Clakley , who fosters three cats in her home , told Palestine Magazine that providing a temporary home for animals is an important way to help the shelter ’ s mission until they can be adopted or sent to a rescue shelter elsewhere . BARC transports dozens of animals to rescue organizations in other states .
For canines , BARC has 28 kennels for adoption , eight for quarantine , and 14 for observation . Foster homes are needed due to limited space in the facility for new animals , which arrive at a rate of 135 to 150 per month .
Each rescue transport involves a cross-country trip for 30 to 40 animals that costs $ 3,000 or more and brings the animals to states in the West , Midwest , and Northeast . BARC receives grants for some shipments but hopes to someday own a van for future transports .
Dee Dee Turnage , vice president of BARC ’ s board of trustees , told Palestine Magazine that even with rescue transports carrying animals from the shelter twice a month , the need for foster homes for dogs and cats is dire . Since February BARC has completed several transports but each time the spaces fill up again almost immediately .
Finding short-term foster homes to care for animals for two to three weeks as they wait on rescue transports is one of the shelter ’ s greatest needs .
“ We can get the dogs out [ to a rescue shelter ] and the next day it fills up . What people don ’ t realize is we have so few kennels ,” Turnage said . “ We ’ re really going to have to depend on the community ’ s support to transition to a no-kill [ shelter ].” Money for Maladies Medical and veterinary care are also expensive and in high demand . The shelter pays veterinarians to treat the animals , many of whom arrive with maladies such as mange or heartworm . Also , most need to be spayed or neutered .
In the absence of local spay and neuter laws , BARC faces an uphill battle as it struggles to find homes for hundreds of kittens and puppies each spring . The organization plans to give vouchers to Mypetfix . org , which will help BARC set up regular mobile spay and neuter clinics in the area .
BARC receives a fraction of its overall operating costs from Anderson County and the City of Palestine . Another source of revenue is a large
fundraiser held once a year . This year ’ s event , a dinner and dance , will be held this fall but is yet to be announced .
BARC is located at 335 Armory Rd . For information visit www . barctx . org .
PIcturred top left , BARC volunteer Sawyer Shawn cuddles with a puppy in the shelter ’ s canine visitation room . Pictured bottom right , BARC volunteer Chloe Shawn cuddles with a kitten while volunteering to play and love cats in the shelter . Pictured top right , BARC board member Dee Dee Turnage walks Bella , a German Shepherd mix , to give her some exercise , fresh air , and human interaction .
LISA TANG | PALESTINE HERALD-PRESS
SUMMER 2022 | PALESTINE MAGAZINE | 7