An Animal Shelter with No Cages

June 8, 2009

There are no cages at this animal shelter. Dogs and cats are housed in comfortable quarters that resemble bedrooms and living rooms while waiting to be adopted. Avanzino explains that’s because Americans think of pets as family members.

A Look at an Animal Shelter from the Other Side

June 8, 2009

The reaction to my new job as manager of animal services for Washington County is very different. The phrase I hear most often: “I could never do your job.” Apparently, working at an animal shelter is too depressing for most people to contemplate. The reality is that modern shelters, like the Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter where I work, are joyful places to be.