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Rev. February 27, 2008

 


Pet project gives animals
a new leash on life

Amanda Reitz '08
Major: Elementary Education
Occupation: Animal shelter founder
Hometown: Dupont, Wis.

Amanda Reitz is only 23 and not yet graduated, but her first big venture is already raining success stories cats and dogs.
      Reitz’s shelter, Happily Ever After Animal Sanctuary, is giving the no-kill shelter movement a pawhold in the hilly farm country near Marion in Waupaca County. Reitz and company have placed 400 animals for adoption in little more than a year.
      The non-profit organization enlists the help of dozens of volunteers as well as her parents, Ken and Lois Reitz. The team refurbished a vacant barn on the 40 acres of Amanda’s grandfather, Lester Bork, to house dog kennels and cat rooms for up to 140 animals.
      Reitz embraced her cause after questioning the euthanasia policies while volunteering at another shelter. Following the operational blueprint of a no-kill facility in Utah, she got her first resident with a mixed-breed stray named Walter, and reckoned the animals would come, with support to follow from like-minded pet lovers.
      So far, she reckoned right. Adoption fees ($100 to $125 for cats, $200 to $250 for dogs) ensure that all are spayed or neutered. The fees, occasional donations via www.happilyeverafterinfo.org, and her family’s contributions pay the food and vet bills.
      A frisky puppy like Dalton (shown here) might not wait long for a new home. The stay could be extended or even permanent for others, like Bandit the three-legged border collie mix. “Any of these animals would make someone a nice pet, but for some the right match takes more time,” says Reitz, which is why Happily Ever After accepts cats and dogs whose time has run out at other shelters.
      The farm at E5714 Bork Road is open for visitors a few days each week and most Saturdays.
A career in education
Reitz says she’ll pursue a teaching career upon graduation. She envisions her hands-on involvement with the sanctuary will continue. She hopes its reach will expand to include public advocacy and education about responsible pet ownership and animal overpopulation.
UW-Green Bay influence
Prof. Linda Tabers-Kwak is one of several Reitz mentions as being favorite faculty members. “I very much appreciate her professional knowledge in helping me understand what it means to be an educator… and she was also supportive when I started talking about starting the sanctuary.”

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