Volunteers travel hours to donate time to animal shelter
BOLIVAR, Tenn. — A local overcrowded animal shelter in dire need of of repairs is getting a free makeover, thanks to the the help of some out-of-state volunteers. Washing kennels and painting walls are how volunteers from Casey’s Safe Haven, a dog rescue group out of Illinois, will spend their day in Bolivar. The out-of-state group drove eight hours to renovate the local animal shelter ran by volunteers from Hardeman County Adoptable Animals. “We are beyond excited that someone from out of state would bring supplies and help us,” Eleanor Morgan said, a volunteer at Hardeman Adoptable Animals. The two groups met online last year after local volunteers contacted Casey’s. They were in dire need of help finding homes for dogs due to overcrowding at the Hardeman County Shelter. Since then, dozens of dogs have been transported from Bolivar to Illinois with new homes. Volunteers at Casey’s say they knew the shelter needed new walls, cleaner kennels and some much-needed equipment, so they offered to help. “They’re going to have cleaner and safer conditions for the dogs,” Kathy Schweisthal said, a volunteer Casey’s Safe Haven. Volunteers say they hope the two-day cleaning process will prompt others in the community to get involved and donate money to help with more much-needed repairs.
