The Kingsville Animal Advocates (KAA) are a local organization that uses social media to connect people to dogs that are available for adoption in order to save as many as possible from animal euthanasia.
“People can sometimes take their animals for granted, and I want to be able to change that,” said Katherine Villarreal, Foster Director of The KAA.
The Facebook page is run by a variety of volunteers that take photos of the animals that are available at the animal shelter as well as offer information about them with the hopes of getting them a new permanent home.
Alongside taking photos of the dogs at the animal shelter, many Advocates also foster animals, giving them temporary loving homes while the adoption is being processed. Many will even deliver the new family member right to your doorstep.
“Anybody that is interested in taking pictures or fostering can send us a message and let us know their availability,” explained Villarreal.
While any help is welcome, the organization is in need of fosters the most. They reassure that while the commitment of having a dog in your home is quite great, the reward of saving a dog’s life and bringing a family someone new to love is too great to pass up.
“You get this dog that hasn’t been loved in a long time and you get to watch him or her come out his or her shell,” Amy Ziyad, TAMUK student and foster mother said, “You watch them grow from frightened dog at death’s door to a beautiful living being.”
The organization also tries their best to make sure pet owners, current or future, are well informed on how to take care of their pet and on how to realistically consider whether it’s right to adopt a pet at all
“So many of the animals that we have are not strays,” Dianne Leubert, City Commissioner and President of the KAA, said, “word is out that these crazy women are gonna save these people’s animals and not feel guilty about it.”
While the organization’s goal is to get animals adopted, they also hope to get as few animals as possible in the animal shelter in the first place. The organization does this by actively encouraging pet owners to have their animals spayed and neutered.
An example of the amazing work done by the Kingsville Animal Advocates is Leubert herself, who personally escorted a rescue to the Kleberg County Airport to be flown to a new home in Oklahoma.
The pup was flown by Pilots and Paws, an organization that flies animals to shelters and homes across the country.
“Just being able to give back is the most rewarding part,” pilot and Paws Volunteer David Newton said.
There is a long line of organizations, communication, and people devoting their free time to making sure that the animals of the shelters or streets have a home to go to.