Selma is now home to an award-winning animal rescue organization.

Every year, a group of local ladies make countless visits to the Selma Animal Shelter and surrounding veterinary clinics, in an effort to find homes for hundreds of abandoned animals.

In 2014 alone, the group — Wannabe Rescued — has found homes for more than 180 dogs. Often, Wannabe Rescued finds homes by sending the dogs to shelters in other states.

This year, The Alabama Veterinary Medical Association named Lorraine Alexander and Wannabe Rescued the layperson of the year.

Dr. Frances Kendrick, who runs Valley Creek Veterinary Hospital, said she nominated Wannabe Rescued because of the scope of the group’s work.

“They are not only helping the pets, but also promoting veterinary medicine when they rescue animals,” Kendrick said.

One example of the groups work is Wannabe Rescued’s participation in the Pilots and Paws program.

In February, the program found homes for about 30 dogs after they were first brought to Bainbridge, Ga. Once in Georgia, pilots transported the animals to various shelters throughout the South.

Before taking a trip to their new home, the dogs visit an animal shelter to have a checkup and receive medical care.

“When [the dogs] get through with the vetting process, they are in good enough shape to be sent out to a rescue or a permanent home,” Kendrick said.

Alexander said she was honored to receive the ward, but also gave credit to other members of the organization.

“When Debbie [Clark] and I started Wannabe Rescued, we never envisioned it would become this large,” Alexander said. “It means the world to us. There is this overwhelming feeling of happiness, knowing that one more animal has a home.”

Alexander said that some dogs are flea-filled and have health problems when first coming into the Selma Animal Shelter, but can be quickly transformed into a totally different animal after being adopted.

Kendrick said perhaps the most valuable service Wannabe Rescued provides is avoiding euthanization.

“No vet wants to see an animal euthanized,” she said. “I didn’t go to school to put animals to sleep. I went to school to save animals.”