Partners
for Pets gives animals a new 'leash' on life
Courtesy of
the Madison County Journals - Posted on Wed, Jan. 5,
2005
Editorial: Partners for
Pets gives animals a new 'leash' on life
Many times people are left
with no choice but to give up their beloved cat or
dog for one reason or another.
Sometimes residents
give a beloved pet to a no-kill shelter, but sometimes
they have to turn the furry companion over to animal
control. So
what happens to pets that are in animal control that
nobody wants? They are euthanized.
Millions of dogs and cats
are put down every day for no reason other then they
are taking up too much space in the shelters. The shelters
in turn have no room for new animals to go.
One local animal
shelter is helping some kill shelters in Southern Illinois
by giving them another option. Lisa McCormick,
one of the founders of Partners for Pets, near Troy,
is going to kill shelters in Southern Illinois to pull
dogs and cats that have used up their time, need medical
care, or have special need to give them a second chance
at life.
"We pull from these shelters
that have low adoptions rates and high kill rates and
give these animals another shot at life," McCormick
said. "I've known since I was a little girl that
I wanted to work with animals. It has just taken
time for me to be able to get where I need to be to
make that dream happen."
And that dream happened in
spring 2002 when McCormick founded Partners for Pets.
"It's been a long but
fulfilling process and I'm so glad that I'm doing this. I
love seeing these lost and forgotten animals find their
forever home," she said. "I owe the motivation
to Theresa Bolandis, co-founder of Partners for Pets
for keeping me focused. We wouldn't be here without
her."
In August 2004, Partners
for Pets obtained their non-profit status, which makes
it all about saving the lives of lost and forgotten
animals. In 2004, Partners for Pets found new homes
for over 500 animals. Each animal that is brought
into the shelter is given a thorough exam, a heartworm
or FIV-FELV test, shots, worming, spaying/neutering
and are microchipped before any animal is released
to a new home.
If you are interested
in adopting a pet, Partners for Pets volunteers can
be found from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the first Saturday
of the month at the PetsMart in Glen Carbon or from
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the second, third and fourth Saturday
of the month at the PetsMart in Florissant, Mo. Adoption
fees for mixed-breed dogs are $100 and $75 for cats.
Purebred dogs vary in price. Please talk with
a volunteer for more information on purebreds.
Partners for Pets
is looking for volunteers who would like to help with
saving the lives of lost and forgotten animals. If
you are interested in knowing more about volunteering,
being a foster home or just more information about
Partners for Pets, please call 618-346-3010.
Partners for Pets
relies solely on the support of the community and grants
to operate and maintain care for their four-legged
friends. Donations
can be made to P.O. Box 445, Troy,
IL 62294. Please note this is not the shelter's
address.
Any funds received will go
directly to the care and maintenance of our shelter
animals.
For more information on Partners
for Pets please visit their Web site at: www.partners4pets.petfinder.com
