Brazos Valley no-kill shelters give animals a reprieve

By isak, February 20, 2007

By WHITNEY LITTLE
Eagle Staff Writer

Technically Gail Allen has no sons or daughters, but she has more than 100 children.

The woman behind The Cat’s Cradle, a no-kill animal rescue shelter outside Navasota, has been housing cats and kittens for nearly 10 years.

Allen shares her 125-acre home site outside Navasota with more than 100 cats … and 50 litter boxes. She said she spends five to six hours a day cleaning to keep the cats healthy and happy.

Her rescue work began after she found animals that had been dumped along the county road by her house.

“Once I had about nine cats, it dawned on me that it wasn’t going to stop,” Allen said.

The Cat’s Cradle is one of the area’s many no-kill shelters dedicated to finding homes for animals.

Recent statistics from the Humane Society of the United States indicate that more than half of the animals taken to shelters are euthanized, so owners say their no-kill shelters fill an important role. Most will take in dogs or cats, but some – like True Blue Animal Rescue (T-Bar) in Brenham – also rescue other animals.

Melanie DeAeth of T-Bar said she and her husband wanted to create a shelter for all types of animals, including horses. In 2006, T-Bar found homes for 30 horses as well as 84 dogs and 43 cats.

“[The increasing animal population] is such a huge problem,” DeAeth said. “Our goal is to eliminate that problem.”

Della Carroll, who shares that goal, said she was called to open God’s Little Creatures in a vision.

“God came to me and told me to take care of his little creatures,” she said. “So I started taking in dogs until I couldn’t take any more.”

God’s Little Creatures, like most local shelters, stays afloat through donations. Sometimes, however, many shelter owners must pay out of their own pockets to cover everything from utilities to cleaning supplies, collars, food and veterinary care.

Allen said the average life span of a no-kill facility is four to five years because of a lack of space. The Cat’s Cradle, however, has been around for nearly 10 years.

“I think God has a hand in it,” Allen said. “When something comes along like [Hurricane] Katrina, I go over my numbers. Right now I’m at capacity. But we find a way to make it work.”

Space issues

Carroll, who is currently housing between 20 and 30 dogs, said she always needs more room. “I have to turn down many people because of space,” she said. “I refuse to chain the dogs and put them outside. It’s just cruel.”

The Pet Adoption and Animal Welfare Society, PAAWS for short, which has rescued more than 130 animals since its inception in August 2005, is constantly at capacity.

“We are pretty much filled, and people are still calling us [to take in abandoned animals],” said board member Sherri Smith. “I hate having to turn them down. It’s hard to say ‘no’ to an animal.”

If one owner needs help – for instance, his or her shelter is at capacity but someone calls about a needy animal – another shelter often will offer assistance.

“We all try to help each other,” Carroll said. “The most important thing is helping that animal find a home.”

The process of locating new homes for animals varies by shelter. Most require an interview and home visit, and there is usually an adoption fee to cover shelter costs.

Once the animals are adopted, it’s a bittersweet ending for the shelter owners, who grow attached to the animals.

“We spend months working with them, loving them and showing them that they can trust humans again,” Allen said. “It’s a huge commitment that you make to [the animals]. You understand what they have gone through, and there’s nothing like the beauty of saving them from their suffering.”

And shelter owners know more than enough about the suffering. Each has a story to tell about the conditions in which they find some of the abandoned animals.

Smith said she has seen animal cruelty at its worst: kittens tied up in plastic bags, dogs with broken legs left beside a road, and animals who have died from starvation in their owners’ back yards. “When we started, we had the idea we could save them all,” she said, “but that just doesn’t work. It breaks my heart.

“I just get really furious when I see there’s not much done to these people [who abuse animals]. It’s just got to stop.”

Allen agrees, saying that despite The Cat’s Cradle’s success stories, “We also see the worst. That takes a huge toll on you.

