HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Pet loving volunteers dedicate their free time by helping abandoned and neglected pets heal in a safe environment before finding their forever homes. Unlike the Christian County Animal Shelter, they receive not one cent of government funding, completely relying on donations to keep the doors open.
Tucked into a corner of Skyline Drive is the Christian County Humane Society, which is staffed solely by dedicated volunteers. Molly Clark-Joiner has been volunteering there for the past 20 years, and Christa Fouch joined the team about four years ago after years and years of working with animals in various states. “I express my love by helping those that can’t help themselves,” said Joiner.
Those who visit their facility will notice that only cats are kept there, since dogs in their care are provided foster homes that best suit their needs. Currently, Booger, Princess, Wally, and Confetti are a few of their feline friends at the shelter, some of which have been there for years. 14 volunteers cycle in and out for various hours in the morning and afternoon every day of the week to take care of the cats.
“My husband and I will usually stay around four hours in the morning and give everybody a chance to come out and play. We do laser tag, play with toys, pet them, brush them,” Fouch told Christian County Now. Joiner added, “They are not in the cage 24/7 like some people think, everybody gets time out.”
Sucess stories and challenges
“We never know what the next call is going to be,” said Joiner, explaining the horrid conditions that they have found pets in over the years. Some will have missing or damaged limbs, some are malnourished and experienced abuse, and some survived an attempted disposal. They are considered a no-kill shelter, although pets are put down occasionally due to untreatable medical conditions that affect their quality of life.
Working closely with the Christian County Animal Shelter, they specifically take in sick and injured cats and dogs and go above and beyond to make them suitable for adoption. Skyline Vet is right next door to get the pets properly evaluated and treated.
Fouche is currently fostering a dog named Cooper, who was found to be malnourished, anemic, heartworm positive, and had several parasites with a heavily matted coat. While fostering is not a requirement of volunteers, it is a natural response for a lot of them. Since staying with her, he gained a significant amount of weight, was properly groomed and cleaned, and has been determined to be a “happy boy”.
“You learn so much more about the animal when you can put them in a home environment, they tell you what they are all about.” added Joiner, who always keeps the happiness of the pet in mind. “We keep them until they are placed, and if it doesn’t work out, they can come back to us.”
On the positive side, volunteers are constantly in communication with pets that were adopted and have gone on to have happy homes. Christmas cards and messages are exchanged giving updates on the loved pets, with one of their success stories being spotted on his own TikTok account, living his best life in Lexington.
Donations and volunteers desperately needed
While they have a strong group of regular volunteers, including a mother and daughter who spend their weekends caring for the pets, more volunteers are always welcome. Fellow animal lovers are encouraged to volunteer in the shelter and during adoption events. There are also two vacancies on their board that need to be urgently filled.
Monetary donations are a necessity. People can donate or pay yearly dues by becoming a member. One year of dues helps pets receive a significant amount of care. “We need more members, more people that love animals and want to help,” explained Joiner.
People can also donate pet food, and cleaning supplies like paper towels and soap. For more information on how to donate or become a member, call the Christian County Humane Society at (270) 887-4678. Find adoptable pets and updates about the shelter on the Christian County Humane Society Facebook page.
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