arpa fights for abandoned animals
Earlier this year I began volunteering for Atlanta Pet Rescue and Adoption (APRA), an amazing organization that adamantly finds homes for stray cats and dogs. It is a small shelter with a large heart. Each time I walk into its friendly doors, I am greeted with all the animals crowding around the gate that separates us. I have always been a pet lover, and I know there are many like me out there. During my hours of volunteering I have bathed and walked the animals, helped clean pens, laundered the cozy blankets and fostered many dogs. I am overwhelmed with the beauty of the endeavor. These helpless and abandoned animals have sought sanctuary at this shelter and with the hard work of many and the selfless dreams of others, these animals will have an easier life in the future.
I spoke with Judy Price, who began the shelter in late 2000. “The goal and philosophy of Atlanta Pet Rescue & Adoption is to treat the animals and potential adopters with respect and compassion. We prepare each animal for adoption as if it were our own pet.”
Located on the corner of Howell Mill and Fourteenth Street, this shelter prepares each animal individually for their next home. “Dogs have been trained or introduced to training in basic obedience and house training, and are clean, presentable and sent home wearing a collar and leash.”
While animals bunched together can lead to aggression and fighting, APRA is determined to make their experience here less stressful. They enforce quiet times for the animals to play and eat in peace. The shelter, though, is a bit small to give this accommodation to all the animals. “We really need more space so we can provide more quiet places for people and our pets,” Judy stated, when asked how she sees the shelter progressing. “We hope to incorporate a low-cost spay/neuter clinic into our new larger facility so we will have an in-house veterinarian to serve our pets.” One of the most important aspects the shelter survives off of are the donations and volunteers. “If you have the time or money to help, please, please do. You will be rewarded many times over.”
Do we honestly understand the sad situation at hand? There is an overpopulation issue that leads to thousands of pets being euthanized every month in metro Atlanta. Why? Due to the inability of people to house their pets for various reasons, ranging from the economy to divorce. “Shelter animals represent those who first had owners who were not committed to the responsibilities of pet ownership or who did not consider the appropriateness of the pet to their living circumstances,” says Judy.
Not only do no-kill rescue shelters such as APRA comfort animals who have been abused, abandoned, and even about to be euthanized, it creates an amazing opportunity for people to extend a helping and reap the rewards of doing so. Please visit www.atlantapetrescue.org to view the wonderful animals who need homes, and to gain all the information needed to become a volunteer or to donate. They have saved thirteen thousand, nine hundred and forty pets since the shelter began. Let us all join in on the cause.
