Many people have made PAWS a success

Many people have made PAWS a success

Many times people do not get thanked for things they have done. I have been affiliated with PAWS (Floyd County Humane Society) since 2000. I started as a volunteer doing what most volunteers do there — scooping poop. Over the years I have been on the PAWS Board of Directors, and have been co-manager, manager, and most recently the treasurer on the new PAWS board formed in April of this year.

Over the years we have had so many volunteers and employees who have had one thing on their mind: To provide a safe place for homeless animals. Before 1999, animal were brought to the humane society and kept for seven days for their owner to claim and then they were euthanized if not claimed. All of that changed when some caring people knew there was a better way. I do not know all the people on the PAWS board at that time but here are a few to thank — Marion Ayers, Jim Thompson, Diane Harrold, Julie Jung, Jody Meyer, and Kristie Gray. Those are just a few of the ones to thank for the beginning of PAWS. Later, my son and I became volunteers under Jan Maage as manager. Jan did so much organizing as a new manager who really had nothing to start with. Jan was still volunteering and fostering up until recent times. A new board came along with Dianne Jacobson, myself, my son, Joe, Julie Taylor, Jan Maage, Jeff Nordman and Brenda Nordman. Then again, board members came and left but the purpose of PAWS remained the same. Then I co-managed with Karen Rackeweg and then Michelle Harrold, who had the heart of an angel with the animals, and recently Julie Taylor Herbrechsmeyer. Along the way, a treasurer left the area and I took that over and continued that until this past weekend.

I had a wonderful relationship with Mayor Jim Erb and his council who have always supported PAWS along with several city administrators.

PAWS works under the Charles City Police Department and I could not have asked for better support from both Chief Wendel and Chief Anderson, who was the captain when I was manager. David Jung the Animal Control office has served PAWS well. He would do anything I asked him to that was even beyond his scope of duty.

From the very beginning, PAWS developed a special relationship with our vet, John Moellers, DVM. Nothing was ever too much for John to do.

He did visits to the shelter every other week. He was available for emergencies 24 hours a day and seven days a week and many times would drive to Charles City from his home in Greene to meet us for a sick animal. He and his wife Carol were very supportive financially of all PAWS programs. Dr. Dietrich and most recently Dr. Frost have offered their services for second opinions.

The employees at PAWS come and go, but we have had one for many years. Tracy Wiltse has been cleaning our cats five days a week and every holiday that fell during the week for many years. She is another one who would do whatever asked — even cleaning some evenings when we had no volunteer to work. I have told her many times she is a saint. No one could give better care to our kitties.

The biggest thank you is to all the volunteers who gave and still give countless hours of their time, treasures and talents to the animals. Not only do they take care of the animals, but offer their talents, like Jeff Nordman, who built the Catio we have attached to the building for cats to be able to be outside. Plus he designed and built a Memorial Tree for people to be able to recognize their deceased animals on a leaf with their name.

His wife, Brenda Nordman, who made sure the area was landscaped with pretty flowers and designed a Memory Garden for all to enjoy.

Plus the Boy Scouts, mainly Jeff Powell, who spent countless hours building our Kitty Cottage that houses our sick kitties. That was an Eagle Scout project that is used every day.

Over the years there are too many volunteers to name individually but here are a few.

Diane Harrold and Marian Ayers for several years in the beginning of PAWS cleaned cats kennels Monday and Tuesdays every week. Dianne Jacobson and Vivian Immel could be found cleaning cats many evenings.

Richard Immel would do various jobs around the shelter and clean dog kennels. Jamie Lewis faithfully walks dogs today almost every day in any kind of weather. And Gwen Rinken from Ionia who walks dogs every Sunday. Most of these people have moved on but they have left their mark at PAWS.

As treasurer, I have worked many years with Angie Reams at Larry Pump’s office. She still does our income tax filing and takes care of filing our employee taxes for us. lf I had a question Angie was always there to donate her time and talents. Larry Pump is so supportive of PAWS.

Only best wishes to the new PAWS Board with President, Kristie Gray, and Vice President, Ginger, at the Chamber office, plus everyone serving on the board as officers and members.

Best wishes to all of the volunteers at PAWS. Best wishes to Julie, the current manager and I am so proud of Amy Harrold who has continued her mother’s true love of PAWS with her volunteerism helping Julie.

No, we are not moving out of Charles City. We love it here. I have just severed my affiliation with PAWS. It has been a fantastic 15 years but you know when it is time to move onto another endeavor which will probably be our new granddaughter. My heart will always be with PAWS and I know it will just grow and grow under the current Board leadership.

Thank you all!

Pat Molinar

Guest Column