Shane Smith, who started the pardon of Shane’s War in 2011, brought the pardon back to the Jones County Animal Services from July 18 to 23 to gives animals in the shelter another week’s time from euthanasia and to get them adopted to forever homes.
“I went to a shelter one time, and I didn’t know that particular shelter was putting down so many dogs. I came up with this idea for a pardon, because I wanted to do something to help that shelter,” he said. “They wouldn’t do it, because the guy I talked to about this wasn’t the director at that shelter, but then the director was let go and that guy stepped in. Then we did the pardon.”
Smith said he didn’t know what to do after the pardon was signed, but then the news caught on about it. He said within a week 160 cats and dogs all left the shelter after that. He said now he goes all across the country to do the pardon and help get animals adopted from these shelters.
“These ladies came up with the name Shane’s War for what we were doing. The name took a life of its own. We’ve been traveling the country now since 2011, helping to get animals out of shelters,” he said.
Jones County Animal Services heard about what he was doing, and they wanted to see how things would work out. He said it went very well, almost clearing out the entire shelter in Jones County with the pardon.
Jennifer Allen, the director of the Jones County Animal Services, said they are eager to get the animals in the shelter adopted to good homes.
“This was our fourth time doing the pardon together. It’s amazing what people are willing to do if you just let them know you need the help,” she said. “Having these events highlights these things and what goes on at shelters across the country.”
The director said it’s important for the animals at Jones County Animal Services, because every animal deserves a forever home. She said they want to give them the opportunity to find that home and have the extra time to do so. She said people across the county need to be mindful of leash laws or letting their pets run loose, because the pets fill up the shelter.
“Having the board of commissioners support us here in Jones County is very important. Not everywhere has support like that. We’re pretty fortunate for that, and we welcome Shane with open arms. It makes it easy for him to help,” she said.
Allen said people who attended the pardon were members of the community, rescue groups, Jones County Board of Commissioners, and County Administrator, Jason Rizner. She said people should adopt animals from the shelter, because they deserve to find a home, and it spares them from euthanasia. She said to adopt a pet, people need to come to the shelter and pick what animal tugs on their heart, so they can get the paperwork started. She said they need volunteers to help at the shelter, too.
The director said they are always looking for donations for the Jones County Animal Services, because the animals need various things while in the shelter. She said people can go to the animal services wish list on Amazon to see what the shelter needs, or they can donate funds on Facebook through Paypal.
“We’re always in need of cleaning supplies and various things of that nature. This time of year we need kitten food and puppy food, wet and dry. It’s important, because we have so many litters and newborns,” she said.
Allen said she loves what she does at the shelter to help the animals find homes. She said she wants to see the animals leave the shelter and into a happier environment.
“I made a career of this, because there’s no better place to work. I get to come to work and love on animals,” Allen said. “They pay me to do that. There’s no better job. Sometimes we have to do things we don’t like or that’s stressful, but this is the best job ever.”
