Financial squeeze could hurt Trumbull animals

If the financial situation
doesn’t improve, the
organization may have to scale back operations.

By DENISE DICK

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

WARREN — Fortunes for Fido and Tarot cards for Tiger?

It was all part of the psychic fair Sunday at Parkard Park Shelter House, a fundraiser for the Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County.

About 150 people visited the event to have their palm or cards read or some other psychic reading from the eight psychics who attended to benefit the organization.

For nearly 25 years, AWL has been rescuing sick or injured animals and providing shelter for those that are abandoned or abused, but now that operation is in danger.

Donations this year have been down as the Mahoning Valley suffered economic difficulties.

“If our financial situation doesn’t improve, we may have to reduce our operations or reduce our 24/7 animal rescues,” said Barbara Busko, AWL president.

Staff and volunteers from the agency who work with the rescue portion of AWL services get called at all hours to help sick, abused, injured or abandoned animals.

Alyssa Ellison, one of those workers, says she sees some terrible things.

“But I also see them come into the shelter, get fixed up and go to new, happy homes,” she said. “That makes the job worthwhile.”

Busko and Ellison relayed the story of Gidget, a beagle mix in AWL’s Brunstetter Road shelter now.

Ellison was called because some kids had tied the dog to a bicycle and rode it. The beagle used her front paws to try to stop, tearing up the pads or her paws and causing nerve damage in her legs.

Gidget has improved since coming to the shelter though, undergoing hydrotherapy to help her mend.

They mostly see with dogs and cats although gerbils, rabbits, horses, pigs and other animals have been through the shelter too.

Shelter hours

The shelter is open from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 1 to 6 p.m. Wednesday; and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

They use newspaper ads and television appearances, and Internet Web sites such as Petfinder.com help widen the audience that sees the pets.

Since using the Internet sites, the number of adoptions has increased by people who live in other states.

People who came the farthest to adopt a pet traveled from Puerto Rico about two years ago, Busko said.

Donations may be made to AWL, 545 Brunstetter Road. S.W., Warren 44481-9600.

Besides monetary donations, the shelter also needs items including canned cat food, gas cards, pet toys and treats, paper towels, toilet paper, bath towels, nylon collars, 6-foot leashes, white trash bags, blankets and throw rugs, copy paper, dish and liquid laundry detergent, brooms and dust pans, large/heavy garbage bags and black thank-you cards.