By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA–The Shelby Humane Society ornament sale has begun and any person wishing to buy an ornament will receive a decorated ornament for a tree, while at the same time sponsoring an animal in need.

The ornaments are for sale between Nov. 25, 2014, and Jan. 3, 2015, and cost $60. When an ornament is purchased, it will sponsor one dog to travel to an overpopulated area in central Alabama to a shelter in Maine, New Hampshire or the Midwest.

Each ornament features a framed photo of a dog at the Shelby Humane Society that is awaiting transport to another shelter up north.

According to Shelby Humane Society’s website, Shelter Partners moves pets from Shelby County, which is experiencing extreme animal overpopulation, to shelters in states where the success and enforcement of animal and spay and neuter laws and initiatives limit the number of pets available for adoption.

Shelby Humane works with a dedicated group of partner shelters to find new forever families for dogs being transported. With rare exception, the dogs and puppies transferred are placed with adoptive families within a few days of becoming available for adoption at a partner shelter.

Each Shelter Partners trip costs SHS approximately $1,200-$1,300. Ornaments may be purchased on shelter–partners.org where they have a listing of where you can purchase the ornaments that includes Whole Foods Market in Mountain Brook, Hollywood Feeds stores, Roverchase in Pelham and at the humane society shelter itself.

The Shelby Humane Society can be reached at 669-3916, Shelbyhumane.org or you can visit the shelter at 381 McDow Road in Columbiana.