said her typical day starts at 9:30 a. m. While she is supposed to get off work around 4:30 p. m., she tends to stay around after hours to finish up work.
Her day begins, she said, by making sure the dogs and cats are fed and given water.
Then, when the dogs are finished eating, they are taken out one-by-one to one of the three fenced-in play areas and given time to run around and chase balls and play while their kennels are being cleaned.
If there isn’ t a full complement of dogs, and there is extra time in the day, some dogs may get a second round of outdoor time once each dog has had their time.
Plus, in the summertime, Sears said she welcomes volunteers to come out and play with the dogs, either by staying with them in the yard, or putting them on a leash and taking them for a walk around the area.
“ And if you don’ t what to do that, just hang out in the kennels and give them some lovings,” she said.
Sears also makes sure to take pictures of the dogs and cats in order to post them to the shelter’ s Facebook page, Pulaski County KY Animal Shelter.
If there is a dog that specifically acts like they were lost or got loose from their home, and she thinks a family would be looking for it, she makes sure to put up a special post for that dog. But all of the shelter’ s animals are posted each week so the public can see what breeds or ages of dogs might be currently available.
To help the animals that are brought into the shelter, Sears said they will take all kinds of donations from the public, from food to treats to toys.
“ We have dogs that have nothing. Whether they come from nothing – never had anything – or they just lost everything they had and everything they knew, when they come in here, they’ re by themselves, they didn’ t bring anything with them.”
That means they might need toys, collars and leashes, and even coats for wintertime. Coats and sweaters are particularly needed, as even in the cold months the dogs have to go outside for a bit while their kennels are cleaned.
In the summertime, Sears said she puts out pools so the dogs can take a quick swim. She said they love playing in the water.
“ I try to make this place more like doggy camp. As close to camp as you can get in a shelter,” she said.
The shelter will also take donations of sheets, towels and rugs so that the dogs will have something warm for them to lay on or cover up with.
The same is true for cats, as the shelter will take items for them as well: Pet beds, toys, scratching pads or posts, or even low-profile cardboard boxes, like the kind people use at grocery stores to carry cans in.
Those boxes are used as makeshift litter boxes in place of plastic ones, Sears said.
“ If a cat is sick, we’ re not risking washing( a litter box) and reusing it,” she said.
In addition to donations, Sears said the shelter can always use foster homes – not for long-term holding, but for a very short-term stay, usually less than a week.
“ If I have a rescue that says on a Monday,‘ I can take that dog, but I can’ t take it till Thursday or Friday,’ then those days in between, if I had a home that would be willing to just let them crash for a couple of days, then they already have an obligation and date they’ re leaving.( The fosters) can bring them back and get them on transport, and that would open up a kennel. We would supply the food and everything of that nature,” she said.
For those who are surrendering animals, Sears had this advice:“ If they’ re owner-surrendering a dog, it’ s best to call us beforehand, and not just show up. On the days we have transport, which is generally Tuesdays, I’ m going to schedule them to come in that day, because we have open kennels. That way, everyone is not showing up on days I don’ t have kennels open.”
And as for dogs owners in general, Scales offered some words of wisdom to keep their pets from being reported to Animal Control.
“ The main thing is be responsible pet owners,” he said.“ Some people, like your neighbors, don’ t have dogs, and they really don’ t want your dog on their property. That’ s a lot of our calls. If your dog’ s running loose, that’ s where dog bites can happen. Whether your dog shows aggression towards you or not, it may show aggression towards someone else they don’ t know.”
Those who are looking to adopt a dog or a cat can visit the Animal Shelter’ s Facebook page to learn about adoption events in the community.
Or, they can stop by the shelter during open hours and ask to look at the pets available.
The shelter is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from noon to 6 p. m. It is closed Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
16 • SEKY- Southeast Kentucky Life april 2025