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Animal shelter welcomes new manager

With no facility still to call home, the St. Paul Animal Shelter continues to work toward a brighter future, fundraising and recently hiring a new manager, Josiah Clarke.
Josiah Clarke (left) is the new manager of the St. Paul Animal Shelter. He recently shaved his beard, while Anna Leskiw (right) shaved her head, as a fundraiser for the
Josiah Clarke (left) is the new manager of the St. Paul Animal Shelter. He recently shaved his beard, while Anna Leskiw (right) shaved her head, as a fundraiser for the animal shelter, raising $1,515.

With no facility still to call home, the St. Paul Animal Shelter continues to work toward a brighter future, fundraising and recently hiring a new manager, Josiah Clarke.

Clarke was first involved with the shelter as a volunteer on the non-profit’s board. When the past manager decided to move on to other opportunities, Clarke decided to take on the new challenge as manager with a clear goal in mind.

“As the manager, one of my main goals is getting funding for the new building,” says Clarke. “The new grant season is coming up so I will be looking for grants - big or small - that we fit into, and applying for them. If anyone one knows of any that we might be eligible for, I welcome the input.”

Clarke’s drive and determination is already proving fruitful. After growing out his beard for over two years, Clarke decided he would shave it – but for a price. The idea to raise funds and use Clarke’s “big old mountain man beard” as incentive came from a conversation with other shelter volunteers.

Long-time volunteer Anna Leskiw got in on the action, and put herself up as even more incentive for people to donate to the cause. She decided she would shave her head, in recognition of donations.

So, on Nov. 18, while at an event in Mallaig, both Clarke and Leskiw got some makeovers, after raising an impressive $1,515.

And while there is no physical shelter for animals to find relief this winter, the animal shelter has found some partners to help as many animals as possible.

“We have several kittens on display at Pet Valu in St. Paul. They were being cared for by myself,” Clarke is hopeful that someone will see the animals, and look to adopt them.

“They are all purr factories that have been around dogs and other cats, and didn't seem to mind, and just kept playing up a storm,” he says, of the kittens. “They would make a great addition to any home.”

The shelter is also looking for people to foster animals, as a way to continue operations until a facility is built.

“When fostering, the shelter provides the food and covers the approved medical expenses. All that is required of you is to provide a loving home for the animal until it can find it forever home,” says Clarke.

And since winter is around for quite a few more months, Clarke also offers some tips for keeping animals safe and warm, in a pinch. If people come across stray animals, and they can offer the animal some sort of insulated house, that would be ideal, since any type of shelter is better than no shelter.

“You can usually find stuff around the house. I have one made out of an old Rubbermaid container that I lined with silver bubble wrap insulation I had laying around, but the Styrofoam insulation would work best, with a hay bed to keep them off the cold ground. Blankets are not a good idea as they hold moister and freeze, losing all of their insulating benefits,” explains Clarke.

To reach the St. Paul Animal Shelter, call (780) 645-2262.


Janice Huser

About the Author: Janice Huser

Janice Huser has been with the St. Paul Journal since 2006. She is a graduate of the SAIT print media journalism program, is originally from St. Paul and has a passion for photography.
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