Trish Hammen waited 30 years for this building.
The West Plains Regional Animal Shelter recently marked the grand opening of its new, expanded facility at 1486 BB Highway in West Plains. It is the latest and largest step for an operation that began in a much smaller space — and, before that, a gas station.
“I've been planning it for 30 years," Hammen said of the opening. "It took me this long to get it going.”
She attributed the long wait primarily to a lack of funding and manpower.
“People want to bring me dogs and cats, but they don't want to donate money or help,” Hammen said. “They don't want to come volunteer.”
The shelter's previous building had become cramped and was falling into disrepair, without enough room to keep the animals safe and comfortable. The new building can accommodate about 15 dogs and up to 100 cats. The shelter currently houses around 90 felines.
The shelter celebrated its grand opening event on Aug. 22, drawing a crowd of about 90 people. During the event, Hammen eagerly showed visitors a new feature: indoor-outdoor access that allows dogs and cats to use doggy doors and spend time outside.
“They can go outside, and we have a place for them to run and play,” Hammen said. “Fresh air.”
The building cost about $400,000, Hammen said, and was paid for through donations, grants and years of savings. She said the City of West Plains also provided about $50,000 through a grant program.
“It's paid off, free and clear,” she said.
Hammen plans to add a sign out front when costs allow, noting that proceeds from the grand opening's giveaway drawing might help fund it. The August event featured a barbecue, a silent auction and a drawing for a Glenfield Model 270 rifle, raising $750 for the shelter. Local businesses, including Donut Palace, Don's Auto, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Joey's Salon and Style, Colton's Steak House and Pizza Shack, donated items for the auction.
Donations come from a variety of sources. Some give in memory of loved ones or leave money to the shelter in their wills. The organization also receives donations from people living on the edges of town, where dumped animals are a persistent problem.
The shelter operates a thrift shop next door in its old building, which Hammen eventually hopes to replace with a metal structure on the existing foundation.
The shelter adopts out 20 or more animals each month, with the holidays and March typically seeing higher adoption rates. Veterinary bills and finding dependable volunteers remain constant concerns.
Training someone only to have that person disappear means starting over, Hammen said. However, the shelter can accommodate almost any schedule, whether a volunteer can work one to three days a week, or just a few hours at a time.
“Just come and see me,” she said. “I'll talk to them and show them what we do, give them a tour and see how this fits in their schedule.”
One of the shelter's residents, Paco, a Chihuahua, is something of a cliché.
“He just absolutely is an ankle biter,” Hammen said.
Paco was previously adopted but returned after he began biting. While he is currently standoffish and dislikes crowds, Hammen remains optimistic.
“I think we can work with Paco, though,” she said.
Animals remain at the shelter until they find homes, unless they are terminally ill, severely injured or aggressive. Because the shelter does not euthanize healthy animals, space, volunteers and responsible pet ownership are critical.
“I've heard the saying, ‘What's one more animal?’” she said. “If I did that 20 times, that's 20 animals a day.”
Spaying and neutering is a major part of the solution. She hopes the new shelter can provide community education regarding vaccinations, caring for sick pets and the importance of fixing animals.
“There's always multiple animals out there that are breeding and having babies after babies, and then they try to bring them here and we don't have room,” Hammen said. "Awareness of spay/neuter is a big issue."
The shelter's history makes the new building all the more meaningful. Before moving to its previous location at 1102 St. Louis St., the operation ran out of a gas station. At the St. Louis Street building, a cat room was fashioned on the side and kittens were kept behind the desk.
Walking through the new facility, Hammen said the feeling is less about the building itself than what it represents: “Accomplishment.” Visitors have described the building as amazing and clean — words she doesn't take for granted.
“I've been trying for years, and I'm almost in tears,” she said with a laugh.
Daily operations require constant cleaning, monitoring health and securing veterinary care.
“They don't understand that every day you have to clean the cages,” she said. “You have to make sure they’re well.”
Some animals leave a lasting impression and Hammen’s most memorable was Speedy. She pulled out a framed photograph of a black-and-gray tabby cat standing on his front legs in a custom wheelchair. Speedy was found as a 9-week-old kitten, dragging his paralyzed back legs. A veterinarian determined the young cat had been injured by a kick and would never regain the use of his legs.
Speedy needed help emptying his bladder, and the shelter cared for him for four years. Eventually, someone donated a $250 wheelchair. Volunteers would take Speedy home at night. One in particular would put the cat a diaper and watch a movie with him on the couch.
“He seemed to be happy,” Hammen said.
The cat made the best of his circumstances.
“The way he got the name Speedy is because he could turn wheelies around a corner,” Hammen said.
Speedy's bladder was eventually damaged beyond management. He underwent surgery but died afterward, and the shelter held a funeral for him.
For those considering adoption, Hammen said the shelter's fee is $50 for any cat or dog. Animals receive spay or neuter services and vaccinations, including required rabies shots, and adopters fill out a form. However, Hammen wants to ensure prospective adopters have an established veterinarian.
“If they don't care about the veterinarian, then they're really not going to take care of their pet,” she said.
Above all, the shelter needs people willing to help out.
“We need volunteers really badly,” she said. “Some volunteers who are going to stay with us for a while and care for the animals. That's our main goal.”
