It's a difficult time to ask local governments for money. That's because it's a difficult time for local governments to say yes. There are more requests for funding than there are dollars to go around.

But we are glad that Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County and Northport could say yes to improvements at Metro Animal Shelter. The $220,000 in improvements are necessary to make the shelter more sanitary and cleanup more efficient. After 13 years in the facility, the upgrades were a reasonable request.

It is society's responsibility to care for abandoned animals as humanely as possible. Metro Animal Shelter regularly harbors between 200 and 250 stray and abandoned animals. Unfortunately, many of them must be euthanized.

People can help by adopting animals as pets. Giving an animal a loving home is the best way to ensure that it will not be euthanized. Unfortunately, there are more animals coming to Metro than there are people willing to adopt those animals. …