Every year, Atchison County residents feel their wallets get a bit lighter and see their bank account balances drop with tough economic times and rising prices.What a lot of people don’t realize is those tough times aren’t just felt by humans. Our local animal population also takes the brunt of lean times when their owners can no longer afford to feed them as much food, can’t continue to feed them the good quality but expensive food they are used to, are unable to get them needed vaccinations, medicines, and spays and neuters, or can’t pay for emergency vet care when the unthinkable happens. Most owners do everything they can to make sure their pets don’t go hungry and receive everything they need from supplies to their own form of health care, but sometimes a helping hand is needed.

Since 2020, Atchison County has had a local animal rescue fund called Paw Prints helping not only stray animals find the assistance that they need, but also owned pets whose owners need a leg up. Thanks to generous donations from animal lovers near and far and locals who go above and beyond to dish out the supplies, Paw Prints has seen the care of our four-legged residents continue to improve. The Tarkio/Westboro/Fairfax Food Pantry clients are now occasionally provided with cat and dog food and locals feeding the exorbitant amount of homeless cats are getting assistance in getting those felines fixed. It’s still not a perfect system, but Paw Prints and its vast supporters have begun to make some headway.

In order for Paw Prints to continue to be successful in assisting as many animals as possible, donations are needed. Whether it’s $5 or $500, every little bit helps. Saving a pet is not cheap (depending on what is needed, Paw Prints has spent anywhere from $25 to $800 on a single animal), but it’s worth it seeing their lives drastically changed for the better. To donate, make your checks out to Paw Prints and send to 1103 Pine Street, Tarkio, MO 64491; drop off at Farmers State Bank at 512 Main Street in Tarkio or the Atchison County Mail office at 300 S. Main in Rock Port; or Venmo @Megan-McAdams-13. If you would like to be put on the list to start helping animals in need by fostering or adopting, contact Megan McAdams through Facebook or 816-273-8587.

Not only are monetary and supply donations needed, but foster and forever homes are also required to make this a success. Because there is no shelter here, there is no place to house the strays that come in. Having people willing to take animals in until permanent placements or homes can be found would greatly increase the number of animals who can be saved. And as always, forever homes are needed. There is nothing more rewarding than experiencing the love and joy a rescued animal gives you when you take them in. Many have come from absolutely horrible circumstances and having shelter and food and water, stability, and unending love 24-7 makes them some of the most loving pets you will ever have. People do not give animals enough credit. They know and understand that you have saved them and they devote the rest of their lives giving you love. Community action is also a big part of Paw Prints’ success. Everyone is capable of helping an animal; everyone. Whether putting out bowls of cat food and water for strays in your neighborhood, trapping strays to get them to safety and getting them fixed and vaccinated if needed, providing them a safe place to stay in your home (whether it be the main part of your home, spare bedroom, garage, etc.), or finding them a new home if no owner can be found, any and all of these things can be done by anyone in the community. Although Paw Prints helps financially, it can not continue if people are not willing to do the work as well. Help support Paw Prints’ efforts in saving animals. Since 2020, around 300 animals have been helped. It can sometimes be a heartbreaking experience, but it is also a rewarding endeavor to save an animal in need. Saving one animal won’t change the world, but it will change the world for that one animal. Be a part of something greater than yourself and help make a difference. Save a life, donate, and adopt!

Did you know?

Millions of cats reside safely in people’s homes, but many more are stray, outdoor cats that make their living quarters in any spots where they can find shelter. These outdoor cats also mate with one another, producing litter upon litter of kittens that quickly lead to overpopulation. The SPCA of York County says a single unspayed female cat can birth about 180 kittens in her lifetime, on average. Females have the potential to give birth three to four times per year. Outdoor cats can be nuisances in neighborhoods, and may sleep under people’s cars or close to the engine to stay warm, where they are vulnerable to injuries, accidents or even death. Controlling overpopulation of cats, which may end up in shelters and other facilities, often comes down to sterilization. People who have cats as pets are urged to keep them indoors at all times and to spay or neuter them.