PAS, volunteers dedicated to helping animals

This letter is in regards to the letter written about the Panhandle Animal Shelter. I have only volunteered there for about 115 hours due to being in high school. I do have information about the things going on at the animal shelter, however.

Our current manager in the animal shelter is changing a lot of things. We have special trainings for behaviors and how to run each of the departments that make up the animal shelter. We are also in the process of making poster boards of the animals in each “dorm.”

In response to the vaccinations, we de-worm all of the animals and give them flea baths and things in that area. Legally we cannot give animals a rabies shot without the vet records. We do a chip scan on them though and see if they are registered in any vets and make the decisions based on that.

It is true we have animals coming in by the dozens, but we don’t turn down any animal. We make room and accept all of them, stray or not.

The animals also do not sleep in their own feces. After hours, the volunteers go through and give the animals more water and make sure cages are clean. We do that periodically throughout the day also. In the mornings, before opening, we spend five hours or so cleaning everything. Dogs cages are power washed, dried, the dirty laundry washed, and clean bowls. Cat rooms have the furniture brushed, litter boxes are new, floors swept and mopped, windows cleaned, and food and water bowls are new.

The dogs are likely to have kennel stress, but that is typical for any animal. They could try to bite people but you should not be bit if you keep your hands out of the cages like we ask. The animals are just scared and have the sense to need to protect their territory. Almost all of the animals are walked and every dog goes outside two or three times a day to be played with in the big yard and just have fresh air. And the grass in the cages and around is mowed.

Also all of the animals are checked every two hours or so to make sure they have fresh water. They have about buckets about a foot tall sized full of water so they are and were never limited to the amount of water they were allowed to have.

People are never pressured into adopting animals. We give them time to decide. Being pressured could be confused with our shelter policy of not being able to hold animals for people. If you are looking into adopting an animal we cannot hold the animal for you. The animal is still up for adoption. We suggest to the people if they are considering adopting that they could fill out an adoption form and, that way if you decide you want the animal, you can take him/her or, if not, other people could also put in adoption forms.

We also on top of training and things were given a grant to have schools and classes come to the animal shelter to be taught about proper animal care and things in that area.

We are always in need of volunteers and always looking for animals to be adopted. Please don’t stop coming to look at the animals. You could make an animal’s day!

MADIE SLATON

Cocolalla