“Once you are sensitized to their plight, you just notice them. I can look at a cat and tell if it’s in trouble. … You can feel their suffering. You can see the fear and abandonment in their eyes.

“These animals don’t deserve to be treated like that. No one does.”

Human contact

Smith said that, even though the animals have been through the worst, they are resilient. “Most of them would come out
of it with a little love and care,” she said, which is why every shelter constantly needs volunteers to spend time
socializing with the animals.

“I know there are people out there who care, but the question is whether they care enough to do something about it, to take the time to help these animals,” she said.

Those that have taken the time – the shelter owners and volunteers – find their efforts are rewarding, despite the
hardships.

“To me, these dogs are my kids,” Carroll said. “It’s a lot of hard work – really hard. I work for a living, then I come home and take care of the dogs. But as long as the Lord keeps me going, I’ll keep doing it.”

DeAeth shares the sentiment, and said that T-Bar will be around as long as needed. “It has to be done. No one else will do it. You can’t turn your back on these animals.”

To the shelter owners, the rescue work is not just a side project.

“I’ve started to love animals more than people,” Smith said. “Some people think those involved in the rescue business don’t care about people. … Well, of course I care about people. But the animals can’t speak for themselves. There is nothing out there for them, and they need help really badly.

“If people would only realize what these animals will do for you. It’s definitely unconditional love.”

• Whitney Little’s e-mail address is whitney.little@theeagle.com.

Brazos Valley No-Kill Organizations

No-kill organizations in the Brazos Valley include the ones listed below. Most are pleased to receive donations that defray the costs of housing, veterinary care, food, cleaning supplies, etc. Many also need volunteers to help with the animals’ socialization.

• Being Stray, Hockley, 936-931-9901 (call for adoptions only), beingstray.com
• Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society, Rosharon, 1-888-542-5163, bluebonnetequine.org

• Brazos Valley Golden Retriever Rescue, Bryan, 779-9091, brazosvalleygoldens.com

• The Cat’s Cradle, Navasota, 979-820-0599, thecatscradle.net

• CJ’s Animal Junction Farm and Sanctuary, Iola, 936-394-1718

• God’s Little Creatures, Bryan, 778-6976

• Mr. K’s Pet Shelter, Caldwell, 832-891-1447, mrkspetshelter.org

• Pet Adoption and Animal Welfare Society (PAAWS), Lyons, 979-535-4059, paaws-tx.org

• True Blue Animal Rescue, Brenham, 936-878-2349, t-bar.org

• Woodstock Animal Foundation, College Station, 261-0022, woodstocktexas.org

14 Comments

  1. catherine johnson says:

    thank you for the new ideas. already ran into questionable types but was able to

    adopt one to a nice couple in bryan–thanks again

  2. catherine johnson says:

    I am trying to find homes for eight puppies for a friend. Today I had the dad a corgi
    neutered and will keep working to get two females spayed. I care for these 11 dogs plus my
    own 14 rescued pets. My house in the country is very nice and I am keeping the friends dogs
    in a nice place too. The puppies are all different colors, short hair, small to midsize.
    I am thinking about all options -I volunteered at an animal shelter for many years.
    The puppies are healthy and I can help financially . My number one goal is a good home for
    them but could use help in starting to move them to that home. Do you have some ideas?
    thank you

    • isak says:

      Good on you for helping. They certainly deserve to have a good and full life.

      There’s a low cost pet facility in Brenham called Animal Friends of Washington County. Because they are low cost, many of their clients come from rescue groups, so they may be a good source for finding groups that can help you. I know a friend was able to get some help through them a while back after she found a couple boxes with almost 20 puppies in them abandoned in a field. Maybe you can offer to foster the pups in return for their help with placing them?

      Also are there any Corgi rescue groups in the area that can help?

