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[[Image:Greater Birmingham Humane Society logo.jpg|right|275px]]
[[Image:Greater Birmingham Humane Society logo.jpg|right|275px]]
The '''Greater Birmingham Humane Society''' is the oldest and largest humane society in Alabama. It's mission, set by founder [[John Herbert Phillips]], is "to promote respect for life through education and prevention of cruelty to animals and people". The society operates independently of publicly-funded animal control efforts, providing care to unwanted animals and dispensing shelter, veterinary, cruelty-prevention, disaster preparation, and educational services with private funding.
The '''Greater Birmingham Humane Society''' is the oldest and largest humane society in Alabama. It's mission, set by founder [[John Herbert Phillips]], is "to promote respect for life through education and prevention of cruelty to animals and people". The society operates independently of publicly-funded animal control efforts, providing care to unwanted animals and dispensing shelter, veterinary, cruelty-prevention, disaster preparation, and educational services with private funding.
The current executive director is [[Allison Black Cornelius]], who succeeded [[Jacque Mayer]] in [[2012]]. The board of directors is chaired by [[Arthur Edge]].


==History==
==History==
The society was founded in [[1883]] as the '''Birmingham Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and Animals''', one of the first such groups in the United States. The group was incorporated in [[1910]]. By [[1915]] the society had opened a pet shelter at 2115 [[1st Avenue South|Avenue A]], boarding pets for $1.50 to $3.50 per week. In [[1919]] Phillips succeeded in getting humane legislation passed requiring each county to enforce minimum standards for animal care.
The society was founded in [[1883]] as the '''Birmingham Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and Animals''', one of the first such groups in the United States. On the evening of [[September 2]], [[1902]] the society held a mass meeting led by president [[Theophilus Kates]] to discuss his proposal that leadership of the group should be turned over entirely to women, but those attending supported his continuing to serve as president.


In [[1920]] the Birmingham Humane Society used a $50,000 bequest from [[Christiana Webb]] to construct a [[Christina Webb Building|new office]]. During the 1930s the society was able to concentrate its efforts on animal welfare as child cruelty cases were taken on by the county's [[Jefferson County Juvenile Court|juvenile courts]].
The group was incorporated in [[1910]]. By [[1915]] the society had opened a pet shelter at 2115 [[1st Avenue South|Avenue A]], boarding pets for $1.50 to $3.50 per week. In [[1919]] Phillips succeeded in getting humane legislation passed requiring each county to enforce minimum standards for animal care.
 
In [[1920]] the Birmingham Humane Society received a $50,000 bequest from [[Christiana Webb]] to construct a new shelter, the [[Christina Webb Building]], which was completed in [[1927]]. During the 1930s the society was able to concentrate its efforts on animal welfare as child cruelty cases were taken on by the county's [[Jefferson County Juvenile Court|juvenile courts]].


In [[1957]] the society discontinued boarding and grooming services. In the late 1960s Mayor [[George Seibels]] acquired funding for a separate city-owned animal control facility. In the early 1970s [[Birmingham]] passed a leash law and raised fines for animal cruelty from $50 to $500. In [[1974]] the society created a new constitution and bylaws and began holding an animal Christmas Giving Tree fundraiser.
In [[1957]] the society discontinued boarding and grooming services. In the late 1960s Mayor [[George Seibels]] acquired funding for a separate city-owned animal control facility. In the early 1970s [[Birmingham]] passed a leash law and raised fines for animal cruelty from $50 to $500. In [[1974]] the society created a new constitution and bylaws and began holding an animal Christmas Giving Tree fundraiser.
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In [[1975]] the society purchased a warehouse at 1713 [[Lomb Avenue]]. It continued to lease the warehouse to a heavy equipment operator until [[1979]] when it was remodeled for the society's use. Funding from [[United Way of Greater Birmingham|United Way]] was cut sharply in [[1987]] after the society refused to move into a smaller facility shared by Rabies Control. The Christina Webb building was demolished that decade, with the scrap sold to help fill budget deficits.
In [[1975]] the society purchased a warehouse at 1713 [[Lomb Avenue]]. It continued to lease the warehouse to a heavy equipment operator until [[1979]] when it was remodeled for the society's use. Funding from [[United Way of Greater Birmingham|United Way]] was cut sharply in [[1987]] after the society refused to move into a smaller facility shared by Rabies Control. The Christina Webb building was demolished that decade, with the scrap sold to help fill budget deficits.


In the early 1990s the Humane Society went to a five-day week and began the PAL program providing low-cost spay and neuter certificiates. The [[Tailwagger]] retail store opened in space donated by [[Century Plaza]] and, in [[1999]] Pet Supplies Plus on [[U. S. Highway 31]] in [[Hoover]] donated space for an adoption center. That same year the society began investigating animal cruelty complaints.
In the early 1990s the Humane Society went to a five-day week and began the PAL program providing low-cost spay and neuter certificates. The [[Tailwagger]] retail store opened in space donated by [[Century Plaza]] and, in [[1999]] Pet Supplies Plus on [[U.S. Highway 31]] in [[Hoover]] donated space for an adoption center. That same year the society began investigating animal cruelty complaints.
 
