The Remy Fund for Pets and Animal Services awarded $50,000 in grants to 10 companion animal (dogs, cats and horses) nonprofits serving Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Blount and Walker counties. Since 2010, the Remy Fund has provided over $330,000 to support diverse animal organizations in our community.

Organizations receiving funds this year:

• Walker County Humane Society – $10,000, to provide low-orno-cost spay/neuter services for dogs and cats in Walker County, and support ‘Fix the Momma and ‘Kitty Fixin’ Programs that provide deeply discounted spay and neuter services.
• Shelby Humane Society – $8,000, to support the Shelby Spay and Neuter Program.
• Bama Bully Rescue – $6,000, to provide care for pit bulls and other “bully” breeds that have been abandoned, abused or neglected.
• Kitty Kat Haven and Rescue – $5,000, to support this free-roaming cat sanctuary and adoption center with food, litter, and spay and neuter surgeries.
• MomaKat Rescue – $5,000, to provide adoption support for at-risk kittens, including medical care and socialization.
• Special Equestrians – $5,000, to provide care for horses in their animal-assisted equine therapy program.
• Adopt A Golden – $3,000, to support spay and neuter surgeries, routine and specialist veterinary services, and boarding for Golden Retrievers with special needs.
• Hand in Paw – $3,000, to support the agency’s training and volunteer program with a goal of improving human health and well-being through animal-assisted therapy.
• The Red Barn – $3,000, to provide care for the special needs horses in their animal-assisted equine therapy program, many of which have specific dietary and medical requirements.
• Three Hots and a Cot – $2,000to support building kennels that will allow veterans who use Three Hots transitional housing to keep their dogs with them during their stay.

The Remy Fund Grant Committee conducts in-depth site visits with all grant finalists. The Remy Fund Grant Committee members include:  Committee Chair, Debra Linton, Cathy Adams, Beth Franklin, Brenda Bell Guercio, Sandy Logan, James “Murphy” Lynch, Beverly Virciglio, Cameron Vowell and Laura Wainwright (Mr. Jackson serves as an Ex Officio member).

In 2010, Ken Jackson established the Remy Fund, a Field of Interest Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, honoring his late dog, Remy. Jackson has provided over$750,000 to the fund, and is also the donor of Remy’s Dog Park at Red Mountain Park.  Along with generous contributions from community donors, the Remy Fund provides grants for animal related programs. Ken, who is an active member of the grant committee says, “Each year these grants help to make a positive difference in the lives of dogs, cats and horses, and the humans they touch.”