Volunteers make the difference

The Siloam Springs Animal Shelter has seen a drop in the number of euthanasia's in the last five years, which is attributed to the help of volunteers from Tailwaggers, a local non-profit organization that provides support to the clinic.

Each week, more than 30 volunteers from the organization visit the shelter to walk dogs and play with kittens.

Volunteers, such as Anne Jones and her daughter Eleri, 12, visit the shelter one day a week and walk each and every dog that is there. Because Eleri is allergic to animals, her time at the shelter is her favorite activity.

"She's horribly allergic, but she loves the animals," her mother Anne said. "She wants to come every day, but I work."

Many of the dogs in the shelter are wild or were strays before they were picked up by animal control officers, because of this, many of them had little human interaction.

Each day, both dogs and cats can see up to four volunteers, which animal services manager Jim Harris said provides socialization that is needed to adopt-out the animals.

Tina Berrios executive director for Tailwaggers said she is proud of the work her volunteers provide to the shelter.

"They help leash train and potty train the dogs and they save lives with the work they do," she said. "Not only can they tell us if an animal has blood in its stool, they interact with the dogs that are not (immediately) adoptable."

For instance, Blossom, a two-year-old wild cattle dog, has learned to walk on the leash and is no longer vicious like she was when she came into the shelter.

"She growls and barks until you get her out of the pen, but she's so sweet outside on the leash," said Eleri.

Because the shelter is a kill shelter, Berrios and her army of volunteers work hard to get the animals ready for adoption.

With the purchase of a new camera to take photographs of the dogs, and specials on dogs that have been at the shelter, euthanasias have lowered substantially.

"Tailwaggers have lowered the euthanasia rate by providing funds to help injured or sick animals we normally would be able to care for," Harris said.

Volunteers from Tailwaggers also transport animals to states that have strict spay and neuter laws, Harris said.

"The volunteers do remarkable things and they don't get paid," Berrios said.

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Throughout the year, Tailwaggers holds events to raise money for the shelter and the next event is the fourth annual Tailwaggers 5K race and 1-Mile walk on Sept. 27 at 9 a.m.

"We are going to make it a really fun event," Berrios said. "There's going to be silly string, balloons, a bounce house, a DJ, face painting, hair coloring, breakfast, lunch and big ticket prizes."

Participants in the 1-Mile walk are encouraged to bring their dog.

"We will also give out doggie bags," Berrios added.

Pre-registration for the event is $15, and day-of registration is $20.

In the coming months, Berrios said she plans to begin a cutest pet contest with an entry fee of $5. The winning pets will go into the Tailwaggers calendar. The calendars will be sold for $15 a piece and include information about the shelter.

The calendar is still in the works and Berrios said she will make a formal announcement as the contest grows closer.

"We do a lot for the animals and it's hard to keep track of all we do," she said. But, it's a gratifying job and we couldn't do it without a great staff and volunteers."