Caring For Cats And People Both

A Check-In With the Local Humane Society’s New Director

originally published January 10, 2007

Crystal Schultz is the new Executive Director of the Athens Area Humane Society (AAHS). She has been director for about four months, and smiles to note that more animals have been adopted this year than at any other time in the shelter’s history. She gives the credit for the increase in adoptions to a campaign toward better getting the word out about the local Humane Society shelter.

A note to those who may not know: any first-time visitor approaching the small cinderblock building set in new-growth pines on Beaverdam Road will notice that there are no outdoor pens, no barking dogs and no wagging tails. AAHS houses meowing, purring cats and small animals that hop and jump (yes, they often have rabbits). You will not find dogs here; those are just down the road at the Athens-Clarke County Animal Control headquarters, among other places.

Before coming to AAHS, Schultz worked in domestic violence shelters. She made the switch from working with people to working with animals, but notes that there really is a lot of overlap. “A lot of people think that the Humane Society is just an animal organization, but it really is a people organization,” she says. Schultz describes letters that she has received from adopters who have benefited greatly from the companionship of their animals. “Working as executive director of domestic violence shelters,” she notes, “there are a lot of people who really do want their animals. A lot of people don’t realize that animal cruelty and child abuse and domestic violence go together.” Schultz describes several instances in which she worked with women who would not leave their homes despite domestic abuse because they did not want to leave their animals behind. “One of the programs that I would like to do down the line is to actually work with some of the victims of domestic violence so that we can house some of their small animals… and help these women to make that break.”

First, though, Schultz has some more immediate goals for the shelter. “We would like to eliminate euthanasia for healthy adoptable animals,” she says. As a step towards that goal, AAHS would like to increase the number of families who are willing to serve as foster parents. Prior to Schultz’ new directorship, there was only a loose network of foster parents. She would like to promote the development of a stronger network of families who could take cats and other small animals into their homes for a few weeks or a few months in order to alleviate overcrowding at the shelter. In some cases, very young animals may also need a foster family to allow them to grow to an age that they can be spayed or neutered and prepared for adoption.

As a second step toward the goal of eliminating euthanasia, Schultz would like to establish an adoption center in a location that’s more accessible and convenient for Athens residents. She admits that the present shelter is a long haul for those who want to adopt a cat or other small animal. By putting an adoption center in town, she hopes to capitalize on the desire many people have to take a cat, rabbit, hamster or other small animal home.

As part of its fundraising campaign for the adoption center, AAHS will be holding an auction on Apr. 21, 2007. Up for grabs will be everything from an air hockey table to a Corvette or dream vacation. There will also be a hole-in-one golfing contest (for which AAHS has arranged for a million-dollar insured prize!) with qualifying rounds throughout April and a final round the first weekend in May. The goal of both of these events is to raise $45,000 toward a new adoption center.

But, exciting as they sound, fundraising events are only part of the picture. Says Schultz, “One of the things that I’m really pushing is that, if the community is behind us and they agree with that, which it seems that everybody does, then the community also needs to be responsible for getting involved. They need to help by becoming members. They need to help by donating. They also need to help by volunteering and getting to know the shelter.” Volunteers are always welcome and are needed for upcoming events.

For more information on becoming a foster pet parent or volunteering, call Crystal Schultz at 706-353-2287. Information on adoptions, spaying/ neutering and upcoming events is also available at www.athenshumanesociety.org.

Annie Hagberg

hollowiris@yahoo.com