Xplorers hosts Olive Branch Humane Society
Published on July 1, 2004 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Memphis Xplorers News Release
SOUTHAVEN, Miss.âThe Memphis Xplorers are letting the dogs out on Saturday night when the Olive Branch Humane Society is the featured non-profit organization at the Xplorers 7 p.m. game against the Cape Fear Wildcats.
The organization will introduce some of their dogs currently up for adoption on the field during halftime. The society has more dogs than usual and is trying to bring more attention to adoptions, which means there is also a greater need for foster homes and shelter volunteers.
"It's critical now," Humane Society President Ruth Zurka said. "The city is growing so much, we are in a constant state of overcrowding.
"Fortunately, we have a lot of rescue groups that help us, but we need short-term foster homes, where the animal can stay when it's between rescue groupsâa couple of days, a week, sometimes up to 10 days, but usually not much longer than that."
The society also has special needs dogs, dogs who are undergoing treatment or are recuperating from an illness.
"We just need someone to pet and pamper those babies," Zurka said. "The society assumes all the medical and food needs of all our dogs, unless the foster parent volunteers to take care of it."
For the animals that don't stay at foster homes, there is a lot of work that goes into taking care of them and maintaining the shelter. The city pays for Animal Control officers who work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the Humane Society takes over evenings, Saturdays from noon until evening and Sundays.
The society handles adoptions, exercises the animals, socializes them (walking and playing with them), feeds them, changes their litters, does laundry and takes care of any special needs.
The society has a corps of junior volunteers, teenagers and young people who help with the dogs while they wait to be placed.
"There's a lot of hard work, a lot of dirty work, involved in taking care of the animals," Zurka said. "The junior volunteers have a lot of responsibility put on their shoulders, and they do a great job. We could not run the shelter without them."
Right now, however, the society needs volunteers of all kinds.
"Volunteers are our lifeblood," Zurka said. "We are short staffed in every area. We need volunteers to help with fundraisers and care for the animals and foster. Sometimes the lack of volunteers is more pressing than money, as it is now, but we can't do without the money either."
The society will also have a table on the concourse, where they will host a raffle and sell pet merchandise. For more information on adoptions, fostering an animal or volunteering with the Olive Branch Humane Society, call 662-895-5328.
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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
