By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Edwardsburg Argus
CASSOPOLIS -- "When you get to be 75 -- what do you need?" questioned Penny Homo of Adamsville. So when her daughters were planning a big open house for her birthday on April 21st, Homo said for gifts why not have the guests bring donations to the animal shelter.
Thursday, with her daughter Linda Lloyd of Five Points Road, she delivered a Blazer full of goodies including dog and cat food, treats and litter to the Cass County Animal Shelter, all gifts from her party. Some guests had even filled gift bags with rawhide chews and toys.
Animals in the house "bring joy" she said and help you "laugh more."
Lloyd adopted a Yorky only a few months old from the Elkhart, Ind. Humane Shelter, where a niece works, after losing her St. Bernard/Lab mix at age 14 and a half. She still gets tears in her eyes remembering those good years since adopting her dog at two and a half. "I get too sentimental," she said.
Lloyd has been going to "clicker" training, where the puppy has been learning commands. In a contest, Annie sat down on command six times in 30 seconds -- the most of any of the dogs.
Penny's eldest daughter Kaye Scheetz of Dunlap, Ind. has an Akita and a "muttly," she said. Another daughter Kristy Tomlinson of Goshen, Ind. has a border collie.
The animal shelter had always been so good, she added, coming out when she called about strays and kittens which needed homes. "They are always so nice," she added, that is why she wanted to help out in this way.
Pat Fetherston, the county's Animal Control Director, was pleased to receive the donations, which the two full-time trustees from the Cass County Jail helped him unload.
Fetherston praised the Pet of the Week feature in the Leader Publications, which not only gets those cats and dogs adopted, but brings in people who adopt the other available pets.
He also said the shelter's internet connections have been a big help in adopting out animals.
One person even arranged transportation from a mixed terrier to be picked up and brought to Connecticut. "They called me from M-60 at three in the morning," Fetherston said.
Brown now takes the pictures for the Pet of the Week. "We all have our favorites," Brown said. Officer Robin Rowe likes the big dogs, Pat the smaller and I like the shaggy ones. I like to pet them," she added.
If you are interested in adopting a pet, contact the Cass County Animal Shelter at (269) 445-3701 or by e-mail at ccac@cassco.org. The shelter is at 323 M-62 North in Cassopolis with office hours Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Wednesdays until 6 p.m. Their web site is casscountymi.org.