Animal Refuge Center (ARC), The largest no-kill shelter in Florida
I went to the Animal Refuge Center located in North Fort Myers and Bayshore Road. I decided to go with a few friends who had no idea what the shelter was about and who also had no idea I would be writing a story about my experiences.
My friends and I submitted the application for new members and chose our orientation day. We attended not really knowing what to expect. The entrance is really easy to miss because it is right on a corner and has a dirt road. We proceeded to park and look around since we were a few minutes early for orientation. We saw acres and acres of land housed by cat and dog cottages seemingly separated by the ages of the animals. There were few volunteers walking around, cleaning cages and walking dogs.
After walking around for a bit, we headed to the “welcome building” to sign in for orientation. Orientation consisted mostly of introducing ourselves and providing information like where we were from and what school we attended. I was surprised to see others from Florida Gulf Coast University there as well as some high school students. We chose whether we wanted to help with the cats, dogs, or both but high school students had to do cats. We were given red volunteer shirts and whistles and were instructed to only blow the whistle in case of a dog run away.
Instruction was surprisingly limited. We were told what cottages we could and couldn’t visit and what dogs we couldn’t take out. The dogs are color coordinate based on behavior and/or bite history. “Green” dogs are normally not aggressive and can handle being around other dogs. “Yellow” dogs are dogs that may get aggressive around other dogs and are usually territorial about their cage and dog house. As a college student, you are allowed to take out green dogs but aren’t allowed to take out yellow dogs until you’ve put in about 20 to 30 hours first. Then there’s “red” dogs and “black” dogs which are the most aggressive and may have a bite history. These dogs are completely off limits to volunteers and are labeled as “staff only.” Red and black dogs usually come from abusive households or were abandoned.
After instruction, which took about an hour, we were free to go anywhere on the compound and play with the cats and dogs that were there.
“Making the animals friendlier through interaction is the best way to get them adopted,” the orientation leader said.
From just watching how the staff interacts and takes care of the animal’s diets, exercise, and overall health gave me the confidence to adopt my own pet. Before anyone can adopt a pet from the shelter they are given the complete health history and all medication they’ve been on or are currently on. This ensures that the family’s vet is able to accurately diagnose a problem if one were to arise. The types of leashes they use are special and locks up if pulled or dragged too hard. This is ideal for bigger dogs to feel comfortable walking with their owner. Grooming was also at the fore front of the staff or volunteer’s responsibilities. This included baths, brushing, and trimming. The dogs and cats have to look their best in order to get adopted and hygiene is something the staff cares very deeply about as this can prevent disease and infection on the compound.
The ARC shelter is the largest no-kill shelter in Florida and also has a vet on staff at all times. They want to help animals get adopted no matter how long it takes. In their entire history, they have only put down one dog and that was only because it had cancer, didn’t respond well on treatment, and was always in pain.
“It was the humane thing to do, and that dog was family,” the orientation instructor said, “the entire staff and even a few volunteers showed up.”
“As the largest no-kill shelter/sanctuary in SW Florida, we provide interim shelter and medical care to homeless, injured or abandoned animals,” the on-site vet said.
Their philosophy is that once an animal is accepted for adoption, it will not be destroyed to make room for another. They place approximately 500 dogs and cats per year into responsible, loving homes through direct and indirect adoptions. ARC’s on-going mission is “to provide community education as to the needs and care of animals, and public awareness regarding the importance of spaying and neutering their animal companions.” There are a number of local businesses that donate and support the ARC shelter and their mission including PetSmart who hold adoptions in-store.
The ARC shelter is open Wed-Sun from 11am-4pm for visits, adoptions & tours (excluding major holidays) however, volunteers who have attended orientation are welcomed every day. The adoption process is fairly simple and includes a background check to insure you have no history of animal abuse.
Submit volunteer applications or view the dogs and cats available for adoption at http://animalrefugecenter.com/
