PAWS welcomes donations for animal shelter in Albion

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Morgan Tinkous, manager of the PAWS Animal Shelter on Gaines Basin Road in Albion, visits with Bailey, a dog that was adopted and will soon be picked up by its new owners.

Tinkous has worked at the shelter the past 8 years, starting when she was 16. The no-kill shelter, which started in 1981, currently has four dogs and 10 cats up for adoption. Usually it has more animals.

Becky Karls, manager of Merrill-Grinnell Funeral Homes in Albion, noticed that April is “Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month.” That prompted her to want to help collect donations for PAWS.

Merrill-Grinnell will collect food, blankets, toys, cat litter and cleaning supplies this month with a decorative box at the funeral home, 12 Ingersoll St.

Tinkous said the items are welcome. PAWS could also use money to pay for the vet bills, utilities and other costs in running the shelter – about $4,000 a month, Tinkous said.

She is working with volunteers to plan fund-raisers this year. A wine-tasting last year raised $3,000 for PAWS. Tinkous said the organization expects to try that fund-raiser again and is considering other events to raise money.

Morgan Tinkous and Becky Karls are pictured with some of the cats and the “cat tree” at Paws Animal Shelter.

This Saturday from noon to 2 p.m., the Easter Bunny is stopping by the shelter. There will also be an egg hunt from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, and community members are welcome to bring their own dog and search for eggs.

PAWS also has a separate fund-raiser for remodelling its outside kennels, a project that could cost $5,000 to $10,000.

For more information on PAWS, click here.