Ayla’s Acres No-kill Animal Rescue and Underwood Jewelers held its annual Lagos trunk show raising money for the nonprofit organization on Nov. 2-4.
It consisted of a three-day event that included a cocktail party to kick things off Nov. 2 featuring animal activist Loretta Swit, who is known for her acting work as Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan on the hit T.V. series M*A*S*H and wrapped up with an animal adoption event on Nov. 4.
The event has been going on for about a decade now and it is a partnership with Underwood Jewelers that Ayla’s Acres executive director Fran Charlson is grateful for.
“We are looking to introduce our animals to the community and let them know what our process is, because it’s a little different from other rescues,” Charlson said. “It’s more like a meet and greet because we don’t have same-day adoptions.”
The process includes filling out an application and having references that go with it along with a veterinary and home check.
According to Charlson, the in-depth process taken is done so that each animal receives the best home possible and to make sure those interested in adoption are doing it for the right reasons.
“Some people will do all that process ahead of time before they meet, and then we can do it the same day, but we still need all of that done,” Charlson said.
The animals they have as part of their organization have already been through a lot of change in their life and the goal is to find them an environment that can be steady and consistent for years to come.
“It’s a lot like buyer’s remorse, where you find something in the store and then the next day, you’re like ‘why did I buy that,’” Charlson said. “The same things can take place when getting an animal, and in the contract they sign we do tell them that if they have to return an animal, to make sure to bring it back to us. We only have about a 2% recidivism rate because of how we do our process.”
The best way to reach out if interested in the adoption process is by going to aylasacres.org. There are dog and car applications for both adoption and to be a foster home, which is something they are always looking for people to volunteer for as well.
One of the things Charlson takes the most pride in is that they are a no-kill rescue, which means that they can get full at their facilities if they reach the proper number that they can care for.
However, more foster homes for animals means the rescue can house more animals itself, which is why she is always looking for anyone interested in fostering animals.
“Right now, we’re full so if we don’t have fosters I can’t take anymore animals in,” Charlson said. “We have about 50 fosters in this area right now, but there’s always room for more.”
