R.E.A.L. targets county pet owners
By Kadin Pounders for the FCT
Many people have a furry companion at home that they consider a part of their family. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, it is estimated that there are anywhere from 144-176 million cats and dogs owned by Americans.
However, the ASPCA also states that more than 7 million companion pets enter shelters each year with only about a third being returned to their owners or adopted.
A new organization in the Shoals area is looking to better educate pet owners and potential pet owners on the treatment and care of animals, as well as other aspects of pet ownership.
R.E.A.L. – which stands for Re-home, Educate, Adopt, and Love – was founded by Rick Alexander, Jennifer Larder and Cindy Honey and operates in Colbert, Franklin and Lauderdale counties.
“(R.E.A.L.) was started out of a love for animals to reach the next generation, teaching them to respect and care for their pets properly,” said Honey.
The mission of R.E.A.L. is to decrease shelter intake and to decrease the homeless population through out-of-shelter programs. The new organization’s two main goals are to assist those looking to re-home their pets and to start pet education seminars in the local school systems.
“Any principals or teachers should feel free to call us if they want to set up a pet education lesson for students,” said Honey. “We’re never going to make it better for the animals if we don’t better educate this generation.”
R.E.A.L. aims to assist pet owners looking to re-home their pets through postings on their Facebook page and by hosting monthly adoption events. As R.E.A.L. gains more funding through fundraisers and donations, the organization plans to implement unplanned litter and low-cost spaying and neutering programs.
The R.E.A.L. organization is not a nonprofit but is currently operating as a nonprofit.
“(R.E.A.L.) will be governed as a nonprofit organization to practice accountability to its mission, vision, animals, programs, volunteers, and community,” said the organization.
R.E.A.L. and its directors hope to file for nonprofit status in the future.
For questions concerning R.E.A.L., Honey can be contacted at 256-335-0518.
