The summer of 2011 has been especially brutal in Selma.

On several occasions the thermometer has reached triple digits. On many other days, it has been in the high 90s.

Even in September the summer weather continues to punish those who venture outside.

We aren’t the only ones.

The air conditioning system at the Selma-Dallas County Animal Shelter has been broken for most of the summer making life miserable for the pets and volunteers.

Since July, workers have had to move the animals around to different locations to keep them cool. They often drop ice cubes in the water placed in the different stations to make sure the cats and dogs have a refreshing drink.

The city plans to install a large roof unit, and though budgets are tight, they plan to move forward as soon as possible.

In the meantime, the shelter needs help from the community keeping cool and caring for the animals. Donations of fans, or additional manpower to give other volunteers a break are always welcome.

Conditions at the shelter are tough. There is no other way to describe a typical day at the shelter. A metal building with no air conditioning is not a pleasant place to be when temperatures are steadily climbing.

It is always important  to provide support for the shelter. But now, more than ever, the animals and volunteers need your help.

Monetary donations to the shelter could also jump-start the speed with which a new unit could appear.