Danie M. Huffman

wdreporter2@yahoo.com

With colder weather already approaching Weatherford, many pets will be abandoned, lost or neglected, set out in the cold to fend for themselves.

Each winter, the Weatherford-Parker County Animal Shelter sees an over-crowding amount of intakes. Sadly, many will have to be euthanized.

In order to keep the numbers at the bare minimum, and to make sure all pets are adopted to good homes, Parker Paws was established two years ago by two of the shelter’s volunteers, Barbara Pursley and Denise Cook.

A mobile adoption trailer was donated for volunteers to set up at local businesses twice monthly so the public could view the available pets.

Furry puppies, bouncing and begging for attention, travel with frolicking kittens to seek a responsible owner while displayed in the trailer.

Pursley has been a shelter volunteer for more than a decade — longer than most employees have been there. She became the president of Parker Paws and helped create a Web site, www.weatherford.petfinder.com, which also displays available pets online.

The link, called Petfinder, is updated weekly with photos of new available animals.

Adoptions run $55 for cats, $75 for male dogs and $85 for female dogs. Each pet is spayed or neutered, comes with tags, an identification micro chip and given updated vaccinations before the adoption becomes final.

The group’s goal is — “We work to increase pet adoptions and improve the quality of life for the animals in the shelter.”

Their motto is “Making a PAWSitive difference in the lives of animals.”

Pursley said the number of pets increase in the summer when more pets come into the shelter due to the number of puppies and kittens born from not spaying or neutering pets.

She added adoptions are important in winter months because lost and abandoned pets do not have adequate food and shelter when the temperatures drop.

“Education is the key,” Cook said, adding shelter employees visit schools to teach children proper pet care. “Backyard breeders produce reject puppies which impacts our euthanasia rates.”

She said if more people were educated on spaying and neutering, then pet population would drop dramatically.

Pursley said when a lost pet comes into the shelter, owners are notified. Sometimes they wait several days before picking up their pet, which takes up valuable kennel space and adds a fine for the owner.

“They don’t understand that the kennel could be used to save another pet’s life,” Pursley said.

The shelter currently has two broken kennels, which is breaking her heart.

Adopting a shelter pet not only saves that pet’s life, but opens a kennel for another pet to be put up for adoption.

“You can get good dogs here,” Cook said. “They’re a lot more affordable.”

People often complain about the shelter not being a “no kill” organization.

“Being no kill is up to the community,” Pursley said.

Cook wants to warn the public about impulse Christmas adoptions.

“I definitely don’t discourage them,” she said, adding she just doesn’t want to see the same pet returned to the shelter a month later when the “new” wears off.

The women have become completely involved with Parker Paws, they go to the shelter with many other volunteers daily and weekly to play with the pets, walk them and help out where needed.

“It’s my absolute passion,” Pursley said.

“More like an obsession for me,” said Cook.

Weatherford Police Capt. Wayne Slimp said the organization has made a vital impact on the shelter in the last few years.

“Countless adoptions have been made which would not have been possible without Parker Paws,” Slimp said. “They are a great asset to the shelter and the community.”

The organization relies strictly on donations for about 20 volunteers to run it efficiently.

Donations can be made even in the smallest amount. Volunteers keep operating expenses at a minimum as to keep adoptions at the lowest possible cost. All donations are tax deductible, and are classified from the Puppy Love category at $10 to $24, the Classy Cat from $25 to $49, the Faithful Companion from $50 to 99, and the Pick of the Litter from $100 and up.

The shelter’s building project is nearing completion and lacks about $35,000 to finish the office, reception and kennel areas. Commemorative bricks are still available at $100 each and can be etched with the name of a pet or donor.

The shelter is located on Hickory Lane off of East Bankhead Drive. It operates Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, log onto www.ParkerPaws.org, or call the shelter at (817) 598-4111.