The Friends of Parkville Animal Shelter(FOPAS) is earning money to build a new permanent facility. Our current facility is only temporary, it is a house with a small business building. The cats are housed in every room of the house, while the dogs have the business building and its garage area. We created fenced in areas for the dogs to play in and a small trail that leads into the woods to walk the dogs on, but the amount of space we have is not sufficient enough to house all the animals. We are one of the only non-kill shelters in our area and we try to rescue as many animals from the kill shelters that we can while also helping take in the county strays. We are desperately trying to earn enough money, through donations and fundraisers, to buy land and build a permanent, larger facility that will allow us to rescue more animals

I started volunteering at FOPAS during June of 2006. I was terrified of Labrador Retrievers after being attacked by two of them the previous year. The volunteers, while they didn't know it, helped me overcome my fear. The volunteers are my second family and the animals there, some that have been in the FOPAS family longer than I have, mean the world to me and I would love to see the animals with more room and a better temporary home, while they wait for their forever families to find them.

Our goals are 6-10 acres and $1,000,000. In 2008, more than 475 cats and dogs were rescued, fully vetted and placed in loving homes. To continue our efforts, we must find a permanent location. We have an annual dog walk that helps us earn money, as well as several garage sales, using donated items, throughout the year, and various other fundraising events. We're counting on the community to help us earn enough money as well.

There are several ways that people can help the shelter. The volunteering opportunities range from helping clean, walk and play with dogs, spend time with the cats, helping at adoptions, as well as, fostering an animal. Other ways to help out are donations of towels, blankets, sheets, newspaper, toys for the animals, and plastic bags, as well as monetary donations. There are also several fundraising events that need help to be organized. There is always something that needs to be done.