I'm not the most creative writer, but for those of you who know me personally, I like to share my thoughts and views especially about the shelter and our animals. I decided to give blogging a try. I hope to provide more exposure for the dogs and cats who find themselves living at our shelter. I also hope to help people understand exactly what it is we do and why we do things just a bit differently from other shelters. I might just whine and complain a bit when times are tuff, but will work to keep this positive and informative. I hope that people will share their thoughts with me also.
Almost Home History We began the shelter in February of 2006 after another local animal shelter closed its doors in January. The local towns were left with no one to do their animal control or a place for the animals to go. At that time I would have been able to do the animal control, a safe place to take the dogs and cats was still needed. I got together with representatives from the towns and Camden County to finding a location to open an animal shelter. The Township of Pennsauken was very kind in stepping up to take the lead in saying they liked having an animal shelter in their town and would find a location for a new shelter.
A warehouse with office space was found and cages were purchased. I asked (begged) for donations of office furniture and supplies, dog and cat food, towels and the intitial equipment we needed to get started. We got the basics and people were very generous with food, leashes, food bowls and other miscellaneous items. There was no budget for this. No money for beginning supplies, food, litter, leashes, collars, medical supplies or office supplies. The list goes on. Things were donated or I bought them with my own money (sshh! Don't tell Ian, although I suspect he had an idea but didn't complain). We were scheduled to begin taking in animals on March 1,2006. The dogs and cats had their own thoughts about that.
On February 7, as soon as the phone line was turned on we received a phone call about two little dogs abandoned in a yard. How did they even know we existed? So Thelma and Louise became our first residents. Good thing they were best friends because one kennel is all that was put together. The days became very long and tiring, but I worked hard and eventually asked my friend Donna to come in and help answer the phones and put the office together. As more cages got put together, more dogs came in and then the cats. Now it was time to hire people to take care of the animals besides myself because it was difficult to clean the kennel and cat room, do animal control for six towns and take care of the business side too. Oh yea, your supposed to have money in order to start a business and hire employees. If anyone ever asks you to start an animal shelter, remember it is a 24/7 job. I did begin to take a day off after about 18 months or so. After two and a half years I added a second. Maybe someday it will be two consecutive days.
Well, this is just a bit of background on how our shelter began. More next time.
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