December 10, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
The DeKalb Animal Coalition held its Official Open House Sunday for the new Animal Shelter.
Members of the Board of Directors and staff welcomed visitors and took them on a tour of the shelter. Refreshments were served and visitors may have also noticed the engraved bricks laid on the grounds near the entrance and walkway purchased by shelter supporters in honor or remembrance of a friend, relative, or pet as a tribute.
The shelter, located on Transfer Station Road behind Tenneco Automotive, has been in operation since November, 2017.
“This is our official open house and the first time we have invited the public in to tour our facility. We are so happy to have had people come out and see what we are doing,” said Marsha Darrah, President of the Coalition Board of Directors.
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The shelter currently is home to 37 dogs and cats waiting adoption and with Christmas coming, Shelter Director Megan Moore said it’s a great opportunity for you to take one or more home for the holidays.
“We are working with rescues and doing adoptions. We encourage people to come out. We have a short form for you to fill out. Its an adoption application with general information. We will sit down and talk with you. The animals are spayed and neutered before they leave unless they are less than six months old and then they go out on deposit and you get that deposit back after six months when you get them fixed,” said Moore.
In addition to Director Moore, the shelter is staffed by another employee James Wilkerson. Volunteers are also desired to help through the shelter’s volunteer program.
Crede Colgan, member of the Animal Coalition Board, said he became aware of the organization after his father died four years ago.
“My father was an animal lover and more so as he became older and upon his passing in November of 2014 we had his funeral at Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. The funeral director Chad Kirby mentioned to me about how that the DeKalb Animal Coalition was getting started and could use some help so in lieu of flowers we decided to seek donations to the Coalition in his memory,” said Colgan.
After being introduced to the organization, Colgan said he decided to become an active member.
“I was invited to a meeting and met Sue (Puckett) and Marsha (Darrah) and others. I made a donation and ever since then I have been a part of it. They later invited me to become a member of the board and I was grateful. I hope we can do more for this shelter because it is one of the most wonderful programs to come out of Smithville in a while,” added Colgan
If you would like to volunteer or need more information about how to adopt a pet call the shelter at 615-597-1363 or visit the shelter’s facebook page. You may also stop by for a visit. The shelter is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from noon until 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon. The shelter is closed on Wednesday but even after hours the work goes on by the staff caring for the animals and facility.