The Columbia Animal Control and Rescue Center needs help.
Animal Shelter Coordinator Mallory Belk said Wednesday that it needs volunteers and donations most of all.
According to Belk, those two items make a big difference.
“We have 33 kennels and can only use 27 of them. We really need more welded wire powder kennels,” Belk said.
Stacy Bass is a veterinary technician who volunteers on Wednesdays and helps with the disbursement of medicine. She also helps with taking pictures of the animals, putting the animals’ pictures on rescue websites and helps with transport of some of the dogs that go out of state.
Mississippi Animal Project is a non-profit organization that provides transport of animals from shelters and takes them up north to Maryland and other places. People look on the website and see the animals, and if they want a particular animal it is transported. On Wednesday the group took 200 animals north, including five puppies and two adult dogs from Columbia.
Bass said she has to be able to provide pictures and videos of the dogs playing and being social. They then send this information to rescue groups up north.
The project also helps with spaying, neutering and vaccinations for low income pet owners.
One of the biggest issues they need help with is socialization with the animals. Walking the dogs and playing with them is a big plus in the dog’s chances of being adopted.
“If the dog is not social, he won’t be adopted,” Bass said.
Red, a two or three year old pit bull mix, is an example of this sort of problem. He has not had a lot of interaction and has been brought back to the shelter twice because of lack of socialization. Red, though very friendly and loving, is very hyper due to lack of socialization.
“Red needs someone who can give him a lot of attention,” Bass said.
Belk said Pet Pals, a non-profit group of four ladies has helped a lot. The ladies go out to the animal shelter on a regular basis and do whatever they can. The group consists of Deana Martino, Brenda Kilpatrick, Carrie Magee and Jenny Watts.
In the end the goal with everyone is all the same, for all the animals to have good loving homes. To do that volunteers and donations for supplies are desperately needed.
The Columbia Animal Control and Rescue Center is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Pictured Above: Lexi Markins holds Muffin, a puppy, her grandmother just adopted. | Photo by Susan Amundson
