After 12 years of hard work and fundraising, the Animal Welfare Alliance finally has a regional, no-kill animal shelter facility. It will be the first such shelter for Butler, Ripley, Wayne and Carter counties since the region was settled in the mid-1800s.
The Poplar Bluff-based organization will celebrate this achievement and announce a date for the shelter’s grand opening at a new spring fundraiser — the Second Chance Benefit — on Saturday, May 7, at the Westwood Center.
“We never could have reached our goal without the long-time support of people in this area and the help of Drs. Mason and Kathryn Bell,” said AWA President Marge Van Praag.
The May 7 event will be held in two spring-themed parts at the Westwood Center: a Mutt Strut Spring Fashion Show & Parade outdoors from 2-4 p.m., followed by a picnic-style dinner-dance inside featuring deli-style sandwiches, adult beverages, soft drinks and a live band from 6-10 p.m. Admission for the Mutt Strut is a donation of any size and tickets for the dinner are $35 each, available at the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce, Key Drugs, Doggy Designs and AWA headquarters in the former Hillcrest veterinary clinic at 1904 S. Westwood Blvd.
Participants are encouraged to dress their dogs in style for the Mutt Strut. There will be modest prizes for winners and a photographer will be available. Pick-up bags will be provided to keep the grounds clean.
After taking their dogs home, dinner guests will enjoy food from Illicit Catering LLC, soft drinks, beer and wine coolers provided by Wil Fischer Co., live music by the Vintage Vibes band and a silent auction of crafts and spring-themed items.
Sponsors of the Second Chance Benefit are Budweiser (through Wil Fischer Co., Poplar Bluff) and Captain D’s Seafood Restaurant in Doniphan.
“We are grateful to our sponsors and hope a lot of folks will come out on May 7 to help support our shelter. AWA is confident the shelter will improve the quality of life in this area for dogs, cats and residents,” Van Praag said. “And we need donations now more than ever for food, medicines and operating expenses.”
This will be the first no-kill shelter serving Butler, Carter, Ripley and Wayne counties in the region’s history, according to AWA. There is currently no ASPCA or Humane Society activity within those counties.
“AWA believes its shelter will improve the quality of life for people and for animals in the area,” the statement added.
The AWA shelter also will coordinate with Haven House, the Poplar Bluff VA hospital, United Gospel Rescue Mission and the Recycling Grace residential center by providing low-cost, long-term boarding for the pets of people entering rehabilitation.
AWA gained its shelter’s location after Hillcrest Animal Hospital owners Drs. Mason and Kathryn Bell built a new Hillcrest clinic on Shelby Road. AWA is leasing-to-own the shelter property and received a state shelter license a few weeks ago.
Since its first full year of operation in 2009, AWA has spent more than $100,000 helping to spay and neuter area pets, according to organizers. They also set up an emergency Pet Food Pantry during early in the COVID-19 pandemic, sheltered pets for families displaced by disaster and donated pet oxygen masks to fire departments in Butler County. With the cooperation of Poplar Bluff’s Animal Control officers, AWA also helps provide vaccinations for puppies in the city’s shelter.
The shelter already has taken in several dog and cat residents under emergency circumstances. Many of them are available for adoption even before the shelter’s grand opening and can be found on AWA’s website, awasemo.org. All animals on their way to new homes will be up to date on shots and spayed or neutered at AWA’s expense.
More information about AWA and its animals can also be found at the Animal Welfare Alliance of Southeast Missouri Facebook page, or by calling 573-840-0664.
Donations to AWA are tax deductible and can be made online or mailed to PO Box 647, Poplar Bluff, 63902.