Unfortunately this shelter is a kill facility. Since they are so small they do not have the means to house very many dogs and can easily reach max capacity expecially during this time of year when dogs and cats are having babies left and right. Once the facility is full they have to do something to make room for more animals. So even though they do not want to, some of the animals do get gassed. These dogs have done nothing wrong, they are completely innocent little lives that only asked to be loved, petted, fed, and have a good belly rub now and again. They just want to give YOU their unconditional love. Their licks, and woofs, their time playing fetch, their snuggle time at your feet, or give you their purs and whisker tickles.
Usually it is older dogs or dogs who have been at the shelter the longest that are gassed first, or dogs who have displayed any kind of aggression. Normally those dogs just are terribly scared and unsure of things going on around them. They need love. They need reassurance. They can't get that in a shelter.
So in order to help avoid dogs being gassed 2 local women have been doing all they can to help the shelter. They rescue as many dogs from the shelter as they can safely house, and afford to feed and vet. While they are fostering these dogs (primarily smaller dogs) they work on finding them homes.
One of these amazing women I met a year ago, her name is Jody. I had seen her a few times at events in our down town area and we had chatted about spaying and neutering pets. Last summer a dog wandered into my yard. Adorable boy! Loved him to pieces instantly and wanted to keep him so our dog Molly would have a play mate. Unfortunately, this little guy we dubbed as Dodger, was carrying some bagage. He did not like my husband at all. My husband couldn't blink or breathe without getting barked out. At some point in Dodgers life he had been abused by a man, beaten probably or treated very mean. We tried our best to train Dodger not to bark like that and did all we could to find his original owners or new owners. Jody contacted me as she had seen one of my posts looking for his owners. While we were talking we decided to go ahead and let Jody take Dodger and see if she could find him a home where he wouldn't be afraid of anyone, and possibly wouldn't have issue barking. Today Dodger is happily in his new home, he does still have a bit of a barking problem, but not as bad as it was. He's very happy and spoiled rotten which is what we love to see. As much as we had wanted to keep Dodger, we made the right decision for him to go to Jody. Jody misses him like crazy too, they were buddies, but she knows he is happy and healthy and that is all that matters. You cannot possibly keep all of the dogs you meet!
We moved in the fall and we met Karmen. She had recently been kicked out of her home, she was just a puppy still, only just turned 10 months old (we found that out later after we adopted her). She had been beaten, starved, ran over, kicked and teased. She was so hungry. She was so loving and sweet. Our dog Molly loved her and they were best friends. My kids loved her and she loved them. She would run into our house and just make herself at home. She wanted to be with us. So I sat out to find out who she belonged to and to see if they would relinquish her to us because they were obviously NOT taking care of her. With some digging, I found out she belonged to some neighbors, who were not kind to her. They agreed we could have her and said she was part terrier/Alaskan husky, and they told us how old she was. Karmen has been with us ever since. She came to live with us finally, officially right after thanksgiving 2011. She has totally completed our little family! Unfortunately she has a limp in her back leg from being ran over and brutally kicked, it has caused her to have some bladder issues which unfortunately there isn't a whole lot we can do about it. The vet has looked her over and she is otherwise a healthy and happy doggy (who is now a year old as of January).
Molly (or Momo, Molly Mall, Molly Marie) came to us when she was only 5 weeks old. My husband met some people who had puppies in need of a home. He knew he could only rescue one, so he asked the puppies which one wanted to come home with him, and Molly was the one who ran to him, tail wagging. Our little girl came to join our family in July of 2010. We're so glad Molly is a part of our lives!
Ever since I was little I have loved animals. Horses, dogs, cats, rabbits you name it! I was always nursing some poor animal back to health or begging my Mother to let me keep some animal I brought home. From the time I could remember, I always wanted to be a Veterinarian.
Somewhere along the way I out grew that dream, though somedays I do find myself thinking back to that.
I've also always had a love for photography, both being in front of and behind the camera. Though it's just a hobby I've never professionally followed.
I have 3 small children, and let me tell you what, photographing toddlers, is honestly not a whole lot different than photographing animals! Though, it is a little easier to bribe a toddler to sit still than it is a dog. Dogs are also not so fond of being posed just like a toddler. With dogs you often get butt shots, back shots, or they turn their head at the last second and you do not get the cute adorable face shot you were after. Again, much like a toddler!
I have really enjoyed the past month I have spent volunteering at the shelter photographing the dogs there. I have also enjoyed working with Jody and Dee and photographing the dogs they have taken in here and there that are in need of homes. Some of the sweetest dogs with some of the saddeset back ground stories.
My goal is to help adopt out as many dogs as possible at the local shelter (in Moberly, MO). Find them fur ever homes, send them to rescue groups out of state so they can be adopted, get them in the HOUNDS training program at the prison so they can have an even better chance at being adopted, and just try to keep the shelter as empty as possible! Help spread awareness in the community on how to care for your pet. That SPAYING and NEUTURING are incredibly important. Keep your dogs ID tags on at ALL times. Keep your dog vetted. Don't let your pet run loose.
I greatly enjoy what I do. I love meeting these dogs, I love taking their photos, I love meeting new people and getting these animals out there.
Please follow this journey and if you would like to help, please we encourage any and all donations to the animal shelter! If you would like to donate, please call the shelter at: (660)833-7330. Find out how you can adopt, foster, or donate today!
Some items the shelter is in need of:
- Puppy food
- Collars of all sizes (Cat, puppy, big dog, little dog)
- Leashes
- Dog food
- Cat food
- Cat litter
- Dog/Cat toys
- Bleach
- Paper towels
- Towels
- Dog shampoo (flea and tick)
- Food bowls (metal preferably)
- Chain Link fencing and gates
- Dog Walkers
- People to pledge a sponsor for a dog or cat. This covers getting the pet vetted (shots, spay/neuturing) The average for spaying/neuturing a dog and getting shots taken care of is about $120.
- Foster Homes (To help keep the population down in the shelter so dogs do not have to be gassed)
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