Kailee Short, a kennel technician at the Knox-Whitley Humane Association, comforts Jacey, a dog with anxiety.
At first glance, this shelter can be disheartening, as too many animals have too few families willing to adopt them.
However, there are glimmers of hope all around. The shelter's nine part-time employees are dedicated – they clean the kennels, show love to the pets, greet families as they come to adopt. Most of the employees both adopt and foster, demonstrating their deep commitment to these animals.
On a sunny October day, Ada Wooten and Shane Faulkner walk into the shelter and quickly fall in love with Diego, a shiny black dog. They take him home, giving him a new shot at life.
The adoption brought a smile to the staff's faces. After all, shelter employees love the animals and work hard to give them good lives. They know the animals by name.
But even with the day's success, significant challenges remain.
Humane association employees say some people in the community do not take the lives of animals seriously. They say people do not spay and neuter animals, which results in numbers of puppy and kitten litters being forced to grow up in an overcrowded shelter. And the shelter has too many animals and too few kennels, which means animals are euthanized almost daily.
“There’s so much neglect to animals,” says Kailee Short, a kennel technician. ”The owners barely get a slap on the wrist.”
The animals spend most of their days in kennels, finding solace in stuffed toys or blankets or the excitement of seeing people walk by. This will be their lives, day after day, week after week, until they are adopted.
The employees say they are tired. They are drained from the physical labor the job requires, but more than that, they are drained emotionally.
“You’re kind of at work even when you’re not at work,” says Beth Woods, a kennel technician. “Even when you’re not here, you’re thinking about the animals.”
Though there is heartache at the shelter, and the job is difficult, there is also caring. Employees talk to the animals, the brush their fur, they kiss and cuddle them.
And when the time comes, they tell them goodbye.
The humane association is paid by three local Animal Control agencies to take animals it receives or picks up. Drop-offs occur each morning and vary in size, sometimes resulting in an influx of over 50 animals at once.
Dogs at the humane association whimper and paw at those who walk through the rows of cages, longing to belong to someone.
Washing and refilling food and water bowls, mopping the floors, scooping waste, changing out blankets and giving medicine are some of the tasks kennel technicians do every morning.
“I like helping the community,” says Kay Short, a kennel technician. “I do love the animals, but it's like leaving every day knowing you’ve done something for the community itself.”
Kennel technicians often develop strong bonds with the animals they care for. Beth Woods, a kennel technician, brushed, gave treats to and hugs Latte, a new shelter dog, on her first day at the humane association.
While the shelter mostly houses dogs and puppies, many cats and kittens additionally await a home to call their own. Several kittens and adolescent cats, often litter mates, are kept in cages together.
“I’ve always loved animals and have been trying to save and help since I could walk,” says Kailee Short, a kennel technician. When Kailee was offered the job opportunity, she jumped at the chance and has worked at the shelter since March 2023.
Humane association employees say goodbye to Diego as he waits for his new family to sign adoption paperwork. Diego was adopted once previously but was returned within a day because he did not immediately get along with other dogs at the house.
Dogs get a small glimpse of life outside the kennel when let outside into a fenced-in grass area behind the humane association building. There, they have the chance to run around and see sunlight for a couple of minutes.