The Animal Welfare Alliance No-Kill Shelter is celebrating its one-year anniversary from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday with a block party. Festivities include treats for people and pets, live music by the band Just Enough, photo ops with a fire truck and kids’ games. Two raffles will give away a 50/50 drawing and a handmade quilt. All proceeds go to the shelter.
Board secretary and longtime volunteer Charlotte Craig said it feels “amazing” to reach the one-year milestone.
“The year has gone so fast. I can’t even believe it’s been a whole year,” she said.
Having a building has expanded the AWA’s capacity to help animals in Butler, Ripley, Wayne and Carter counties. Previously, the organization could only move dogs in need to larger rescues in cities like St. Louis, Kansas City and Columbia.
“We were only able to do that one dog at a time or ... one batch of puppies at a time, so we were rescuing maybe 25 dogs a year,” Craig noted.
In its first year of operation the shelter has facilitated almost 270 adoptions for both cats and dogs, at an average pace of one adoption per day. The AWA also partners with the VA, United Gospel Rescue Mission, Recycling Grace and Haven House to board pets for people seeking medical treatment or rehabilitation. Craig estimated 20 such pets have stayed at the shelter so far.
The community has been vital to the shelter’s success.
“People have just been so wonderful bringing supplies in for us,” Craig said, including dish soap, leashes and paper towels.
She added the best kind of contribution is financial, since cash is a continuous need. It costs around $20,000 per month to run the shelter. Their donor base is slowly but steadily growing, Craig said, in part through community members signing up to be monthly donors online. This steady income allows the shelter to plan ahead.
“Even if it’s not for a huge amount per month ... it really is helpful because when we know approximately what we can count on, it makes planning much easier,” Craig explained.
More information about donating, volunteering and adopting can by found at awasemo.org. The AWA can also be contacted by calling 573-840-0664 or emailing info@awasemo.org. The shelter is located at 1904 S. Westwood Blvd. in Poplar Bluff.