Over the next several months, you’ll be seeing this medallion on many of our printed materials – it’s our way of showing our pride in the APA’s long history of service to the greater St. Louis community. In 1922, this organization got its start in the basement of a Webster Grove’s woman’s home.
Ella Megginson, a tireless crusader for animal rights, gathered a group of her friends to her cause and accepted the first of countless donations from supporters, a gift of $500 from Mrs. Harry F. Knight. The organization quickly outgrew the founder’s basement and moved several times before building its first shelter in 1937, on South Hanley Road just across the street from the present facility.
There are many events that serve as markers across these past 85 years – changes in personnel, new and expanded buildings and countless innovations made in the service of our mission to pets and people. We have recently completed a series of strategic planning activities which will lead to further evolution of the organization and improvements in our services.
There are unique markers for the progress of the seasons in the shelter too– the advent of summer here means “kittens, kittens, and more kittens!” This is the peak season for the birth of new litters, often unplanned and more than one family can handle. Many of them are brought to us when their owners have run out of friends and relatives who need another pet.
They’re adorable and we love them. It’s impossible to pass our evaluation room or walk through the adoption areas without stopping to rub a tummy or scratch a pair of velvety ears. Fortunately, we will be able to place most of them with caring families. Unfortunately, that placement reduces the number of adoptive homes available for the many adult cats currently in the shelter and the others who will be brought to us during this season. For many people, an adult cat can be a better match as a “forever friend” than a kitten, settled in temperament and more mellow as a companion.
I’d like to share a recent successful adoption with you. Squeak, a four year old Maine Coon mix, was one of those older cats that some people might overlook in a room full of romping youngsters. He’d been here for a couple of months, gathering a lot of attention from staff for his sweet affectionate personality and incredibly beautiful face.
One afternoon my mom stopped in to take me to lunch. When we returned, she joined me in a visit to the cat room, where her eyes were drawn to Squeak, who came forward to meet her and try to make contact through the cage door. This past year, Mom had lost Wolf, a Himalayan who had been the family’s much loved companion for years. Occasionally, she’d mention that she wasn’t quite ready to look for another cat. So after spending some time with Squeak, she shook her head & said, “ Well, Amy, I just don’t know….”
She came back a week later…and then again. On the third visit, she acknowledged that she was a willing captive to this amazing creature. With adoption papers completed and a full complement of food and cat toys purchased in a quick trip to the nearby PetSmart, she took Squeak home. Here he is today, obviously content that he’s at last found his place in the sun.
At the end of each day, this is the simplest explanation of why we feel so good about our work: we’ve brought a homeless animal together with a caring family. As always, we know that we could not accomplish this work without your help. We ask you to tell your friends about the APA, continue to support us with your generous donations, and come to us when you are seeking a new friend to join your family.
Thank you for all you do,
Amy Cole Buehler
