The Lake Isabella Animal Shelter in South Lake make adoption the priority: Holidays bring in animal lovers

Calling all animal lovers: don't forget the shelter

It's never easy to go into an animal shelter and not keep from looking around and seeing animals you know in your heart are not going to be adopted. Then there's the feeling that you can't leave without helping one of these poor souls. I go through it everytime.

Imagine the fortitude it takes to work the job, having the lives and futures of these animals in mind day in and day out.

Diedra Morrison lives it, as she took over the shelter, and it has become her work, and I may say even her art.

With the help of the pet lovers in our community, Morrison was even able to give away an old dog, snippety, barky and bossy, they called her "Grandma."

Morrison said, it just happened that they were blessed with the help of a woman who collects the animals nobody else wants.

The messages:

Above the cages hangs a sign, a message from the cage bound animal, with promises such as "pick me" "I'll love you."

I wanted to begin covering the shelter on the pet blog along with important issues we all need to be aware of when adopting or raising an animal.

So, I took off with my video camera and walked in on a crowd of people...and animals, in the office area this holiday week before Christmas.

 Morrison sat at her desk several notepads open. The stats of the animal's shots, any illnesses, where the animal was found, sterilization, and finally licensing, all come with the adoption.

Morrison filled out forms, took phone calls answering all types of questions, while families walked through the cages of animals, as some took to barking, while some were meowing in protest, while others just sat and watched the potentials owners.

Morrison said the shelter has a difficult time adopting out the cats. She said so many cats are feral in the valley, they are almost dangerous to handle.
But there are other cats who are quite familiar with people and are quite tame and amusing.                      

Some of the cats were just irresistable, jumping up when I entered the room. They pawed at their cages, meowed, purred, and were generally happy to see people.

Cute puppies were everywhere, some young still in a pile of syblings, while others like this mix breed, several months old and looking for better quarters, like a couch or bed. Or an owner's lap.

These two robust pups, five months old, came to the shelter and have been waiting for a couple months to be seen by the owner or owners for them.

Those sweet eyes could not be resisted. (story later, they weren't)

These two mixes were another one of the amusing cages, as they greeted me with enthusiasm ready to play.

These two are still waiting for their homes.

But it's the cats that put on the displays, paws coming out of cages, vocalizing their displeasure with some really funny body language.

A couple of black and white, (don't colorize them) kittens romped up and down the two story cage.

 After an hour, two dogs were adopted,
and I saw at least two women come in and hand off checks or some kind of donation, which is commendable.

This portly pooch is going to be a present today for this couple's daughter.

The Shelter located on Hwy 178 in South Lake across fromm Sierra Gateway Market and gas station.

Hours of operation: Monday thru Saturday 9 am to 4 pm.

You can reach the shelter at 760-378-1131.

Diedra and Kim dedicate time and emotion to try and help all the animals they can. They work with many people helping them find the right dog for the new owner.

We will continue to visit the shelter as well as talk to the veteranarians around the valley bringing in educational materials to the Pet blog.

Next up: My boxer, Walter, may get himself a pack of small dogs. Don't ask, but I'm not sure I can replace his best friend, Johnson, with only one dog. And Walter loves his small dogs, so I'm sure I'll get no resistance from him. (maybe the neighbors.)