Friday, August 21, 2009

‘Looking for love’

Animal Shelter makes extra effort to find homes for longtime residents


By SABINA DANA PLASSE
Express Staff Writer

Twinkle Toes is a domestic short-hair cat with an extra toe. K.C. is a 3- or4-year old Labrador mix. Ivan, a classic Labrador, enjoys a dip in the pool. Betty is a 3-year-old domestic short-hair cat. Smokey returned to the shelter after being adopted as a kitten by a Castle Rock Fire firefighter from Oregon. Sadie is a 4- to 5-year-old chow chow mix. Photo by

If adopting a pet has ever been a consideration, now is the time to pursue it. The Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley near Hailey is hosting a "We're Looking for Love" festival for a group of six cats and dogs in need of loving homes.

Through Monday, Aug. 31, the shelter will waive adoption fees for the "Looking for Love" group, and each of the six animals adopted will go home with a gift bag of free goodies. All of the animals have been at the shelter since 2007.

Included in the "Looking for Love" bunch is Sadie, a 4- to 5-year-old Chow Chow "country mutt mix." She is a rescue pet from Hurricane Katrina and has been homeless since 2005.

K.C., a 3- or 4-year-old black Labrador mix, came to the shelter as a stray.

"He is a great hiking buddy and sticks with you," shelter Assistant Manager Amy Sloper said. "He is smart, likes other dogs and loves to chill out in the office."

Other pets include Ivan, a 3-year-old Labrador that came to the shelter with another dog that was adopted right away. Ivan, who loves his pool, is shy but once he warms up, he is man's or woman's best friend, Sloper said.

"Betty is a domestic short-hair cat who is 3 years old and is very sweet," Sloper said. "Sometimes, little black kitties get overlooked because they don't have striking marks."

Other cats include Twinkle Toes, a very friendly domestic short-haired cat with an extra toe, and Smokey, who was brought back back to the shelter after living in Oregon.

"Smokey was adopted as a little kitten during the Castle Rock Fire (in 2007)," Sloper said. "A firefighter took him back to Oregon. He got divorced and (Smokey) was surrendered to a shelter in Oregon, where a staff member from the Wood River Valley went to bring him back."

These six animals have been at the shelter the longest and will stay until a good home is found for all of them. The shelter has a no-kill policy.

"They are all wonderful animals," Sloper said. "They have just been overlooked and are waiting patiently for a home."

The Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley is open Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The shelter is located at 100 Croy Creek Road west of Hailey.

For more information, call 788-4351.

Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com




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