By Christine McCarthy
MEXIA- Two days since visiting the Limestone Animal Rescue and Adoption Shelter (LARAS House), the area's only no-kill shelter was receiving much-needed donations and adopting out several pets, while still in need of more help.
While five is a good number of adoptions during the entire hot month of June, LARAS House President Liz Pinnell said the shelter had eight new adoptions, freeing up some pet foster care space off the property. Pinnell also said multiple callers told her they were sending donations, including a check for $500.
"The fact that people don't even know us, don't even know how to spell Mexia, and are sending us checks, are... driving hours out here to LARAS House, means the world to us," Pinnell said.
During tough economic times, LARAS House had been managing with fewer donations and adoptions, and more animal drop-offs. The shelter pens are overcrowded, with the main campus housing nearly 80 dogs instead of the 50 it was built for. The shelter has only one air-conditioned room initially built to house dogs recovering from surgery or medical conditions, but it is now crowded with a number of dogs and cages of puppies. Fans and covered pens keep the rest of the dogs comfortable in the summer heat. However, Pinnell said the dogs are still healthy and happy.
Angel and Jeremy Sanders took off work on Friday and drove two hours from Copperas Cove with their four-year-old son Jadan to pick up the puppies they fell in love with after seeing their pictures online.
"When we saw this story, like I said, it kind of touched our hearts and we said it was a great cause and we needed to do what we could to help," said Angel.
"I believe little boys definitely need dogs," Jeremy said of Jadan and his other son, two-year-old Caleb, "and I kept telling [Angel] that I wanted to get them while they were young, because I wanted them to grow up together, kind of learn things together, all that stuff."
Pinnell said six German Shepherds and four Chihuahuas were rescued on Thursday, most likely from a nearby puppy mill. Pinnell found foster space for the Chihuahuas but said dogs will continue to be abandoned at a rate that is hard to match with adoptions.
"When you're in the rescue business you just know that, for every dog you adopt, you probably get three in," Pinnell said.
Yet, Pinnell was happy that a few of her puppies now have good homes.
"It's going to be amazing. These dogs will be with this family until the kids graduate from high school probably. That makes us happy," said Pinnell, "It just tugs at your heart to know that these dogs, these two dogs, have a great life."
Pinnell said the main cause of the unmanageable number of stray animals is that pet owners don't spay and neuter their animals. She encouraged all cat and dog owners to do so.
To inquire about LARAS House adoptions or donations, call 903-644-5275. The LARAS House mailing address is P.O. Box 190, Mexia, Texas 76667.