In [[2000]] animal neglect and cruelty was elevated to a class C felony in Alabama. The society hired a full-time investigator. In [[2004]] GBHS moved its adoption services to a new building at 300 [[Snow Drive]] in [[Wildwood]].
 
In January [[2015]] the Greater Birmingham Human Society took over [[Jefferson County]]'s contract for animal control and shelter services in unincorporated areas and municipalities with fewer than 5,000 residents from [[BJC Animal Control]]. Along with the contract came use of the county's [[Jefferson County Animal Shelter|deteriorating shelter]] in [[Woodlawn neighborhood|Woodlawn]]. Their contract was renewed for three years in January [[2016]]. By city ordinance, GBHS must euthanize feral animals brought in by Birmingham Animal Control, but are able to work with [[Vestavia Hills]] to neuter and return feral cats to where they were trapped.
 
In [[2016]] GBHS president and CEO [[Allison Black Cornelius]] began discussing a proposal to relocate all of the society's operations onto a 27-acre parcel of the [[Trinity Park]] site in [[North Titusville]]. Their $30 million plan hinged on the City of Birmingham and Jefferson County, which jointly own the property, agreeing to donate the site. In early [[2018]] Jefferson County approved the sale of part of the property to a data processing company, effectively scuttling the GBHS plan. In [[2021]] the county announced a new proposal to buy three parcels off [[Lakeshore Parkway]] near [[Sidney Drive]] for a new facility which would include an intake center, animal hospital and adoption center as well as space for education and events, and access to trails around an existing pond with connections to the [[Red Mountain Park]] trail system.
 
GBHS operations during Cornelius' tenure as director have been criticized by activists and by some former staff members. In [[2017]] GBHS's board of directors issued a statement saying that they had investigated claims that Cornelius had improperly used organizational funds for personal expenses, and other allegations of falsifying reports on animal welfare and threatening critics. The board concluded that none of the detrimental claims were supported by evidence and expressed their full support for Cornelius and the GBHS staff.
 
In [[2023]] the Greater Birmingham Humane Society, which was already contracted for animal care and control for the city of [[Jasper]], was the sole bidder to take over operation of [[Walker County Animal Services]].
 
==Executive directors==
* [[John Herbert Phillips]], 1883–
* [[Theophilus Kates]], 1902
* [[Beth Franklin]], 1991–1996
* [[Jacque Mayer]], –2012
** [[Molly McGregor]] (interim), September 2012–February 2013
* [[Karen Peterlin]], February 25, 2013–July 25, 2014
* [[Allison Black Cornelius]], 2014–
 
==Locations==
* [[GBHS CARE Center]] (animal adoptions, educations and pet surrenders), 300 [[Snow Drive]], [[Oxmoor neighborhood|Oxmoor]]
* [[GBHS Animal Care & Control]] (impoundment of strays, and lost & found pets), 6227 [[5th Avenue North]], [[Woodlawn neighborhood|Woodlawn]]
* [[Alabama Shelter Veterinarians]] (medical treatments), 5220 [[Princeton Way]], [[Hoover]]


In [[2000]] animal neglect and cruelty was elevated to a class C felony in Alabama. The society hired a full-time investigator. In [[2004]] the society moved to a new building at 300 [[Snow Drive]] in [[Wildwood]].
==References==
* "[https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85038485/1902-09-02/ed-1/seq-6/ Mass Meeting Tonight Under the Auspices of the Humane Society]" (September 2, 1902) ''Birmingham Age-Herald'', p. 6
* Hrynkiw, Ivana (October 30, 2015) "Puppies rescued from drain at 'unsafe' Greater Birmingham Humane Society building." {{BN}}
* Ganucheau, Adam (January 13, 2016) "Humane society retains animal services in Jefferson County." {{BN}}
* Hrynkiw, Ivana (June 28, 2016) "Greater Birmingham Humane Society to propose 27-acre complex in Titusville." {{BN}}
* "Greater Birmingham Humane Society loses out on 27-acre land gift for new Titusville campus." (February 22, 2018) wvtm13.com
* Hrynkiw, Ivana (October 27, 2017) "[http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2017/10/you_cant_adopt_your_way_out_of.html You can't adopt your way out of this problem': GBHS CEO responds to 'No Kill' allegations.]" {{BN}}
* Crenshaw, Solomon Jr (April 20, 2021) "[https://wbhm.org/2021/jefferson-county-nears-deal-for-new-humane-society/ Jefferson County Nears Deal For New Humane Society]" ''BirminghamWatch''/WBHM.org


