Shelter animals enjoy holiday
By JOLENE CRAIGArticle Photos
PARKERSBURG - While most of the Mid-Ohio Valley celebrated Christmas with family and friends, a handful of volunteers gave the four-legged residents of the Humane Society of Parkersburg's shelter a happy day.
"Christmas Day was great with about 15 volunteers at the shelter," said Carrie Roe, president of the HSOP board of directors.
The volunteers met at the shelter Friday morning and spent all of Christmas Day cleaning cages, cleaning the kitchen, cleaning and organizing the storage shed and doing all of the laundry available.
"We got a lot of spring cleaning done on Christmas," Roe said.
Roe said she had expected to have about five volunteers, not the 15 who filtered through the shelter doors throughout the day.
"It has been really great for us because we had more volunteers than work," she said. "We had so many people here that we were able to not only get all of the work done, but the animals got to play and cuddle, which is a treat for them."
Leonard Wiggins of Belpre brought his daughters Heather, 19, and Selena "Beanie," 6, to help walk and feed the shelter animals.
"These animals didn't ask to be in their situation and we thought it would be nice to spend a day with them," he said.
All of the animals in the shelter were given canned food and treats while the dogs were given a pig's ear and cats were given extra catnip for the holiday.
"We wanted them to feel spoiled a little bit," Roe said.
While the animals were the focus of the volunteers, they chose to give their time to the shelter on Christmas in order to give the shelter's staff a day off.
"They never get a day to just spend with their families and, like most of the people here, I can't think of any place I'd rather be," said volunteer Kim Davis of Parkersburg. "It makes me happy to be able to make the animals happy, even if just for a little while."
Neil and Patty Shumaker of Vincent have been volunteers at the shelter almost a year and in that time have fostered more than 100 dogs. They chose to spend Christmas at the shelter as something to do.
"Our families are in different states and we decided to spend the day with the animals," Neil Shumaker said. "We love people, but the animals don't have anybody to take care of them."
Leonard Wiggins said his family supports the humane society in any way it can - not just on Christmas.
"In the last six months we have adopted a cat and a dog and we are always checking the Web site and bringing in food," he said. "Today we decided to bring in ourselves and the love we can give these animals, even if it's only for a couple of hours."
One adult black cat was given the ultimate Christmas present - a home.
While working at the shelter Friday, humane society board member Jon Six decided to adopt the cat and has plans to adopt another.
"I'd really like to have two so they can keep each other company," Six said. "Yes, it is good that the (cat) is getting a home, but he is my Christmas present."
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JayJay
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12-27-09 9:32 AM
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I'm surprised the Humane Society haters haven't jumped in to say how evil it is to volunteer at the shelter. They have a problem with adoption on black Friday but I guess this meets their definition of doing something and it doesn't stamp one as pro-abortion.
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yolarry
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12-26-09 11:25 AM
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I have to agree with brooks. they don't want another animal suffer ever again.
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arby24
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12-26-09 8:47 AM
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Congratulations and thanks to the Humane Society and the volunteers. This is a heartwarming story and an indicator of the many unsung heroes who make our community a better place in which to live.
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Brooks
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12-26-09 8:04 AM
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Heather89, it is MOST assuredly NOT a "if we know and like you" shelter. What a stupid thing to say. The goal at the Humane Society is to find GOOD homes for the animals there. It's the reason they have the questions. I didn't know a soul there, and we had to fill out the questions like everyone else and wait to see if we qualified. IT's the WAY IT'S DONE! If they turned you down, there was a good reason for it, period. They are not staffed or equipped to answer every call that comes in, unfortunately. That is NOT their fault.
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mythravere
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12-26-09 6:52 AM
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Its better to know because I know of someone in Ravenswood who if they catch a cat out in the neighbor hood they feed it to their python much to their enjoyment. Sick cruel freak. I'd like to drop them into a cage with a large anaconda and see how they like it. But its better to find out because the cat may not be going to a home. That and and to them away from the people who just aren't caring to the animals.
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Heather89
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12-26-09 5:44 AM
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It is wonderful that a kitty got a new home, BUT did Mr. Six have to go thru the same questions and hoops that normal people do when they go to get a animal at the HS? Call his landlord, call his vet, how many other animals do you have, are they spayed? OK we will check this out and get back to you. Then maybee you can adopt the animal. I understand that they do not want to get the animal back due to bad situations but it is just a little much that they "rule" over people like they do. You already have 2 cats, one that you got from someone who could not keep it, and you do not know who spayed the cat? NO sorry you can not adopt another one. In the middle of a snow and ice storm, 2 dogs tied to a tree, NO shelter, NO food, when called sorry we are only coming out to emergencies. Go talk to the owners.... OK... That is what the HS is there for is it not? The HS is supposed to be a helping organization not a "if we konw and like you" one.
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