It has been said that the most rewarding feeling is saving a life — no matter how big or small. That saying holds true at the Allen County Animal Rescue Facility (ACARF).
ACARF will celebrate its second anniversary July 1. Lack of funding will not allow the non-profit organization to celebrate with an event, so animal adoption is the preferred gift.
ACARF officially opened to the public July 6, 2010, but the doors opened to its first rescued dog on July 1 because of a dog named Sammy. Sammy was dropped off at the facility then; his owner no longer wanted him.
He was extremely timid, and immediately melted hearts of all who worked at ACARF, said Glenda Helton, a volunteer.
Director Andi DePriest took to Sammy and watched over him. Sammy spent 181 days in the shelter and was not euthanized. A man eventually adopted him.
“It broke Andi’s heart to let him go, but now he has a great home,” Helton said.
Dogs and cats like Sammy are in the shelter every day — some are even given away for free, in exchange for a happy home.
“This is not on a money making basis,” DePriest said.
ACARF accepts dogs and cats, and currently is at full capacity.
“We have to turn away animals every day,” DePriest said. “It breaks our hearts, but if we take them all in then at that point we wouldn’t be helping them.”
ACARF operates on donations, and while it qualifies for grants from the state, it hasn’t been awarded because of competition from metropolitan shelters.
“We are competing with shelters in Lawrence, Kansas City, Wichita, cities those sizes,” DePriest said. “We are so small we aren’t seen as needing as much help.”
Next week ACARF will do a promotion where the first 20 cats adopted will have the fee waved. Also, there are some dogs and cats that don’t have an adoption fee. Some animals spend hundreds of days in the shelter.
The shelter accepts donations and encourages people to volunteer. For more information on how to get involved contact ACARF at (620) 496-3647.
ACARF turns 14 (in dog years)