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.gbhs.org Greater Birmingham Humane Society] website
* [http://www.gbhs.org Greater Birmingham Humane Society] website
* [http://gbhs.org/as-reports/ Census reports] at gbhs.org


[[Category: Animal welfare groups]]
[[Category:Animal welfare nonprofits]]
[[Category:Nonprofits]]
[[Category:Snow Drive]]
[[Category:Snow Drive]]
[[Category:5th Avenue North]]
[[Category:1883 establishments]]

Latest revision as of 08:16, 3 October 2023

Greater Birmingham Humane Society logo.jpg

The Greater Birmingham Humane Society is the oldest and largest humane society in Alabama. It's mission, set by founder John Herbert Phillips, is "to promote respect for life through education and prevention of cruelty to animals and people". The society operates independently of publicly-funded animal control efforts, providing care to unwanted animals and dispensing shelter, veterinary, cruelty-prevention, disaster preparation, and educational services with private funding.

The current executive director is Allison Black Cornelius, who succeeded Jacque Mayer in 2012. The board of directors is chaired by Arthur Edge.

History

The society was founded in 1883 as the Birmingham Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and Animals, one of the first such groups in the United States. On the evening of September 2, 1902 the society held a mass meeting led by president Theophilus Kates to discuss his proposal that leadership of the group should be turned over entirely to women, but those attending supported his continuing to serve as president.

The group was incorporated in 1910. By 1915 the society had opened a pet shelter at 2115 Avenue A, boarding pets for $1.50 to $3.50 per week. In 1919 Phillips succeeded in getting humane legislation passed requiring each county to enforce minimum standards for animal care.

In 1920 the Birmingham Humane Society received a $50,000 bequest from Christiana Webb to construct a new shelter, the Christina Webb Building, which was completed in 1927. During the 1930s the society was able to concentrate its efforts on animal welfare as child cruelty cases were taken on by the county's juvenile courts.

In 1957 the society discontinued boarding and grooming services. In the late 1960s Mayor George Seibels acquired funding for a separate city-owned animal control facility. In the early 1970s Birmingham passed a leash law and raised fines for animal cruelty from $50 to $500. In 1974 the society created a new constitution and bylaws and began holding an animal Christmas Giving Tree fundraiser.

In 1975 the society purchased a warehouse at 1713 Lomb Avenue. It continued to lease the warehouse to a heavy equipment operator until 1979 when it was remodeled for the society's use. Funding from United Way was cut sharply in 1987 after the society refused to move into a smaller facility shared by Rabies Control. The Christina Webb building was demolished that decade, with the scrap sold to help fill budget deficits.

In the early 1990s the Humane Society went to a five-day week and began the PAL program providing low-cost spay and neuter certificates. The Tailwagger retail store opened in space donated by Century Plaza and, in 1999 Pet Supplies Plus on U.S. Highway 31 in Hoover donated space for an adoption center. That same year the society began investigating animal cruelty complaints.

In 2000 animal neglect and cruelty was elevated to a class C felony in Alabama. The society hired a full-time investigator. In 2004 GBHS moved its adoption services to a new building at 300 Snow Drive in Wildwood.

In January 2015 the Greater Birmingham Human Society took over Jefferson County's contract for animal control and shelter services in unincorporated areas and municipalities with fewer than 5,000 residents from BJC Animal Control. Along with the contract came use of the county's deteriorating shelter in Woodlawn. Their contract was renewed for three years in January 2016. By city ordinance, GBHS must euthanize feral animals brought in by Birmingham Animal Control, but are able to work with Vestavia Hills to neuter and return feral cats to where they were trapped.

In 2016 GBHS president and CEO Allison Black Cornelius began discussing a proposal to relocate all of the society's operations onto a 27-acre parcel of the Trinity Park site in North Titusville. Their $30 million plan hinged on the City of Birmingham and Jefferson County, which jointly own the property, agreeing to donate the site. In early 2018 Jefferson County approved the sale of part of the property to a data processing company, effectively scuttling the GBHS plan. In 2021 the county announced a new proposal to buy three parcels off Lakeshore Parkway near Sidney Drive for a new facility which would include an intake center, animal hospital and adoption center as well as space for education and events, and access to trails around an existing pond with connections to the Red Mountain Park trail system.

GBHS operations during Cornelius' tenure as director have been criticized by activists and by some former staff members. In 2017 GBHS's board of directors issued a statement saying that they had investigated claims that Cornelius had improperly used organizational funds for personal expenses, and other allegations of falsifying reports on animal welfare and threatening critics. The board concluded that none of the detrimental claims were supported by evidence and expressed their full support for Cornelius and the GBHS staff.

In 2023 the Greater Birmingham Humane Society, which was already contracted for animal care and control for the city of Jasper, was the sole bidder to take over operation of Walker County Animal Services.

Executive directors

Locations

References

External links

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