Brentwood, MO (KSDK) - — Dogs and cats that didn’t find a forever family during a “Clear the Shelters” event got a taste of the home life thanks to some dedicated shelter workers.
The Animal Protective Association of Missouri’s event this weekend at their location in Brentwood ended with 66 pets finding new homes. But 68 dogs and cats weren’t so lucky.
The thought of leaving so many animals all alone in the shelter didn’t sit well with the staff.
So, they packed up sleeping bags, pillows, eye masks and air mattresses and held a sleepover with the animals inside the Brentwood shelter.
“We love this work and couldn’t wait to let the animals cuddle up to us for the night,” the APA wrote in a blog post.
The dogs and cats “really soaked in the extra snuggles and attention.” Photos from the APA show little girls hugging cats, while other workers wrapped a dog in a rob and painted its nail. Another photo shows a dog snuggled up, sleeping with a little girl.
While the shelter sleepover clearly had an impact on the animals, it also made a difference for the workers.
Shelter worker Sarah Javier called it a “lesson in empathy.”
“For those who spent the night, it was an opportunity to see things from the perspectives of the animals who reside with us at the APA,” she wrote in the blog post.
The staff was able to see what it was like away from the comforts and familiarity of home—much like what the shelter animals experience on a daily basis.
“Of course, our staff all knew we would return to our normal lives the next morning, but for our animals, they have no idea when that will happen. While we do our very best to show them love, care and compassion while they are staying with us, there truly is no place like home,” Javier wrote.
If you would like to adopt one of the 18 dogs and 50 cats so they don't have to spend another night in the shelter, visit the Animal Protective Association of Missouri’s adoption website here.
