AWA No-Kill Shelter holds grand opening

AWA board members, staff and volunteers celebrated the grand opening of the AWA No-Kill Shelter, serving Butler, Carter, Ripley and Wayne counties. Their press release reads, "AWA has taken in 55 dogs and cats since March - most of them on an emergency basis -  and has adopted out 37 animals (several still in the shelter until they get spayed/neutered), returned 5 lost pets to their owners, and has had 21 births at the shelter. The current population is 74 animals."

The Animal Welfare Alliance of Southeast Missouri board (from left), Paul Healy, Charlotte Craig, Julita Michel, Marge VanPraag and Wendy Long, are all excited to see their dream of a no-kill shelter in Southeast Missouri come to fruition. The shelter is still undergoing renovations but is operating at its best current capacity.

Visitors hold adoptable cats in one of the AWA No-Kill Shelter's feline rooms. According to shelter staff, most cats are housed in play groups and get human attention once or twice every day. 

AWA board president Marge VanPraag shows a visitor one of the cat rooms in the shelter. 

Penny, a lab and bloodhound mix, is one of several adoptable puppies AWA is housing. The shelter has 34 dog kennels. Through a partnership with the VA, United Gospel Rescue Mission, Haven House and Recycling Grace, AWA also houses the pets of individuals going into residential addiction treatment programs who otherwise would have no one to care for their animals.

Cleanliness is vital to the shelter. A washer and dryer make sure blankets, cushions and toys stay clean, and there is a dog washing station for the pets themselves.

Puppies lounge in a pile after playtime. Adoption fees at the shelter cover spay or neuter surgery and vaccinations.

Director Paul Healy said the AWA goes through a 34 lbs. bag of pet food every two days. Fortunately, the Nestle Purina cat litter factory in Bloomfield has begun supplying them with cat litter.