Animal Control Officers M . J . Carnes , ( from left ), Jesse Parks and Dog Warden Adam Scales spend time at the animal shelter when they aren ’ t out on calls .
Kayla Sellers , is a volunteer at the Pulaski County Animal Shelter , where she is often joined by her daughter , Nora , whom the staff call their youngest volunteer .
for families coming to the shelter to pick out a dog .
“ The barky dog gets the attention ,” she said , suggesting that perspective adopters take their time to look at all of the dogs . “ The quiet dog , if he ’ s not pretty , gets looked over .”
Sears also suggests taking the dog outside to socialize with it and see how the animal ’ s and human ’ s personalities mesh . If there are other dogs or cats in the home asking about how the dog reacts to other dogs or cats is also helpful when choosing a pet that is the right fit .
In order to adopt a pet , there is an application that needs to be filled out and is available online at www . pcanimalshelter . com . Pictures of pets awaiting adoption can be viewed at www . facebook . com / pckyanimalshelter . Animals must be met in person before an application is approved . All animals are adopted on a first come , first served basis .
“ The person will need to meet the dog and play with the dog before they can adopt them ,” Sears said .
Dogs can be adopted for a fee of $ 60 , which includes spaying or neutering , one parvo vaccination and a rabies shot . Cat adoptions are $ 40 , which includes spaying or neutering , a rabies vaccine and feline leukemia vaccination .
If a perspective pet owner is looking for a certain size or breed of dog , Sears recommends calling or coming by the shelter at least once a week .
No matter how hard the work she and her team do , Sears is rewarded when she gets to see a dog get another chance at a life of love with an owner .
Sears tells the story of going into the shelter one day , dreading having to go back to the kennel and take a dog out for his last walk . She and the dog were walking on the side of the street when a car pulled up and asked about the dog . She told the occupants that she
was taking him for his last walk and they exchanged pleasantries and drove away . When Sears and the dog finished their walk and went back to the shelter the people who had stopped to talk on the side of the road were waiting on her and her four-legged companion . They took the dog outside and played with him and adopted him on the spot .
“ I was so grateful . There was nothing special about him but they wanted him ,” she said . “ It ’ s so nice to give dogs their second chance .”
April 2023 SEKY - Life in Southeast Kentucky • 17