Magnolia man rescues strays

By The Associated Press

MAGNOLIA — Steve Stroebele's job as the new shelter director for the Columbia County Animal Protection Society is a labor of love. Stroebele owns seven dogs and seven cats of his own.

"I've worked with dogs for 30 years. I've shown dogs. I've owned dogs. I've trained them for competition. I've taught obedience classes for 12 years. I have a passion for dogs," said Stroebele.

He became shelter director in May. He joined CCAPS as a board member and volunteer after relocating from Arizona two years ago.

After his dog training service could not make ends meet, he took a job as a state social worker. After a short time, Stroebele found his calling at CCAPS.

"I had a salary, vacation time, a pension in that job and I gave all that up when this job came open. Even though it's part time and there aren't enough funds to hire a full-time staff, this just seemed like where I needed to be right now and I love it," said Stroebele.

His job duties include temperament testing and evaluation to make sure dogs are suitable for adoption, examining them for health problems, giving shots and de-worming medicine, cleaning kennels, feeding dogs and monitoring volunteers.

Stroebele and the volunteers will also rescue dogs when possible and work with Magnolia's animal-control officer to find homes for dogs.

Stroebele is the only CCAPS staff member at the shelter. He also has high school and middle school teenagers, along with adult volunteers, who lend a hand when possible.

"They're good at socializing the dogs, giving them that human contact," Stroebele said.

Stroebele took in 23 dogs recently. Only 12 dogs have been adopted this month. It his goal to find an owner for every one of them.

"We get a lot of dogs from the city of Magnolia even though there's an animal-control shelter because many people would rather bring a dog here because they know it has a better chance of adoption," Stroebele said.

Because this month has been so busy, CCAPS is offering dogs and cats for adoption at half price. This includes spaying or neutering, shots and de-worming for $40.

"The message of spaying and neutering hasn't got out here. A lot of people let their dogs roam. One male dog can cause a lot of litters of puppies. We get a lot of calls from people who have found puppies in their ditches, roaming around in their yards."

He said people who abandon dogs "are condemning these dogs to an inhumane death of starvation and dehydration."

It is difficult for an animal lover such as Stroebele to see conditions in which animals are left. He is happy, however, when they are brought to him.

"It's a relief that they're here. At least they can get care, medical attention, clean water, plenty of food and shelter. They've also got some volunteers who will give them attention and assimilation of normal life."

During the summer months, when CCAPS is at its busiest, Stroebele hopes the community will keep the shelter in mind.

"When people are thinking about getting a pet, consider a shelter pet rather than buying a dog or breeding a dog because that only contributes to the overpopulation," he said.

For more information see Monday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.