Articles

by Janet Warner
LouisvillePetPals.com Staff

Event Column

See SPOT run. See pets find homes!

LOUISVILLE, August 20, 2006 -- “She’s exactly the cat we saw on TV!” said Linda Waddell. She had heard about the Louisville Metro Animal Services (LMAS) mobile S.P.O.T. adoption clinic at Wild Oats on a local news show. Waddell and her husband, Rusty, had recently lost their 18 year old cat to illness and were ready to give lots of love and a new home to another cat. Click to view full-size images

“I knew it was gonna happen, I just didn’t know when,” Rusty Waddell said with happy resignation as his wife filled out the paperwork to adopt Cher, a beautiful black adult female cat. Cher, almost two years old, was an owner turn-in and had been at Louisville Metro since December. As the couple headed to the car to go home and get their cat carrier, Linda Waddell excitedly explained, “I told him Friday we were coming here. I said ‘Did I mention, in three days we’re going to get our new cat? Three days! Did I mention it?’”

Between one and five pm, on a bright but not too hot August Sunday afternoon, the SPOT trailer experienced wave after wave of visitors in the Wild Oats Natural Foods store parking lot located in the Shelbyville Road Plaza. “When I pulled in here at one o’clock,” said SPOT driver Sgt. Michael McMichaels, “There were already ten people waiting!” McMichaels, along with several volunteers, showcased two puppies and three adult dogs. Four cats, Cher among them, waited patiently in the trailer for “purr-spective” families to meet them.

Christina Davis and her boyfriend adopted an eight month old Bassett hound from LMAS last weekend and decided to volunteer so other animals may find great homes. “He washed the dogs before they came out here and now he’s at home so our new dog isn’t alone,” said Davis as she sat with the lovely and serene Irene, a petite red and white two year old dog.

The call for volunteers brought more folks from WAGS (Wonderful Animals Giving Support) a local pet assisted therapy group. “WAGS said they needed help and here I am!” said Janice Miller-Smith who carefully escorted a sweet blue heeler mix puppy named Waffle in and about the sometimes crowded trailer area. She was joined by fellow WAGS member, Mary Rose Beyerlee, who is also an assistant to Metro Council Woman, Tina Ward Pugh. Beyerlee showed infinite patience with a terrier mix named Bruno, who was very excited about the whole outing.

Ironically, another volunteer named Beyerlee, (no doubt related somehow) had also volunteered but through another avenue. Krys Beyerlee, a student at Spencerian College was encouraged by the Spencerian College Dean of Student Affairs who had recently adopted a pet from LMAS. “We’ve started a student group to volunteer at Louisville Metro Animal Services!” said Beyerlee. The group, SCAT, is assembling pet first aid kits to sell and to benefit LMAS.

Amidst the festival like atmosphere, two young women sat quietly bonding with Waffle’s brother, a mellow, yet unnamed black and white puppy. Lore Waiz never put the puppy down the whole time she was at the SPOT adoption clinic and he looked completely content to be in her arms. Her cousin, Julie Waiz spoke earnestly into her cell phone. Then she took a picture of Lore with the puppy and forwarded it via cell phone. On the other end of the cell connection was the aunt of the two girls. The aunt, with whom Lore lives, already has Milo, a Yorkie/Maltse mix who stays with the girl’s grandmother during the day. The aunt approved bringing home the puppy, which would grow to be a handsome medium size dog of 40 pounds or so, but the grandmother was not agreeable to watch a second dog. “I don’t think its going to happen,” said Julie Waiz sadly.

While the cousins conspired to adopt, a happy Fox Terrier/Chuahua mix literally dragged his owner through the parking lot to the SPOT trailer. Theresa Lewis had brought her dog Sonny, who has his own website, blog, and email to meet a perspective sibling and playmate. “What he really needs is a friend!” said Lewis as Sonny congenially sniffed and interviewed the other dogs. Irene seemed like a contender for quite a while, but when Derby came out of the trailer for his turn it seemed the shaggy Whippet mix was the one for Sonny! “I think he’s the one, but I’m just not sure,” said Lewis. LMAS Public Education Coordinator Tami Harbolt-Bosco suggested that Lewis leave a deposit on Derby and that way she could have more time to think about the adoption. Lewis agreed and added, “And hey, if I decide against it, you all can keep the deposit as a donation!” “We like that!” said Harbolt-Bosco.

Taking time to pick the right pet is a good strategy for the Raymers family. While none of the pets at the SPOT adoption clinic suited the family, mom filled out the paperwork, while husband and daughter played with the popular puppy, Waffle. When the right pet at LMAS for the Raymers family appears, they’ll be pre-approved for adoption. That’s good news for animals at LMAS, because while adoptions have steadily increased at the shelter, so have owner turn-ins according to LMAS Assistant Director of Public Relations, Jackie Gulbe.

One owner turn-in story did have a happy ending on Sunday, -- Cher, the black cat. When Rusty and Linda Waddell returned with their cat carrier, the crowd at the SPOT trailer let out a huge cheer! Cher was headed for her forever home!

The next S.P.O.T Adoption clinic is Saturday, September 2 and Sunday, September 3 from 12 noon to 7 p.m. at Jefferson Mall (near the food court), 4801 Outer Loop. Adoption fees range from $75.00 to $110.00 and include spay/neuter surgery, appropriate vaccinations, license, goodie bags, and $100 in Feeders Supply coupons.

Louisville Metro Animal Services is the largest animal protection organization in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. For more information about the services provided at MAS, visit www.LouisvilleKy.gov.