Images: Behind The Scenes at Anderson Animal Shelter
Anderson Animal Shelter volunteer Kevin Gianaris of South Elgin takes Lola for a stroll in the snow. Gianaris is a newly-trained volunteer and says Lola is a favorite of his.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
A volunteer update board is located in the back-office area.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Adoption manager Lesya Kercheval gets a visit from Casey at her desk. Casey was found and brought to the shelter by the South Elgin Police with a severely damaged leg. The leg couldnt be saved, but three weeks after her surgery she is doing very well and is ready for adoption. She is between three and four years old. Kercheval has worked at the shelter for over eight years.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Vet tech Carrie Surta gets a smooch from Hana, a puppy of about six months of age available for adoption.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Bob the cat, 5, undergoes a dental cleaning from vet tech Carrie Surta. He is available for adoption. Surta has been at the shelter for 12 years.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Schedules and notes from staff and volunteers are located on each dog kennel at the shelter.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Cats snooze in an open area in the Big Country cat room at Anderson Animal Shelter in South Elgin. Cats with good temperaments and behaviors are rotated in and out of their cages and allowed to roam the large room. Attached is a smaller room of cats appropriately named Little Country.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Staff employee Josh Henderson of South Elgin returns a cat back to its cage in the Little Country cat room after recovering from surgery.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Three-month-old Fergie awakes from her nap atop a pile of bedding. Fergie learns socialization skills through interaction with shelter staff as well as being allowed to walk around the office room area with another young pup, Hana.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Dr. Amy Smith finishes up a spaying surgery, with the next patient prepped and ready to go behind her. Smith is a full-time vet at a practice and comes in once a month to volunteer her time in doing surgeries. This helps out the resident vet at the shelter, Sharon Colgan. The shelter offers a low-cost spay and neuter clinic to the public three times a week Monday through Wednesday. Thursdays are reserved for the resident animals of the clinics surgeries.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Lucky the dog sleeps off his anesthesia after lipoma surgery in a hallway between medical rooms. Lipoma is the removal of a fatty tumor. Mathis the cat, a diabetic resident of the shelter, sleeps near him. Dr. Amy Smith, seen on right, works on spaying and neutering surgeries in the next room.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Receptionist Robin Hochleutner of North Aurora is surrounded by cats in her office space at Anderson Animal Shelter. Some of the animals are new to the shelter, while a few were returned. Hochleutner frequently interacts with the cats to give them attention and make them more comfortable in their new environment.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Adoption manager Lesya Kercheval gets a visit from Casey at her desk. Casey was found and brought to the shelter by the South Elgin Police with a severely damaged leg. The leg couldnt be saved, but three weeks after her surgery she is doing very well and is ready for adoption. She is between three and four years old. Kercheval has worked at the shelter for over eight years.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Bob the cat, 5, undergoes a dental cleaning from vet tech Carrie Surta. Bob is available for adoption.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Volunteer Jody Griffitts of St. Charles takes out a ready-to-go Pepper for a walk on a weekday afternoon. Griffitts started volunteering as a dog walker in 2009. There are 21 dog kennels at the facility. Many more of the shelters dogs are in foster homes.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Timber sits quietly on a perch in the Big Country cat room waiting for a pat on the head between naps. Timber came to the shelter as a five-week-old kitten with a severe eye infection and eventually lost his left eye. He is currently the shelters longest resident, coming in June 2008, and is still looking for his forever home.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
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