids or gave free services. Several businesses gave the shelter discounts and free products and supplies. We are looking forward to the completion of the remaining construction by next year, when we celebrate our 10th anniversary.

The shelter hired a Director of Operations in July 2024, and by October, they opened their doors with regular business hours. Volunteers, community members, and the shelter’s animals gathered to celebrate this new beginning. Every bark, purr, and wagging tail stood as a testament to the tireless efforts of the shelter’s staff, volunteers, and the community that supported it. The shelter has renewed its promise: to help more abandoned and neglected animals find forever homes.