      If you are good at sifting through applications and/or interviewing potential adopters, you could post photos on Facebook in some of the area rescue pages. I know there are ones for Waller County and Grimes County, South Texas, ect. Just be very cautious going that route that you are able to vet people carefully. Sadly, there are some bad people looking online for free or cheap “bait” animals. That’s where working with a rescue group is helpful. Let them handle the interview process.

  3. Heather Slenk says:

    My father has 3 cow dogs he is no longer able to care for due to health issues. There is 2 boys and 1 girl and they are roughly 9 months old. Needing any type of advice or assistance available. I’ve already contacted several no kill shelters and all are currently full. Thank you so much for any help.

  4. Mea says:

    Two small terrier type dogs were deliberately abandoned in my neighborhood by a man driving a pickup. My friend saw this & called me. I am caring for them but I can not keep them because of my dogs. They are very sweet & well groomed. They weigh 8 lbs & 13 lbs. Pictures are on meagillies@gmail.com on facebook.

    • isak says:

      We cannot see the photos because the link you included is an email address. I wonder if they might be stolen or if they were dumped. Dogs are dumped sometimes when an elderly caregiver passes away or people get “new” dogs, or any of a dozen other stupid reasons. So good of you to take them in.

      You might contact local shelters and vet offices to see if someone is looking for them. Also contact your local rescue groups for help. If possible, maybe you can foster them for a rescue group. Hopefully, they will be allowed to stay together.

  5. Pat Bizzell says:

    There is a black dog chained on enloe st, Bryan, texas he has no food or water and just barks and barks please check on him……Thank you

    • isak says:

      Thanks for caring about this dog. Have you contacted any of the rescues in your area? Please do asap. They can get there faster than anyone. And please give them a more specific address on Enloe so they can find him.

  6. Cindy Campbell says:

    I am in desperate need of placing my 8 year old Pomerania in a Rescure Shelter. I live in Donna,mTx, my husband us in the last stages of a rare firm of Parkinson’s. I have developed a severe lung disease, and am unable to walk. My friend Kay Parker lives in College Station and took my dog Casey to live with her until I could take care of him again. Now she has developed cancer and is quite ill, with months if chemo, etc ahead iof her. She already had two dogs when she took Casey. He is a joy, a lap dog, loving, and completely house broken. Well trained. I am willing to make a generous donation to,your shelter if you will take him. If this is not the place to give you thus info please forward it to the correct person.

    • isak says:

      I am so sorry for all the health issues you are all experiencing. Can you send us some photos of Casey and tell us a bit more about him so we can spread the word and see if we can help you find a home for him? If you have some photos, let me know and I will contact you with our email address. Then you can email your photos to us.

      Is Casey neutered? Does he get along with other dogs and cats? How is he with children? Anything else you can tell us about his personality?

    • isak says:

      Some other options:
      Recycled Pomeranians & Schipperkes Rescue – (214) 775-0648 info@recycledpomeranians.com
      • Second chance Pomeranians – 512.800.1617
      • American Pomeranian Club Rescue – Patricia Winne 512-258-8624
      • Recycled Poms-Houston – 23 Artesia, Conroe, TX 77304, (936) 828-2035 recycledpoms@suddenlink.net
      Ponderosa Pomeranian Rescue

      I do not know any of these organizations personally, but found them via a google search. You’ll need to question to be sure they will be a good fit for your boy, Casey.

  7. Charlene Campbell says:

    I am looking for a “no kill” shelter to place my dog in. I am retiring in March 2012 and will be unable to take Prissy with me. She is 6 years only and I have had her since she was 5 months old. My daughter rescued her in Dallas and brought her to me. She had to have hip surgery 5 days after I got her and has done great. She is Fox Terrier mix and weighs 13 pounds. She is very loving and likes sleeping with you. She is potty pad trained, as I would not leave her out side when I was gone. She is up on all of her shots. I use Wellborn Vet Clinic.

    If you could help me find her a new home or shelter I really would appreciate it. It is very hard even thinking about this but it has to be done.

    Thanks you,
    Charlene Campbell
    219-8341